Carl Schultz: 2026 candidate for DuPage County Forest Preserve Board president

Bio

Office sought: DuPage County Forest Preserve Board president

City: Aurora

Party: Republican

Age: 69

Previous offices held: Forest Preserve Commissioner for the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, Naperville Township Trustee

Q&A

Why are you running for this office? Is there a particular issue that motivates you?

My belief is that our forest preserves are a gift we pass on from one generation to the next. We should enjoy what we have been given and work hard to pass along something better than we received.

My life's work has been to connect people and nature. This campaign is about protecting our natural legacy, making our forest preserves truly accessible for every family, and delivering responsible stewardship you can trust. As commissioner, I added over 1450 acres of land, improved natural resources (6 Nature Preserves and 2 Land and Water Preserve designations), added trails, archery range, the Urban Stream Research Center, dog park, picnic shelters and more.

Districtwide, I served as treasurer, co-chaired the St. James Farm committee, created the district's Friends foundation that has raised more than $3 million. I took up opening the Greene Barn when no other commissioner was interested. I raised public awareness and completed the first phase of the barn restoration on time and under budget.

I have a passion for the preserves in our community. We can protect and improve what makes DuPage special while ensuring it’s available to everyone, today and for generations to come

If you are an incumbent, describe your two biggest contributions to the board. If you are a non-incumbent, describe two ways you would contribute to the board.

I will use my horticulture education, business background, life experience and time as commissioner to bring a unique perspective to the board. Helping others best experience nature at an affordable price is what I do and what the forest preserve district should. A recent review found Illinois to have the highest property tax in the country. The current administration has increased the District budget by 70% in 7 years. Spending $750,000 each for a restroom that would fit in a 2-car garage and are locked up for 6 months of the year because they have no heat. They bought 4. There are legitimate alternatives that would cost as little as $100,000 used in State and local parks.

Second, I would immediately improve communications with local communities and agencies. For example, with communication they could have avoided a condemnation suit in West Chicago for a property being developed for much needed senior housing. Meanwhile, there is oak wooded parcel in Naperville that the community is begging the District to own that will largely be cut down for duplexes because the DuPage Water Commission auctioned it to a builder. The District's response? We didn't even know it was up for sale.

What role should the forest preserve play in preserving historic buildings on its land?

The forest preserve district should always take the lead in what it does with what it has. Regarding historic buildings, if we own it, we should maintain it. We should not let it fall into disrepair.

We should also honor the legacy that these buildings bring. When Bill Greene sold the District his farm, he sold it at a discount to it's value, except for the Oak Cottage and the Barn. He took that money and put it in a trust to help the District maintain them for providing preservation, education and recreation for the residents of DuPage County. When I was commissioner, I led the way to fulfil Bill Greene's intent by stabilizing and starting restoration of the barn. There was overwhelming support at the time and there has remained strong support to complete opening the barn for that purpose.

This would not be throwing good money after bad. There is a need. The Southern three townships have 40% of the county population and yet do not have an educational center to serve these communities. A walk from one end of the barn to the other is a visual history of barn building in America. There is demand for large meeting spaces for community use.

We should open the barn to the public.

How would you rate the job the commission is doing to develop existing forest preserves and make them accessible to residents? How would you approach things differently?

This gets a mixed rating. Staff provides remarkable restoration of our natural resources and quality work in many of our preserves. But there are communities that have nothing near the promise of "... providing opportunities for people to connect with nature..." of the 2014 Strategic Plan. The city of Aurora is the 3rd largest community in DuPage but has less than half the 25 acres/1000 resident standard for land. South of I88 and west of Rt. 59 they have about 3 acres/1000 residents. They have zero amenities in these preserves and have no access provided. The current administration has spent well over $30 million dollars for education and recreation around the county with literally zero in this unserved community.

I would create "Pop Up Preserves" that would bring education and recreation to these areas to meet the desperate need in those communities. I would explore bringing a zipline and high ropes course to Big Woods FP. Following the model in Cook County it could be built at no cost to the District and generate an ongoing revenue stream. It would also provide safe access to Poss Lake (the 1st lake in the District fishing guide) instead of backing up onto a busy street.

What is the most important issue facing the forest preserves in your district and how should it be addressed?

To protect and preserve DuPage's forest preserves, providing access for everyone while spending taxpayer dollars responsibly and transparently. We should let our professionals and the best science lead the way with our natural resources. Improve safe access for all of our residents to our preserves. Increase recreational and educational opportunities. But we can and should make wiser decisions financially in a more transparent way. They shouldn't spend down the landfill fund reserves before they know for sure that there is sufficient funds to make any repairs that may be needed. Especially when they have been told there are scenarios where there is not sufficient funds. It is transparent to express a need for more funds through a referendum and getting the people's consent. It is not transparent when your bonds are being paid off and you borrow over $100 million just before the referendum and immediately following it. Claiming you are providing over $100 million in improvements without raising your taxes. In reality that is debt that raised your taxes for the next 10 years. That represents what could have been a tax cut.