The DuPage County Board oversees the county budget and ensures that critical systems like public safety, health services, infrastructure, and economic development are funded and functioning.

You can think of it like the steering wheel and engine of the county: not always flashy, but absolutely essential. It's where decisions are made about how our tax dollars get spent and whether our systems serve the public good.

More than you might think:

• Are your roads safe and well maintained?

• Can you access public mental health services or housing support?

• Is there green space near your neighborhood?

• Are small businesses supported and thriving?

• Do you feel safe walking, biking, or getting to public transit?

The County Board has a hand in all of these. It's not theoretical. It’s the layer of government that either helps your neighborhood thrive or lets it fall through the cracks.

Because this is where we still have real power. When national systems break down, local government becomes our safeguard. Counties are the connective tissue between cities, townships, and the state. They manage the services that hold our daily lives together: roads, public health, mental health, emergency response, courts, housing programs, and more. If the foundation is cracking at the top, county government is the floor beneath your feet.

Melissa is not a career politician. She’s a small business owner who built something from nothing and kept it rooted in community every step of the way. She’s worked with city and county partners. She’s led on economic development. She’s hosted dozens of events that support underserved communities.

Most importantly, Melissa doesn’t see issues in isolation. She sees the whole system and how it can be redesigned to support the broader community.

Melissa will focus on building strong, resilient communities by investing in the systems that help working families thrive. Her top priorities include:

• Improving infrastructure to ensure safer streets, better transit access, and more connected neighborhoods.

• Expanding support for small businesses to grow local jobs and strengthen the local economy.

• Increasing access to mental health and public health services so families can get the care they need.

• Supporting affordable housing and stability for residents across income levels.

• Making county government more transparent and accessible so decisions reflect real community input.

Melissa brings an ecosystem-building approach seeing how all these parts work together to create a DuPage that is safer, healthier, and more sustainable for everyone.