This Q&A is a part of Central Times’ 2025 city council election coverage. To see interviews with all candidates in the race, click here. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Why are you running for re-election to Naperville City Council?
One of the main reasons I’m running is because we need to stay focused on city business. What we do on City Council is important, but it’s also kind of boring — it’s about infrastructure, water, electric, garbage, development decisions. My goal is to ensure we stay focused on city business and ignore outside noise.
When I knock on doors, people are concerned about property taxes. Economic development is critical in addressing that issue. I can’t control the schools or the tax assessor, but I can control the city portion of your tax bill. The city accounts for about 9% of your total property tax bill, and we’ve lowered the city tax rate every year. We just passed the lowest tax rate since 1968. We achieve that by focusing on economic development and bringing businesses to Naperville. People here expect high-quality services at a low tax rate, and it’s our responsibility to maintain that balance.
Can you tell me more about your personal and professional background and how it prepares you for this role?
I’ve spent most of my career in public service. I was a Cook County prosecutor for most of my career, which taught me how to analyze situations, think on my feet, and make fact-based decisions. As a prosecutor, unexpected situations happen all the time, so I’m flexible and quick-thinking.
When I make decisions, I base them on facts, research, and talking to people — not emotion. You won’t always agree with my decisions, but you’ll know they’re informed and independent. No one is pulling my strings. I can’t be bullied, and people have learned that about me. My professional background has shaped the way I approach public service.
How long have you lived in Naperville, and what do you love most about the community?
I grew up in South Naperville and now live in North Naperville, making me the only candidate closely connected to both areas. Like many people, I left for college and lived in other places, but I came back to raise my family.
What I love most about Naperville is its strong sense of community. Even as the city has grown, that sense of connection remains. We may disagree sometimes, but we are a community of people who care and want to make Naperville a better place.
What life experiences have shaped your perspective on local government and public service?
Local government should be about putting the community first — not personal gain or partisan politics. It should be about what’s best for the city as a whole.
I come from a big family — my mom is one of 11 kids — so I grew up around a wide range of people and perspectives. We talk about everything and don’t shy away from tough conversations, but we do so respectfully. One of the biggest issues today is that people have forgotten how to listen. Everyone wants to win the argument, but few know how to listen. Growing up in a large family taught me to listen, learn, and be open to different viewpoints.
What unique skills or insights would you bring, or have you brought, to City Council?
As a prosecutor, one of my responsibilities was interviewing alleged victims, witnesses, and perpetrators. I had to analyze information and make decisions that directly impacted people’s lives. That experience trained me to look at facts, research, and listen to people before making decisions.
Since being elected, I have prioritized making sure everyone feels heard. I was very involved in City Council meetings before running for office, and I didn’t always feel like my voice mattered. That’s why I make it a point to respond to every phone call and email. If someone wants to meet with me, I meet with them — even if they’re upset or yelling. They may not always agree with my decisions, but they will know they were heard.
What are some key issues in Naperville that you will focus on if re-elected?
Issues evolve, and challenges we see today may not be the same ones we face in a few years. One critical issue I’ve been emphasizing, which I don’t hear many others talking about, is our need to invest in water infrastructure.
Much of our water infrastructure, built during Naperville’s growth boom from the 1980s through the early 2000s, is reaching the end of its useful life. Without investment, we could face unsafe drinking water and sewer backups. People often think of public safety as just police and fire, but infrastructure is also a public safety issue.
We’ve already started making these investments in the latest budget and spread the cost across current and future ratepayers. But this is just the beginning — we need to continue prioritizing this in the coming years.