Community gathers to hear from candidates
Residents gathered at West Chicago Community High School on Tuesday, March 18, to hear from candidates running for mayor, alderman, and the library board during a public forum. The event, hosted in the school’s commons area, drew around 90 attendees and featured discussions on business development, affordable housing, government transparency, and community engagement.
The forum opened with statements from candidates for the West Chicago Library Board, followed by a discussion with aldermanic candidates, and concluded with the mayoral debate between Ruben Pineda, Joseph Sheehan, and Daniel Bovey. Topics ranged from the role of public libraries in a digital age to concerns over pedestrian safety, business retention, and the future of community events like Railroad Days and the Mexican Independence Day Parade.
Library Board candidates discuss transparency and outreach
The first segment of the forum focused on the future of the West Chicago Public Library, where candidates discussed expanding literacy programs, increasing community engagement, and balancing traditional and digital resources.
“For literacy, I know that there’s already some coordination with Literacy DuPage, and I think we can expand some of that. I do think the library has really great programs, but I would like to help grow it even more,” Cavataio said.
Candidates were asked about the role of libraries in today’s world and concerns about technology replacing traditional literary resources. While acknowledging the impact of technology, they also discussed embracing the diversity of perspectives and opportunities it brings to the community.
“So currently, you can already see the library’s whole budget on the website. You can see every last page of stickers that has been bought. So for transparency, I think probably the only other thing that can be done there is to make them available in the best format,” Wonderly said.
Wonderly also spoke briefly about the importance of democracy, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and the need for transparency between public services and the community.
Candidates emphasized that while financial records are accessible, more effort is needed to ensure information is presented in a user-friendly format. They discussed ways to improve communication and outreach so residents are more aware of the library’s budget, upcoming events, and available resources.
“I would love to see it [the library] partner with the city in maybe some festivals or different events to draw people in as they’re enjoying other parts of West Chicago,” Finch said.
Beyond city partnerships, candidates discussed increasing collaborations with local schools and community organizations. Some suggested expanding the library’s role in civic engagement, offering intergenerational programs where students and older residents can learn from each other.
Another topic was bridging the digital divide. While acknowledging the benefits of digital resources, candidates expressed the need to ensure that technology does not exclude individuals who rely on physical books or in-person services. They suggested maintaining a balance between digital and traditional offerings to serve all demographics.
The library forum concluded with closing statements from all three candidates, followed by a five-minute recess.
Updated at 6:46 p.m.
Aldermanic candidates debate business, infrastructure, and representation
Following the break, the forum for alderman candidates began. Candidates in attendance included Lori Chasse, Juleta Alcantar-Garcia, Donna Santiago, Denise Carreto-Munoz, Christine A. Dettmann, Jeanne M. Short, Carlos Avina Soto, John F. Banas, Mirza J. Baig, and Mathew Myers.
Julieta Alcantar-Garcia opened the alderman forum with her statement, followed by the rest of the candidates, who presented their opening remarks in alphabetical order.
Updated at 7:58 p.m.
As the aldermen, and later mayoral, candidates, took the stage, more citizens joined the group already assembled in the West Chicago Community High School Commons. The first question during the aldermen portion of the forum addressed candidates’ concerns and pressing issues in West Chicago. Multiple candidates discussed the city’s declining population.
Mathew Myers, an entrepreneur and engineer, shared his experience of becoming a business owner, noting that many face similar struggles. His focus is on unifying businesses to attract more people and help West Chicago thrive.
“One of the problems that I see is that the downtown businesses are all pulling in different directions. You have vintage clothing stores, a bar, salons, Mexican restaurants, a balloon store, and a cake shop. So they’re all kind of pulling in different directions. What we need is some kind of unifying vision for these downtown businesses to really push forward,” Myers said.
Other candidates expressed concerns about the costs associated with running local businesses. Candidate John Banas emphasized his commitment to reducing expenses and improving the downtown area.
“I believe I would be instrumental in assisting the team that represents not only the northern ward but the entire city on matters that come before the city council. I bring business acumen to government. I’m a relentless cost cutter, and I care about people,” Banas said.
The second question focused on how candidates plan to support all demographics, particularly the Latino community. Transparency and communication emerged as key themes in their responses.
Candidate Denise Carreto-Munoz pointed out that outdated communication methods, such as websites, fail to effectively reach West Chicago’s Latino population, especially when it comes to major community decisions like elections.
“A lot of people don’t know that elections are currently happening, and I think it’s because we’re not very transparent with the people who live in our community. And then that’s when language also comes up. A lot of people here speak Spanish, and yet we don’t have very much representation in that way,” Munoz said.
Candidate Lori Chasse acknowledged a sense of mistrust between different demographics and suggested ways to strengthen connections between the Latino community and local government.
“There is a mistrust of government. There’s a feeling of not having a real connection, and that’s a shame—something that needs to be worked on. I think a way to do that is to go to the Latino supermarkets, go to their shops in town—there are some great little stores—and have a conversation,” Chasse said.
Other candidates proposed solutions such as hosting bilingual town halls, increasing social media engagement in Spanish, and expanding outreach efforts through community leaders. Some suggested forming advisory groups to ensure Latino voices are consistently represented in decision-making.
The discussion then shifted toward infrastructure concerns. Candidates debated how to improve road conditions, enhance pedestrian safety, and expand bike lanes.
Many agreed that the city needs better sidewalks, safer intersections, and dedicated bike paths. Some noted that while funding exists for road resurfacing projects, more needs to be done to ensure public safety in high-traffic areas, particularly near schools.
Several candidates also addressed the need for better public transportation options.
One proposal included expanding Pace bus services to improve connectivity between neighborhoods and the downtown area, making it easier for residents to access local businesses and events.
The alderman forum concluded with candidates’ closing statements, emphasizing their commitment to revitalizing the city, supporting small businesses, and fostering stronger community engagement.
Updated 8:48 p.m.
Mayoral candidates clash over economic growth and government transparency
The mayoral forum featured candidates Ruben Pineda, Joseph Sheehan, and Daniel Bovey, who debated issues ranging from business development to government transparency.
One of the key topics was economic growth and business development.
Pineda, the incumbent mayor, highlighted his administration’s success in attracting businesses, particularly in the business park. He noted that filling warehouse space has helped ease the city’s tax burden.
“You know, we worked hard to bring businesses into town and help our tax burden. We signed an intergovernmental agreement, and now we have Sun Gas, two buildings with nearly a million square feet under roof. We have Norex, Chronicle, Amazon, and 300 trucks coming in and out daily,” Pineda said.
Sheehan and Bovey, however, expressed concerns that relying on warehouses might not be a sustainable long-term solution for economic growth.
“The business park was originally supposed to be a technology park, and tech companies pay higher taxes than warehouses. Now, we’re stuck maintaining expensive roads for all these trucks, and the tax benefits are minimal,” Bovey said.
The candidates also discussed affordable housing and population retention.
Bovey stressed the need for creative housing solutions, including allowing for secondary units or in-law apartments in areas that support higher density.
“When we had the apartment fire at Main Park last year, many of those families had to move out of West Chicago because there was nowhere for them to go. That’s a problem,” Bovey said.
Pineda countered that new development projects are already underway to address housing shortages.
“We have a project on North Avenue bringing in 150 units for 50-plus residents. Another project behind the Shell station is in development. We need density—especially near North Avenue and 59—so that businesses have the rooftops to support them,” Pineda said.
Sheehan, meanwhile, emphasized the importance of ensuring infrastructure keeps pace with new housing.
“If we build, we need sidewalks and safety measures, especially for seniors. We also need to check for any lingering radiation or thorium exposure from past industrial sites before we expand housing,” Sheehan said.
Government transparency was another major topic of debate.
Pineda defended his administration’s record, citing awards for financial transparency.
“We win awards every year for our audits. We are very clear about our finances, and we ensure transparency through our website,” Pineda said.
Sheehan and Bovey, however, challenged that claim.
“City Hall meetings are shockingly short, sometimes just 10 minutes. Then they go into executive session, and the public doesn’t know what’s happening,” Sheehan said. “We need to record all meetings and make them accessible to residents.”
Bovey raised concerns about the removal of key elected positions, such as the city clerk and treasurer.
“In 2022, without public input, they removed the elected city clerk. Years before that, they removed the city treasurer. This is a pattern,” Bovey said.
The candidates also debated the future of community events.
Bovey and Sheehan both called for reinstating parades such as the Fourth of July and Mexican Independence Day.
“Why isn’t everyone in the county coming to West Chicago for the biggest Mexican Independence Day parade? We’re losing opportunities to celebrate our community and bring in visitors,” Sheehan said.
Pineda defended the city’s current event offerings, stating that festivals like Railroad Days, Blooming Fest, and Food Truck Festivals already provide community engagement.
The final topic focused on regional cooperation with neighboring communities and county government.
Sheehan and Bovey argued that West Chicago has struggled with intergovernmental collaboration, pointing to issues like water billing disputes with Winfield.
Pineda countered by stating that his administration has strong relationships with neighboring municipalities and law enforcement agencies, which contribute to West Chicago’s safety and stability.
The forum concluded with closing statements, with each candidate reinforcing their vision for the city and why they believe they are the best choice for mayor.
Updated at 9:21 p.m.
Article was updated at 9:21 p.m. to include additional comments from candidates regarding government transparency, pedestrian safety, and community engagement initiatives.
Article was updated at 11:45 p.m. to include newly added photos from the forum.