Ruby Guerrero
Daniel Bovey at his mayoral campaign announcement back in late November when he first publicly announced his run for mayor.
(Esta historia también está disponible en español, aquí.)
After a close race, the results for the mayor of West Chicago were posted on the DuPage County Election Commission’s website, following the close of polls at 7 p.m. on April 1. Daniel Bovey was elected as the new mayor of West Chicago.
The Chicago suburbs held in-person voting today for the municipal elections, which included West Chicago’s mayoral race. Since early voting began in mid-March, three key local races have been underway: the library board race, the aldermanic race, and the mayoral race. Four candidates ran for the library board, 10 for aldermanic seats, and three for mayor.
Bovey, Ruben Pineda and Joseph Sheehan were the candidates seeking the mayoral seat.
Bovey launched his campaign in late 2024, holding a rally near City Hall to announce his candidacy. Throughout the campaign and at the League of Women Voters forum on March 18, Bovey emphasized his commitment to government transparency and civic accountability.
“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,” Bovey said during the forum.
Bovey also highlighted the removal of elected positions in city government, including 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,” he said.
Other key goals Bovey outlined included revitalizing the downtown area, improving environmental safety, ensuring access to affordable housing to reduce displacement, and bringing back citywide events such as Fourth of July and Mexican Independence Day parades to enhance civic pride.
Pineda, who served as mayor for 13 years, defended his administration’s fiscal management and development initiatives. He supported relocating City Hall into the former Republic Bank building at 119 Washington St. and cited ongoing lead water line removal projects as a major infrastructure focus.
He also emphasized economic development, pointing to the growth of the business park and the construction of 150 units of senior housing along North Avenue and Route 59.
“We’re trying to make sure our developments are balanced – we’re working on housing that helps our residents and also supports our business base,” Pineda said at the forum.
Sheehan, meanwhile, focused his campaign on environmental safety and government accountability. He emphasized the need to address possible radioactive contamination from the city’s industrial history.
“We need to check for any lingering radiation or thorium exposure from past industrial sites before we expand housing,” Sheehan said during the forum.
Mayoral terms in Illinois last four years. Pineda, who has held office since 2011, completed three consecutive terms – there is no limit on how many terms a mayor may serve in the state.
For Bovey, yesterday’s election provides an opportunity for change.
“It was everything we were hoping. Wins all around!” Bovey said via Facebook.