Daniel Bovey: 2025 candidate for West Chicago mayor

Bio

Office Sought: West Chicago mayor

City: West Chicago

Age: 50

Occupation: (Bivocational) Pastor and small-business owner

Previous offices held: None

Why are you running for this office? Is there a particular issue that motivates you? Also, what makes you the best candidate for the position?

In 2023, I became well known when my permitted and inspected greenhouse was failed by a new inspector and I was fined $20,000. While sitting in West Chicago’s municipal court for seven months, I saw dozens of neighbors fined up to $1,500 for petty issues. I saw a senior fined for having a bird feeder.

When I researched, I found that 98% of the cases decided by this court were found liable. I also saw a yawning gap between the interests of residents and those of city hall. While the community is asking for a revived downtown, customer friendly services and help with water bills, City Hall is focused on fining residents and buying up properties to build a $20-$25 million new city hall.

The first job of any leader is to care about the people they serve. A mayor should be an expert in understanding and prioritizing the needs of the people. I’m running because I listen to the people of West Chicago, I care about their needs and believe I can bring much needed changes.

What is the most serious issue your community will face in coming years and how should leaders respond to it?

Recently, I walked downtown with a visitor, pointing out my favorite places to drink coffee and eat gorditas. Aside from a few gems, it was obvious that the majority of the storefronts were vacant. This is symptomatic of a serious issue which West Chicago needs to address.

In 2004, we received funding from Kerr McGee (exceeding $14 million) which was to be used, separately from cleanup, for public benefit. This fund was drained by 2023 with very little to show for it.

West Chicago has been buying up real estate for 20 years, and currently owns 55 properties in the downtown area. Removed from tax rolls, these properties cost millions to maintain and are a drag on our local economy. The result is a downtown which is depressed and struggling.

A new approach is needed. The major development city leaders hoped to draw to West Chicago has not materialized in over two decades. The longer we wait to change course, the bigger the problem becomes.

How would you describe the state of your community's finances? What should be the top priorities for spending during the next few years? Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed?

Evaluating community finances goes beyond the question of a balanced budget. Residents are frustrated that WeGo has the highest effective tax rate in DuPage. Business owners are concerned that customers are going to other communities. Seniors are struggling to pay steeply rising water and sewer bills.

In a comparative study of 12 surrounding towns, West Chicago ranks 10th in operating budget size, last in median income but first in compensation of 10 common staff positions ($1.49 million). We should hire the best people we can but should not to outspend surrounding communities like Wheaton by 16.5%.

The city’s plans to spend $20-$25 million on a new city hall while it budgets only $125,000 per year for its downtown revitalization program. These priorities are out of touch. A fraction of the city hall money, invested responsibly in incubator programs for new businesses and grants to existing small businesses would bring life to the community and raise tax revenues.

What do you see as the most important infrastructure project you must address? Why and how should it be paid for? Conversely, during these uncertain economic times, what project(s) can be put on the back burner?

Public safety must be the priority of our infrastructure projects. Remediation of the city owned brownfield on Washington must be completed and all radioactive pipes removed. The lead pipe replacement program must also be a top priority. The city needs to regain public trust through transparency.

Politicians waited until we were forced by the EPA to address the lead pipe issue when they should have been transparent and proactive. Major street replacement projects performed in the last few years could have included pipe replacement. Now some of those new streets will be torn up again in a few years. Willingness to face up to issues can help us better coordinate our long range infrastructure projects.

West Chicago has also had six pedestrian deaths in the past two years. This represents approximately 20% of the pedestrian deaths in DuPage County. Significant gaps in pedestrian crossing lanes (like Route 38 and Route 59) need to be addressed and bike lanes should be installed.

Describe your leadership style and explain how you think it will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your city council.

I have led New Life Bilingual Church as pastor and run Affordable Lawn and Home Care as president for the last 25 years. I have also coached hundreds of athletes and run scores of volunteer programs.

I believe those who know me would describe my leadership style as relationship focused team building combined with directness, and a focus on asking the right questions. A problem must be defined before it can be solved.

It is hard to pastor a small church for 25 years without truly caring about people. It is hard to grow a business for 25 years without being willing to make difficult decisions.

I believe that lasting organizational change must address three areas: convictions, constructs and culture. It is a process in which we must clarify our convictions (who we are and why we exist), evaluate and adjust our constructs (the systems, policies and programs we create) and transform the corporate culture (the actual attitudes and actions which characterize the way things are done.)

What’s one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?

Our multicultural community is not a liability but an asset; a strength which should be embraced. My family moved here and raised our kids here because we love the diversity and the dual language schools. We have the best tacos and gorditas in the county.

Where national politics feel fractious and divisive, it is in our hometown that we can start building unity. WeGo has an amazing heritage. Our history can be told through the railroads; through waves of German, Irish and Mexican immigrants who did the hard work to make this city what it is. Embrace it. 53% of our community speaks Spanish. Celebrate it. Let’s celebrate Railroad Days and July 4th and September 16th.

Immigrant communities start businesses. Let’s lean into our uniqueness. Let’s build a micro-business market that celebrates who we are. Many small businesses can’t afford a $700,000 building but they could afford to lease space in a micro-business market or a Food Hall. Let’s build small and work up from there.