Dupage County Board District 1, 2 Year Seat

About

I’m Melissa Villanueva, small business owner, economic development leader, and longtime community advocate. For nearly twelve years, I’ve grown a business from the ground up. And I’ve experienced firsthand what effective leadership and creative collaboration can do to make our communities stronger.

Policy

Melissa Villanueva is running for DuPage County Board, District 1, on a platform centered on affordability, economic development, and access to county services.

On housing, she frames the issue as economic justice, pushing to cut red tape and incentivize inclusive development so county resources fill gaps the private market leaves, particularly for young families and vulnerable residents.

Her economic development platform draws on nearly twelve years running Brewpoint Coffee. She has served on the Elmhurst Economic Development Commission since 2017 and was Innovation DuPage’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence starting in 2024, mentoring local business owners. She wants growth that expands the tax base without raising the tax burden.

On services, she has emphasized mental health access and transit “last mile” gaps: sidewalks that stop short of Metra stations, crossings unusable for residents with mobility needs, and dial-a-ride service that ends at municipal borders.

She won the March 2026 Democratic primary and faces Republican Paula Pezza on November 3.

Experience

Melissa Villanueva brings nearly twelve years of small business experience to her campaign, having built Brewpoint Coffee from a struggling single Elmhurst shop into a multi-location company that survived the pandemic. Since 2017, she has served as a Commissioner on the Elmhurst Economic Development Commission, connecting new business owners with local resources. She has also been a member of Innovation DuPage since 2022, and in 2024 was named the organization’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence, directly mentoring aspiring and current DuPage business owners. She holds a B.A. in Philosophy/Anthropology, with a minor in Theology, from Wheaton College. This is her first run for elected office.

Endorsements

I have over 30 endorsements! See my endorsements here: https://www.melissafordupage.com/endorsements