Glen Ellyn resident Mary FitzGerald Ozog, a Democrat who has served eight years on the DuPage County Board, is running for the District 4 two-year seat on Nov. 3.

Ozog, 68, chairs the county's $164 million Transportation Committee and previously served as vice president of the Glenbard Township District 87 High School Board from 2011 to 2018. She faces Republican Isobel Michaud in the general election.

District 4 covers all or parts of Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, Lombard and Glendale Heights, according to My Suburban Life.

In a Daily Herald candidate questionnaire published Oct. 19, Ozog named the rising cost of living as the most important issue facing her district. She pointed to price increases tied to the war with Iran, on top of lingering effects from COVID-19 supply chain disruptions.

Ozog said county government should respond by using its resources carefully, with a focus on helping residents who face food and housing insecurity.

Ozog ran unopposed in the March 17 Democratic primary, drawing 16,919 votes, according to official results reported by My Suburban Life. Michaud also ran unopposed on the Republican side with 7,199 votes.

Budget and taxes

Ozog said in the questionnaire that the county has not raised its share of the property tax levy in over a decade. The county's portion accounts for less than 2% of a resident's property tax bill, she said.

She called for re-examining scheduled board salary increases set for 2028 and 2029, saying residents are paying more for basics like gas and food. Six board positions received a 2% raise in 2024 and the remaining 12 received the same increase in 2026, Ozog said. Salaries had been frozen for over a decade before that.

Ozog said she remains open to reducing the size of the board, which she said has 18 members.

Transportation priorities

As Transportation Committee chair, Ozog highlighted a rideshare pilot program using Uber to serve the Hinsdale Lake Terrace area, which she described as a "transit desert" without PACE bus or Metra service. She wants to expand the program to other parts of DuPage County. Demand has been high, she said.

County Transportation Committee minutes from an April 8 meeting show presentations on demand-responsive services and a Hinsdale Lake Terrace rideshare update, consistent with Ozog's account.

Ozog also pointed to a new county maintenance facility set to break ground next year, replacing buildings she said are almost 70 years old.

Election funding clash

Ozog has been vocal about county spending. At a Sept. 1 special board meeting, the board approved $665,000 in additional election funding for the county clerk's office. Ozog criticized the clerk for refusing to guarantee the money would go to printing and postage, the Chicago Tribune reported.

"There is no excuse whatsoever for this lack of transparency," Ozog said at that September meeting.

The general election ballot also includes a full four-year District 4 seat, where Democrat Paula McGowen faces Republican incumbent Grant Eckhoff.