DeKALB – The Northern Star sent out a survey asking candidates to answer questions about what their priorities and positions would be as mayor of DeKalb.
The candidates for mayor in the election are Linh Nguyen, Kouame M. Sanan, John B. Walker, and Cohen Barnes. The candidates are listed in the order they will appear on the ballot. Candidate responses may have been edited for clarity and brevity.
Linh Nguyen:
Why are you running for this office?
My name is Linh Nguyen. I am running for DeKalb city mayor because I know that we all want the same basic things in life: A safe place to live, enough food to eat and a little time to enjoy family and friends. I want to make that happen for all DeKalb residents!
When I came to the U.S., I knew almost no English, but I knew how to work hard. After earning masters and doctorate degrees in chemistry, I began serving as a professor and educator at various universities, including Northern Illinois University.
I have served my community and state in League of Women Voters top leadership positions and have connections to legislators nationwide because of my selection for the Illinois Women’s Institute for Leadership. It’s an organization founded by the Durbin’s, Loretta and Senator Dick Durbin. I am an Athena Award Finalist for the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce. I am a committed advocate for our community, serving as a trustee for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1890 and a director on the Board for Rooted for Good – used to be DeKalb County Community Garden. I also serve on the fundraising committee for the Illinois Women’s Institute for Leadership. Most importantly, I have a beautiful family and cherished friends.
As a Ph.D. chemist, I rely on analysis and data to measure the impact of actions and reactions – as your mayor, this translates to informed decision-making. As a League president and state vice president, I have first-hand experience in governance, policy-making and advocacy – and a deep understanding of the importance of community engagement with a transparent and accountable government. And my relationships with Illinois legislators at all levels give me access to a vast network of resources and mentors. I can leverage my skills and connections to bring resources to DeKalb.
How do you plan to evaluate/measure your success in office?
Creating a shared vision for governance is fundamentally a collaborative endeavor that focuses on aligning strategic objectives among various stakeholders. This process begins with breaking down broad campaign commitments into specific, actionable initiatives that can be realistically implemented. To facilitate this, we establish clear and measurable goals tailored to different time frames: Immediate objectives for the first 100 days and short-term goals for the first year. This approach not only fosters accountability but also allows for effective tracking of progress toward these targets.
By carefully balancing the emerging priorities of the new administration with the ongoing responsibilities of municipal operations and the expectations of the community, we can cultivate a dynamic governance model. This model is designed to be both responsive to citizen needs and responsible in its stewardship of resources. Furthermore, long-term municipal development strategies serve as a vital strategic framework that guides our actions. By ensuring that our immediate initiatives are aligned with a comprehensive and sustainable vision for community growth, we can create a cohesive path forward that benefits all residents and stakeholders involved.
What issues are you running on and why?
My top priority is to improve the quality of life in our city – one way is to focus on the repair and maintenance that our streets and sidewalks so desperately need. Safe and reliable streets and sidewalks support businesses, helping attract new investments. Our neighborhoods will be more bike-friendly and walkable. Reliable roads improve public safety by reducing accidents and providing access to healthcare, education and job opportunities for everyone, including those in underserved and rural areas. To fund these improvements, we must follow the lead of the county, which has gotten federal dollars for county roads. As mayor, I will focus on securing similar funding for DeKalb – because safe streets are essential for a growing, dynamic DeKalb for all of us!
The second priority would be increasing sustainable economic development. Climate change is threatening our way of life and our farming capabilities in DeKalb, where we have the richest soil in the nation. We need to be on the leading edge of resolving this, paving the way for other farming communities to do all we can to preserve our way of life, and the world’s access to food. Under my leadership, I would support and empower the Citizens’ Environmental Commission to continue their work and implement their sustainability plan. I also want to partner with NIU campus sustainability and Northern Illinois Center for Community Sustainability (the NICCS) to collaborate with regional and national stakeholders on initiatives for sustainable economic development.
My third priority will be ensuring that every tax dollar is accounted for and used with utmost care and consideration. Transparency and accountability will come first with monthly reports to keep you informed. I will ensure we are pursuing federal and private funding sources to accomplish our goals and dreams, making this an inclusive community that serves all. Part of achieving that dream is ensuring that our taxes remain on a downward trend, to make life and homeownership affordable.
Kouame M. Sanan:
Why are you running for this office?
I have seen DeKalb grow since my family and I moved here from Chicago 26 years ago. Over time, we’ve noticed that the sense of community has weakened, there’s a shortage of activities, safety has become questionable, there is little support for local businesses, and the community is becoming less affordable.
As Maya Angelou said, ‘If you don’t like something, change it. If you cannot change it, change your attitude.’
That’s why I am running for mayor: To make the DeKalb community stronger, safer and more affordable, and to build a place where every resident feels they belong and are proud to live. Families should feel safe, resources must be accessible, residents’ voices need to be heard and opportunities for growth should be abundant.
How do you plan to evaluate/measure your success in office?
I will evaluate and measure my success in office by setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound goals and regularly assess the progress. When the community becomes stronger, safer and more affordable, I will consider my time in office a success.
What issues are you running on and why?
I am running for mayor to make our community stronger, safer and more affordable. First, the weakening of the sense of community because when a community is strong, it develops a sense of well-being, resilience, social interaction and connections, providing support and shared identity. Not to mention the shortage of activities for the residents, especially NIU students who have to go home for the weekend, which is also a loss of revenue for local businesses.
Second, making our community safer because a safer community provides a greater sense of well-being, encourage social interaction, boost property value and attract businesses and new residents which in turn bring revenue to the city.
Last, a more affordable community because it provides economic growth, better health and economic development.
These issues are about compassion, community service and ensuring no one is left behind. I’d aim to build a future where all community members have the tools, support and opportunities they need to live a fulfilling life.
John B. Walker:
Why are you running for this office?
I am running for office because I am passionate about being a public servant for the city of DeKalb. I am connected to everyday people in a way unlike any of my opponents and because of this I know I am best suited to represent the citizens of DeKalb. For an example, I have two NIU students I met on campus working my job as a UPS service provider that have been a solid piece of our campaign team (Alejandro Rameriz & Daniel Barranco) political science majors. I take pride in people wanting to give back and my community as a whole. I wanted to take another step toward being a voice for the citizens. I believe along with City Council and re-introducing resident led committees, we all can create something special in DeKalb.
How do you plan to evaluate/measure your success in office?
Unlike the current mayor, I will hold quarterly town hall meetings to get feedback from the citizens on how they feel about my progress as mayor. This would give me an opportunity to be transparent about issues the City Council may be facing with implementation of projects, lack of progress, etc.
What issues are you running on and why?
I am running on several issues that include actually listening to voters diversifying the tax base, collaborating with developers to create affordable housing, and re-establishing resident led committees that will have a seat at the table with City Council.
Cohen Barnes:
Why are you running for this office?
I am a product of DeKalb, a DeKalb High School and NIU graduate, and I am here to stay. This area, which has been so good to myself, my family and my business, is part of why I am running for re-election as mayor of the City of DeKalb. It is only fitting that I give back and work hard to create opportunities for others to experience what I have experienced here in the community I love.
For the last four years, we have been able to substantially improve public safety by hiring 14 additional police officers (two shifts now have social workers helping with specific needs) and 14 additional firefighters, invested 3x more in our roads, lowered our city property tax rate by over 35% to make it more affordable to live in DeKalb, and have created over 1,000 union construction jobs and over 500 full time permanent jobs.
But there is still more to do, and I would be proud to serve another four years to continue the progress we have made.
How do you plan to evaluate/measure your success in office?
I will measure the success of my tenure the same as I did the last four years. It really is a data driven approach. How much have we reduced crime, how many jobs have we created, how have we lowered taxes and how many jobs have we created. There are a bunch of secondary initiatives that are important, but these are the key indicators that affect the majority of the residents of DeKalb.
What issues are you running on and why?
- Economic Growth and Job Creation
Driving economic growth and creating more jobs remain at the forefront of my priorities for DeKalb. When I first ran for mayor four years ago, I committed to addressing the heavy property tax burden that had long weighed on our residents. High property taxes not only strain household budgets but also deter potential businesses and investors from choosing DeKalb as their base of operations. To create a more favorable economic environment, reducing property taxes was essential.
Before becoming mayor, I served as the president of the DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation, where I collaborated closely with the City of DeKalb to attract major corporations, thereby diversifying our tax base. This strategy successfully brought over a billion dollars in investment to DeKalb, fueling job creation and stimulating our local economy.
As mayor, I introduced the annual Tax Summit, a gathering of all taxing bodies to discuss responsible governance and explore strategies for reducing property taxes. With historic economic growth occurring on the south side, my message was clear: We must prioritize taxpayers in our decisions. By reducing the overall tax rate from 11.5% to 8.1% for the upcoming year, we’ve not only alleviated the financial burden on our residents but also made DeKalb a more attractive location for businesses.
Lower property taxes increase DeKalb’s competitiveness, encouraging new businesses to set up operations and existing ones to expand. This, in turn, generates more job opportunities for our community and further strengthens our local economy. By creating a business-friendly environment, we can continue to attract diverse industries, ensuring sustained economic growth and prosperity for DeKalb.
- Enhancing Quality of Life
Improving the quality of life in DeKalb is another core priority. Public safety is one fundamental part of this vision. We have added 28 first responders to our police and fire departments and created a police social worker program. Additionally, we have taken a firm stance against landlords who fail to provide safe and high-quality housing for tenants. If reelected, I will continue to enforce accountability and uphold property standards to protect our community.
However, quality of life extends beyond safety. We have made substantial investments in revitalizing our downtown, transforming it into a vibrant hub of entertainment, dining and community engagement. By reducing traffic lanes, we have created a safer and more pedestrian-friendly environment, making downtown DeKalb an even more welcoming space. Our commitment to public art has also contributed to the cultural and aesthetic appeal of our community, and I am eager to expand these efforts in the future.
I ran for office with a vision to increase the number of fun and engaging activities in DeKalb. While we have made great strides, there is more work to be done. I am dedicated to continuing our progress in enhancing the quality of life for all residents.
- Infrastructure Improvement (water – roads – lead pipes)
Since my first day in office, infrastructure improvement has been a top priority. Before I took office, road maintenance was severely underfunded, with an average of $700,000 allocated annually. Recognizing the need for better infrastructure, I championed a significant increase in funding, tripling the road maintenance budget to $2,500,000 while maintaining a balanced budget. All of this was done without increasing taxes.
I am especially proud of our most recent accomplishment—passing a budget to invest $4,500,000 in our roads for 2025. This represents an impressive increase in just four years. While we acknowledge that more work is needed, we are moving forward in a direction that the community has long anticipated.
An additional noteworthy achievement is our comprehensive lead pipe replacement program. Lead pipes are a nationwide concern, posing serious health risks. I am proud to announce that by 2026, we are on track to have replaced all lead pipes in DeKalb, ensuring clean and safe water for every resident. In fact, the city of DeKalb water was ranked in the top 6 best tasting water supplies in North America.
I am dedicated to sustaining this momentum by investing in economic growth, enhancing the quality of life and improving infrastructure. By focusing on these priorities, I am committed to building a safer, more vibrant and more connected community for all residents of DeKalb.
