DuPage County Treasurer Henry, guardian of nearly $3 billion, seeks reelection: ‘Keep investments secure’
Henry points to partial payments, fewer tax sales and online services in her reelection bid.
Nearly $3 billion in DuPage County taxpayer money passes through the treasurer’s office, and Gwen Henry has been in charge of it since 2006. The Republican is asking voters to keep it that way.
Henry says her decades of financial experience make her the right person to keep modernizing the office and protecting public investments.
She said the work isn’t finished.
“To continue the good work we have done to this point and make sure there is an experienced, qualified individual looking over nearly 3 billion dollars in taxpayer funds,” Henry told the DuPage Policy Journal when asked why she is running.
“I would continue to modernize the office and to keep investments secure.”
On Nov. 3, Henry faces Democrat Yeena Yoo, a DuPage County Board member.
The treasurer’s office collects property taxes and offers online payment and electronic billing.
Henry pointed to two changes she says have helped struggling homeowners.
“My record of accomplishment includes being the first treasurer to institute partial payments, making it easier for residents to pay their property taxes,” Henry said.
“We reduced the number of properties going to tax sales from about 12,000 to roughly 3,000.”
She said she has also made the office leaner.
“I have brought in new technology to modernize the treasurer’s office and reduced headcount by 30%,” Henry said. “I was one of the first to allow payment over the internet and emailed bills.”
Her financial work extends beyond the county. Henry joined the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund’s board of trustees in 2009, served as its president in 2012, 2021 and 2025, and still sits on the board.
Her path to public office began far from DuPage.
“After growing up on a farm as one of eleven children, I moved to DuPage County 46 years ago,” Henry said.
“I have over 50 years of experience in finance, accounting and public administration. Throughout a career dedicated to fiscal responsibility and community service, I have earned a reputation for honesty, transparency and sound financial management.”
Before becoming treasurer, Henry served as mayor of Wheaton and as a DuPage County Forest Preserve commissioner from 2002 to 2006.
She has also chaired the Central DuPage Health System Board of Directors and the DuPage Regional Board of the American Cancer Society, and served on the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference board.
Today, she said, the job carries enormous responsibility.
“As the DuPage County treasurer, I serve as the chief financial officer for one of the nation’s largest and most complex local governments, overseeing the custody, management and disbursement of nearly $3 billion dollars in public funds,” Henry said.
More information is available on her campaign website.