Jill B. Shestokas, a Republican, is running for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District board in the Nov. 3 general election.

The district manages wastewater treatment, water quality and flood control across Cook County. Three seats are open. Voters will choose up to three candidates. Shestokas is one of six candidates certified for the ballot, according to BallotReady election data. The other candidates are Beth McElroy Kirkwood (Democratic), Eira L. Corral Sepúlveda (Democratic), Precious W. Brady-Davis (Democratic), Michelle Pennington (Republican) and Timothy E. Rueckert (Republican).

Shestokas said she is running to bring her professional experience at the district to the board level. She said the agency needs board members with direct operational knowledge of its work.

Candidate information

  • Party: Republican
  • Education: Bachelor's degree in human ecology and journalism, University of Maryland, 1979 (according to BallotReady profile data)

Experience and public service

Shestokas said she served as public affairs manager at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, where her work earned multiple national awards recognizing excellence in environmental education and public affairs, according to a profile on the Northfield GOP website.

BallotReady profile data lists additional professional experience. Shestokas served as director of communications and public affairs at SymSoil from 2019 to 2020. She was principal at JWL Consultancy from 2011 to 2014. She has been a founding partner at Constitutionally Speaking Media since 2015, according to BallotReady.

On the issues

District mission and taxpayer accountability

Shestokas said her career focused on helping residents, legislators and local governments understand why the district's work matters. She said commissioners should make sure taxpayers understand how their investment protects their families, homes and future.

"This agency deserves commissioners who understand its mission, communicate openly with the public and are committed to making it stronger for the people it serves …" Shestokas said in a candidate response published by the Northfield GOP.

She added that the board seat should not be treated as a stepping stone to another office, according to the same response.

Flooding and water quality

Shestokas said most Cook County residents do not think about the district until heavy rains threaten their homes, streets flood or beaches close after storms, according to a candidate response published by Patch. She said that disconnect is a problem commissioners should address.

Shestokas said commissioners should explain the agency's work and how public funding supports wastewater infrastructure, water quality and flood reduction across the county.

Candidate information in this profile is drawn from a producer-reviewed packet that includes BallotReady data and the candidate's own published responses. Statements attributed to the candidate reflect her positions as stated and have not been independently verified by the Evanston Wire.