Matthew Bogusz


Matthew Bogusz is the Mayor of Des Plaines, Illinois, having begun his term of office in May 2013.

Early life and education

Bogusz was born on November 14, 1986 in Des Plaines, Illinois, where he has lived his whole life. He attended Notre Dame College Prep in Niles, Illinois, where he was the student council president. While in high school, Bogusz earned the Eagle Scout rank in 2004. He then attended Northwestern University, as a Chick Evans Scholar, where he met his wife Kaitlyn while a member of the Associated Student Government. He graduated in 2008.

Political career

In 2006, Bogusz was appointed to the Des Plaines Special Events Commission. The following year, in 2007, he was appointed a Des Plaines Library Trustee. In 2009, Bogusz, at 22, was elected a City of Des Plaines Alderman of the 3rd ward, earning 73% of the vote in a three-way race. While an alderman, Bogusz was variously chairman of the Des Plaines Finance and Administration Committee. He also served on the Public Works Committee and the Legal and Licensing Committee.
Bogusz was elected the Mayor of the City of Des Plaines on April 9, 2013. He received 55% of the vote in a three-way race, defeating former Mayor Anthony Arredia, who received 32%, and Alderman Mark Walsten, who received 13%. Bogusz became the youngest mayor in Des Plaines's history. He was elected to a second term on April 4, 2017, receiving 63% of the vote to defeat his opponent, Alderman Malcolm Chester.
During his first year as mayor, Bogusz streamlined the procedure to get a business license from the City of Des Plaines from eight weeks to two weeks. In 2014, Mayor Bogusz budgeted nearly $22 million in capital improvements, a five-fold increase from 2009, as well as starting a "Curb Appeal Challenge" for residences and business to increase the city's quality of life. Crain's Chicago Business distinguished Bogusz as a member of their 2014 "Twenty in their 20s" class.