Dupage Policy Journal

Jerry Evans, the Republican nominee for Illinois' 11th District in the US House, recently expressed his delight on social media over Naperville's inclusion in the Best Cities to Live in America list. Having triumphed over two opponents, Evans is now set to challenge incumbent Democrat Bill Foster in the upcoming general election.

"Congratulations to Naperville for topping the Best Cities to Live in America list," said Evans, Candidate, according to Facebook. "Naperville is an incredible city with good and kind people. Well deserved!"

In a Facebook post earlier this week, Evans disseminated a link to an NBC Chicago article titled "Chicago suburb tops new list of ‘Best Cities to Live in America.’" The article scrutinizes the Niche.com rankings of optimal living locations across America. Naperville was a recurrent feature on several lists published by the website, including "2024 Best Cities to Live in America," and "2024 Best Places to Live in Chicago Area." The report also highlights that four other Illinois communities made it onto the "2024 Best Places to Raise a Family" list – Clarendon Hills, Kildeer, and Hinsdale included.

Screenshot of Jerry Evans For Congress March 26 Facebook post | Jerry Evans for Congress Facebook page

According to Niche.com, Naperville received an A+ overall rating based on criteria such as public schools, housing, crime and safety; nightlife, diversity, and suitability for families. The website portrays Naperville as one of Illinois' prime residential areas offering a dense suburban atmosphere where most residents are homeowners. It further states: "In Naperville there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many families and young professionals live in Naperville and residents tend to have moderate political views."

Evans is running his campaign with an emphasis on education and community service within the Chicago area. A small businessman himself and founder of a suburban music school, Evans is deeply committed to mentoring initiatives, missionary training programs and has actively participated in missions to India, Mexico, and South Africa. A Wheaton College graduate holding a degree in music, he currently resides in Warrenville with his wife and sons. As per his official website's information, he along with his four siblings were instilled with "the Midwestern values of hard work and the importance of helping those around you" by their parents.

The 11th Congressional District, which Evans is vying for, encompasses most of McHenry and Kane Counties along with parts of Boone, Lake, DeKalb, DuPage, Cook and Will Counties. At present, U.S. Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL) represents the district that boasts a population exceeding 700,000 as per the Census Bureau's data.