Destinee Ortiz’s story begins with the odds stacked against her. Born to a 16-year-old single mother, and later becoming a 16-year-old single mom herself, she knew what it was like to hear “you can’t” before she even had a chance to try. Poverty, doubt, and low expectations surrounded her. But Destinee refused to accept that her story would end where it began.
With grit as her compass, she graduated high school a year early, became the first in her family to step foot on a college campus, and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in political science with high honors. She proved wrong every voice that told her she couldn’t—because she believed she must.
Today, Destinee is more than a licensed paraprofessional, a community advocate, and a public servant. She is a proud mom of three, raising her children in Will County—the community she is honored to now represent. She knows the struggles of working families firsthand—the impossible choices between bills and groceries, the long nights of homework at the kitchen table, the quiet prayers that tomorrow will be better for our kids. And she knows families like hers deserve more than survival. They deserve a seat at the table—and a government that fights for them.
In 2022, the people of Will County elected Destinee to the County Board. Just two years later, she made history as the first Latina President of the Forest Preserve Board of Commissioners. From the halls of government, she has fought for clean water, expanded access to green spaces, prioritized mental health, and led the charge for stronger ethics reforms—because honest government isn’t optional, it’s owed.
Destinee’s journey is more than personal. It is a promise. A promise that no matter where you start, your voice matters. A promise that families who have been overlooked, underestimated, or written off will be heard. And a promise that every child in Will County can grow up believing not just in what they can overcome—but in how far they can go.
