Hebreard wins DuPage forest preserve president race

Daniel Hebreard, the Democratic incumbent, won the race for DuPage County Forest Preserve Board president with 203,789 votes, or 62.5%, to Republican Carl Schultz's 122,456 votes, or 37.5%, according to unofficial results from DuPage County Clerk. That is a margin of 81,333 votes out of 326,245 counted, with all 600 reporting units having reported as of 11:25 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Glen Ellyn and Lombard residents vote in this countywide race. The district completed the DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center at Willowbrook in Glen Ellyn during Hebreard's tenure, according to his campaign website.

What was at stake

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is governed by a seven-member board of commissioners. The president is the only member elected countywide, according to the district's website. The president serves a four-year term.

The key issues:

• Hebreard said he wants to bring more solar-powered amenities to the preserves and develop trail connections for easier resident access, Downers Grove Wire reported in October.
• Hebreard said he wants to abolish pensions for current and future commissioners and reduce commissioner salaries by 70% to 75%, according to Downers Grove Wire.
• Hebreard said he passed a $40 million bond issuance without raising taxes and eliminated a contracted "presidential assistant" position he said saved taxpayers $25,000 a year.

A little history

Hebreard has served as forest preserve board president since 2018, according to the district's website. He is a Woodridge resident and lifelong DuPage County resident who worked as a ranger at the Forest Preserve District starting in 2005 before winning office. On his campaign website, Hebreard said he was outspent $200,000 to $15,000 in 2018 but defeated the incumbent, calling himself the first countywide Democrat elected in DuPage County in over 80 years.

Schultz is the Republican challenger. Downers Grove Wire identified him as Hebreard's opponent in the Nov. 3 general election.

What's next

The results remain unofficial until the canvass is complete. DuPage County must finish the canvass by Nov. 24, according to Democracy Sentry. Mail ballots postmarked by Election Day count if received by Nov. 17.

Election results: DuPage County Forest Preserve Board - President (Illinois General Election, 2026-11-03)

Source: DuPage County Clerk. Results current as of Nov. 3, 2026, 11:25 p.m. CST. Reporting: 600 of 600. Unofficial results; every reporting unit has reported.