Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg declared victory as it appeared he cruised to a third term according to unofficial results posted late Tuesday night, outpolling a former deputy.
According to unofficial results, with about 200,000 votes cast, Democrat Idleburg was leading Republican Roman Buchberger by a 66% to 34% margin.
“I am very honored that the people of Lake County have selected me to serve a third term,” Idleburg said.
Idleburg, a Zion resident, ran a campaign stressing improvements to the office he had made over the past eight years. Among them, an increased number of K-9s added to the department, as well as the efforts of the sheriff’s office Special Investigations Group, which works to interdict drugs and gun trafficking, as well as human trafficking.
More Top Picks The Ultimate Guide To Finding The Best Position For Your Career Unlock Your Potential Today
He pointed to those programs as factors that brought him to a third term.
“We’ve tried to engage the community and put in programs to make the community safe,” he said.
Buchberger, a 19-year veteran of the department who retired several years ago, was critical of Idleburg’s administration, particularly persistent staffing issues at the Lake County jail, which is operated by the sheriff’s office. Idleburg, Buchberger said last month, had grossly mismanaged the department.
Idleburg was elected sheriff in 2018, ousting incumbent Sheriff Mark Curran by a narrow margin, and he won by a larger margin in 2022. Idleburg started his law enforcement career in the sheriff’s office and then spent decades as a federal agent before deciding to run for sheriff.
County treasurer
In another countywide race, Democrat Sandy Hart, currently on the Lake County Board for District 13 and serving as the board chair, took the treasurer seat with about 66% of the vote. Her political career and position, as well as the county’s overall political leanings, had made her a very strong contender.
Republican David Penaherrera, a political newcomer, had pitched himself as running on traditional conservative values while opposing President Donald Trump.
Hart, first elected to the board in 2012 and later elected to serve as board chair in 2018, had argued she had the working relationship in and out of county government that made her a better fit for the position.
On Tuesday evening, Hart said she felt good about the election results, both locally and nationally. With her apparent win, the District 13 seat will go to an appointee, a process that could be announced as early as December, Hart said. She will be sworn in later this year as Lake County treasurer.
“It has been a real privilege and an honor to serve on the county and forest preserve boards,” Hart said. “I’m looking forward to this new endeavor and serving the people of Lake County in this way”