Hebreard wins DuPage forest preserve president race

Daniel Hebreard, the Democratic incumbent, won the race for DuPage County Forest Preserve Board president on Tuesday, Nov. 3, according to unofficial results from DuPage County Clerk.

Hebreard had 181,993 votes, or 63.1%, to Schultz's 106,600 votes, or 36.9%, out of 288,593 votes counted. All 600 reporting units have reported. Hebreard won by 75,393 votes, a margin of 26.2 percentage points.

What was at stake

The Forest Preserve District president leads a seven-member board that oversees open space, trails and natural areas across DuPage County, according to the district's website. The president is the only board member elected countywide.

The key issues:

• Hebreard said the district passed a $40 million bond issuance without raising taxes and approved a master plan with 32 projects and 15 initiatives totaling more than $100 million in improvements, as Naper Today reported. He also called for abolishing commissioner pensions and cutting commissioner salaries by 70% to 75%.
• Schultz, a horticulturist and 10-year forest preserve commissioner, said in a candidate questionnaire that he added more than 1,450 acres of land during his time on the board. He said he started a nonprofit that raised more than $3 million for the district.
• The board approved a $25 million contract for a wildlife center in Willowbrook, one of several large capital projects under Hebreard's tenure.

The outcome will determine who steers the district's remaining master plan projects and land-acquisition decisions that affect preserves used by residents across DuPage County, including those in Hinsdale, Burr Ridge, Darien and Willowbrook.

A little history

Hebreard, a lifelong DuPage County resident who lives in Woodridge, was first elected president in 2018. He worked as a senior ranger with the district from 2005 to 2018 before running for office. Naper Today reported that Hebreard said he was outspent $200,000 to $15,000 in that race but won.

Schultz lives with his wife, Caryn, and their children, Rowan and Allison. He holds a bachelor's degree in horticulture from the University of Illinois and owns Horticultural Consultants.

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, 9:36 p.m. CST. Reporting: 600 of 600. Unofficial results; every reporting unit has reported.