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. All 600 of 600 reporting units had reported as of 11:25 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, with 326,245 votes counted.

Hebreard led Schultz by 81,333 votes.

What was at stake

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County manages 60 forest preserves spanning 26,000 acres and 175 miles of trails, according to the district's website. A seven-member board of commissioners governs the district. The president is the only member elected countywide.

The key issues:

• Spending and oversight: Hebreard said he passed a $40 million bond issuance without raising taxes and eliminated a contracted "presidential assistant" position, saving $25,000 a year, as we reported Oct. 5. He said he wants to cut commissioner salaries by 70% to 75% and abolish commissioner pensions and health care benefits.
• Trails and access: The district broke ground in May on the final 0.7-mile segment of the 26-mile West Branch DuPage River Trail, an $8.5 million project expected to finish in June 2027. Hebreard said he wants to develop more trail connections.
• Budget: The board approved a $151 million budget for 2026, a 5% increase over the prior year, with $69.6 million for capital projects.

A little history

Hebreard, a Woodridge resident and 1995 Downers Grove North High School graduate, was first elected president in 2018. He worked as a senior ranger at the Forest Preserve District from 2005 to 2018, according to BallotReady. 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 ran as a Republican, according to the DuPage County Clerk's official candidate listing.

What's next

The results remain unofficial until the canvass is complete. Hebreard's current term ends Dec. 31, 2026, according to BallotReady.

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.