Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg has claimed victory in his bid for a third term, according to unofficial results from Tuesday night. Sheriff Idleburg, a Democrat, is leading his Republican opponent, Roman Buchberger, with 66% of the vote compared to Buchberger’s 34% out of approximately 200,000 votes cast.
“I am very honored that the people of Lake County have selected me to serve a third term,” Idleburg stated. A resident of Zion, Idleburg’s campaign highlighted improvements made during his leadership. His focus has been on enhancing the department with more K-9 units and strengthening the Special Investigations Group to address drug, gun, and human trafficking. Idleburg cited these initiatives as key to achieving another term. “We’ve tried to engage the community and put in programs to make the community safe,” he emphasized.
Buchberger, who served as a deputy for 19 years before retiring, criticized Idleburg’s tenure. He pointed to ongoing staffing challenges at the Lake County jail, managed by the sheriff’s office, labeling Idleburg’s management as inadequate.
Idleburg initially won the sheriff position in 2018 by a slim margin against then-incumbent Sheriff Mark Curran and expanded his winning margin in 2022. Before running for sheriff, Idleburg had a law enforcement career in the sheriff’s office followed by years as a federal agent.
In a concurrent county race, Democrat Sandy Hart, currently a member and chair of the Lake County Board for District 13, secured the treasurer position with about 66% of the vote. Her established political career and the county’s political leaning contributed to her strong candidacy. Republican David Penaherrera, new to the political scene, advocated for traditional conservative principles while distancing himself from President Trump.
Hart, first elected to the board in 2012 and chair since 2018, argued her relationships within the county would make her an effective treasurer. On Tuesday evening, Hart expressed her satisfaction with the election outcomes at both local and national levels. Her apparent victory will result in a new appointee for the District 13 seat, with announcements expected as soon as December. She is scheduled to assume her role as Lake County treasurer later this year. “It has been a real privilege and an honor to serve on the county and forest preserve boards,” Hart commented. “I’m looking forward to this new endeavor and serving the people of Lake County in this way.”
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