Lake Forest and Lake Bluff residents who want a say in local public health policy have until 5 p.m. Friday, July 31, 2026, to apply for one of four open seats on the Lake County Board of Health.
The Board of Health sets policy direction and provides oversight for the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center, the agencies responsible for disease prevention and community wellness programs across Lake County. The vacancies were announced at the Lake County Board's Friday, July 17, meeting, where members also formally honored the late Vice Chair Dr. Mary Ross-Cunningham.
Four seats, three-year terms
The county is filling four vacancies on the Board of Health, according to an official application notice posted by Lake County on Monday, July 13, 2026. The positions are three-year appointments and require candidates who meet qualifications under Illinois law (55 ILCS 5/5-25012):
- One resident with experience in mental health
- One physician licensed to practice medicine in Illinois
- Two residents with an interest in public health
Any Lake County resident who meets the statutory qualifications may apply.
Applications must be submitted online by 5 p.m. Friday, July 31. Applicants should select the Lake County Board of Health as their first or second choice on the county's appointment application form. For questions, contact Deputy County Administrator Matthew Meyers at 847-377-2232 or [email protected].
The Board of Health meets at 6 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of every month at the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center, 3010 Grand Ave., Waukegan.
Cunningham honored for two decades of service
The July 17 meeting also served as a formal tribute to Dr. Mary Ross-Cunningham, who died Monday, June 23, 2026, at age 80. Cunningham represented District 9 on the Lake County Board for more than 20 years, winning her first election in 2002. She was elected vice chair in 2018 and was the first Black woman to serve in Lake County Board leadership.
Before joining the board, Cunningham spent nearly 30 years working with veterans at the VA Hospital in North Chicago. She also served on the Governing Council of the Lake County Health Department.
The Lake County Board's official tribute described Cunningham as a leader of "fearless persistence and unwavering optimism" who would be deeply missed.
Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart said on July 13, when the county announced it was seeking applicants for Cunningham's District 9 seat, that Cunningham "never gave up, asked tough questions and held us accountable to the people we serve."
Her son, Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham, recalled a line his mother often repeated. "She said, 'I'm no politician; I'm a public servant,'" he told the Chicago Tribune on June 24, 2026.
What's next
Chair Hart must appoint a replacement for Cunningham's District 9 County Board seat by Friday, August 22, 2026, under Illinois law. A special election to fill the remaining two years of her term is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3.
The Board of Health application is a separate process. Residents interested in shaping local public health policy should apply by 5 p.m. Friday, July 31.
