Lake Forest and Lake Bluff residents will help decide who runs Lake County's top law enforcement agency when they vote for sheriff on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Democratic incumbent John Idleburg is seeking a third term. Republican Roman Buchberger, a retired Lake County deputy, is challenging him. Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
The Lake County Sheriff's Office handles countywide criminal investigations, jail operations and court security, according to Patch. The outcome will shape policing and jail policy across the county's 431 precincts and 468,641 registered voters.
The candidates
Idleburg, a Zion-area resident, has served as sheriff since 2018, the Chicago Tribune reported. He came to the office after a military career, years as a Lake County deputy and decades as a federal agent in the Treasury Department. He first won the seat by about 150 votes in 2018 and was re-elected by a wider margin in 2022.
Buchberger, also of Zion, served in the Army before joining the Lake County Sheriff's Office in 2003, according to the Tribune. He worked as a deputy for 19 years before retiring in 2022. Patch reported he has 32 years of law enforcement experience.
Where they differ
Jail operations: Buchberger has criticized how the Lake County jail is run, according to the Tribune. The jail has faced persistent staffing shortages, and the county pays McHenry County to house about 150 inmates. Buchberger said the office must recruit correctional officers more aggressively and called understaffing a source of a "toxic environment." Idleburg acknowledged staffing is an ongoing challenge but said his office is always trying to hire.
SAFE-T Act: The candidates split on Illinois' Pretrial Fairness Act, which eliminated cash bail statewide in 2023. Idleburg said the law has made pretrial detention decisions less dependent on defendants' financial circumstances, according to questionnaires submitted to Patch. Buchberger said the law has not been effective and fails to address broader economic and community challenges.
Surveillance technology: In March 2024, the Lake County Board approved a two-year, $90,000 contract for 15 Flock Safety license-plate-reader cameras, funded through the Sheriff's Asset Forfeiture Fund. Idleburg supports using the cameras with strict oversight. Buchberger has raised concerns about the potential for government abuse of surveillance technology, Patch reported.
How to vote
Polls are open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Anyone in line when polls close can still vote. Registered voters may cast a ballot at any Election Day voting site in Lake County, according to the Lake County Clerk's election page. No identification is required for voters correctly registered with their current name and address.
The sheriff's race is one of four countywide contests on the ballot. The clerk, treasurer and regional superintendent of schools seats are also up.
Results will be posted on the Lake County Clerk's website after polls close. For sample ballots or polling locations, call 847-377-8683.
