Sean T. Noonan: 2026 candidate for DuPage County sheriff

Bio

Office sought: DuPage County sheriff

City: Elmhurst

Age: 53

Party: Republican

Previous offices held: DuPage County Board District 2 (8 years)

Q&A

Why are you running for this office? Is there a particular issue that motivates you? If so, what?

I'm running for DuPage County Sheriff because I believe the people of DuPage County deserve a sheriff who puts public safety, integrity, accountability and leadership first. Law enforcement is more than a uniform or a title. It is a commitment to protect our families, support our deputies, stand with victims, and hold dangerous offenders accountable. I'm motivated to improve leadership, morale and to strengthen our working relationships with our municipal partners.

What would you bring to the position and what would your priority be?

I'm running as a reformer. The Sheriff's Office is in dire need of new leadership. My number one priority is public safety. As Sheriff, I will make sure our deputies have the training, resources, and support they need to respond effectively to crime, protect our communities, and keep our residents safe. My second priority is recruiting and retention. I pledge to "hire the best and keep the best." We need to recruit and retain the best law enforcement professionals. That means being competitive in hiring, investing in training and professional development, and creating an environment where good deputies want to build their careers and stay with the Sheriff's Office.

What type of crime should be the sheriff office’s top target in the next few years? Please explain why. What steps will you take to address the priorities as you see them?

All crime should be the Sheriff's top target, however guns, gangs and drugs are the biggest threats to society. Supporting real crime centers, data collection of crime patterns and pro-active policing and mere police presence will help reduce crime in general. You cannot have an effective Sheriff's Office without enough qualified people to do the job. Staffing shortages create overtime, burnout, slower-response times and increased pressure on the deputies who are already serving. With the proper staffing, specialty units can be implemented where they can target specific areas where high crime exists.

Describe your position on the allocation of resources in the sheriff's office. Are personnel allocated as they should be? Are there capital expenses or other budgetary items that the office must address, and, if so, how do you propose to address them?

The Sheriff's Office must make sure that its personnel and financial resources are aligned with its most important responsibility: protecting the residents of DuPage County. If elected, I will conduct a thorough review of staffing levels and assignments since the Sheriff's Office has an authorized headcount of 505 personnel. I will determine whether personnel are being deployed as efficiently as possible and whether vacancies are creating unnecessary overtime or reducing operational capacity. The Sheriff's Office budget is approximately $69.2 million, with $54.7 million for personnel and $2.17 million for capital outlay. Projections for equipment and technology replacement and upgrades need to be constant so that it's not replaced after failing or becomes outdated. I will demonstrate responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars in my role as Sheriff while providing the best public safety services for all who reside, work and visit DuPage County.

Name one concrete program you’ll create or personnel move you’ll make to improve efficiency in the office or make it more successful. Explain how it will be funded and how you will overcome any obstacles to initiating it.

I will continue to support Just of DuPage, which is a nonprofit organization that provides incarcerated individuals with educational programs, vocational/job preparation, addiction recovery, life-skills and reentry support thus reducing recidivism. I want to improve and expand wellness programs/resources for all personnel. My goal will be to implement and sustain these programs by making sure they are budget neutral, however if the costs exceed the budget, I will apply for state or federal grants.