Joe Salvi: 2026 candidate for Lake County Board District 17

Bio

Office sought: Lake County Board District 17

Party: Republican

City: Barrington

Age: 32

Previous offices held: None

Q&A

Why are you running for this office? Is there a particular issue that motivates you?

I am running to fight for a better, freer, and more affordable Lake County so my three children can build their futures here. As a father, I think a lot about what Lake County will look like when they are grown and whether they will actually be able to afford to live here. I am primarily motivated by the ever-increasing cost of living that is squeezing everyday people. Life keeps getting more expensive, and our county government is adding to that burden rather than helping relieve it. Lake County residents already face the highest effective property-tax burden in Illinois. Yet, property-tax bills continue to rise. We have also seen additional sales and motor-fuel taxes imposed in Lake County, adding to the cost of daily life. Many of the people I grew up with have moved away, and that concerns me because Lake County should be a place where people want to put down roots.

We have incredible natural resources, strong schools, economic opportunity, and great communities. I want my children to want to live here when they grow up. I am running because I believe we need to change the direction of Lake County and make it a place where families can stay, grow, and build their futures.

If you are an incumbent, describe your main contributions. Tell us of any important initiatives you’ve led. If you are a challenger, what would you bring to the board and what would your priority be?

If elected, I would be the only practicing attorney on the 19-person County Board. That matters because the Board oversees and funds important parts of our legal system, including the courts, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Sheriff’s Office, State’s Attorney’s Office, and county jail. It also adopts county ordinances and regulations. I practice law primarily in Lake County and regularly see firsthand the consequences of local government decisions. I also see what happens when laws and regulations are poorly written: unnecessary litigation, added costs, confusion, and avoidable problems. I will bring my legal experience to the Board to ask the right questions and help ensure County ordinances are clear, workable, and easy to understand.

My priority would be making County government more accountable to taxpayers and more focused on affordability. I will provide an independent check on spending and policy decisions, push for clearer budgets, and advocate for financial information that makes it easier for residents to understand where their money is going and who is responsible for spending it.

What initiatives would you support to increase revenue and/or save money?

Before asking taxpayers for more money, the County should first make sure it is responsibly managing the money it already has. So, while I support increasing revenue and saving taxpayer dollars, I do not think the County should default to raising taxes. We can increase revenue by growing the commercial tax base through economic development. Ways to save money include regularly reviewing the County’s contracts, rebidding major services for cost savings, and eliminating duplication between departments. Further, we should not blindly allow programs to continue indefinitely, especially those that previously received COVID-era grant funding, and instead require all programs to demonstrate their necessity and efficiency before they receive taxpayer funding.

Is there a specific service or amenity that is lacking in the county? If so, how do you propose to provide and fund it?

One of the County’s most serious deficiencies is inadequate staffing at the Lake County Jail. Since 2024, an officer shortage has forced Lake County to house inmates in McHenry County. The County is paying McHenry County $100 per day per inmate to house up to 150 inmates. At full capacity, that is $15,000 per day in gross payments to another county because we lack sufficient staffing at our own facility.

This is both a public-safety and management issue. My priority would be recruiting and retaining enough qualified correctional officers to safely operate the jail at its intended capacity. I would approach the problem as a business owner would by examining recruitment, hiring practices, compensation, retention, overtime, and why applicants may be leaving or failing to complete the hiring process.

I would fund that priority by reallocating existing County resources. Public safety and operation of the County Jail are core responsibilities and should come before discretionary programs and lower-priority spending. I would also scrutinize the budget, contracts, staffing, and non-essential expenditures to ensure existing revenue is directed toward the services residents depend on.

Does there need to be more bipartisanship and cooperation on the county board? If yes, what would you do to help make that happen?

Yes. 14 of 19 seats on the County Board are currently held by Democrats due to gerrymandering. By necessity, I will have to work across the aisle, and I have no problem doing so. Many of the issues facing the County Board are not the clear-cut Republican-versus-Democrat issues that dominate national politics. I will approach each issue on its merits and take the stance I believe is right, regardless of which party proposed it or who happens to agree with me.

Fundamentally, I believe in treating people with respect. I always try to look for common ground and listen to different perspectives. There will certainly be issues where I strongly disagree with the majority, and I will not be afraid to say so, but disagreement does not have to become personal.

What is your stance on county board members' pay? Is it too high, too low, or just right? Would you propose any changes?

I believe County Board Members are paid too much. If it were up to me, serving on the County Board would be public service rather than a paid position. I recognize that reasonable compensation can make it possible for people from different financial backgrounds to serve, but I do not believe the current level of compensation is necessary.

The Board recently approved an increase to Board Members’ pay, with additional increases scheduled in future years. I would have opposed that increase. At a time when Lake County is still struggling with core responsibilities, I do not believe Board Members should be increasing their own compensation. Public office should be about service, not a paycheck.

What is the most important issue facing the county in your district and how should it be addressed?

High property taxes are the single most important issue facing our district. Lake County has the highest effective property-tax rate of Illinois’ 102 counties, while Illinois arguably has the highest effective residential property-tax rate in the nation. That burden is hitting families, seniors on fixed incomes, renters, and small businesses hard and is forcing residents to make difficult decisions about whether they can afford to remain in the communities they call home.

While Lake County government receives about 10% of resident’s property taxes, the Board should take responsibility for the portion it does control. I would make affordability a priority by holding down the County’s property-tax levy, focusing spending on core responsibilities, setting disciplined budgets, scrutinizing new expenditures, and looking for efficiencies. Lake County residents already pay enough.