Joe Salvi: 2026 candidate for Lake County Board District 17

Bio

Office sought: Lake County Board District 17

City: Barrington

Age: 31

Occupation: Attorney

Previous offices held: N/A

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 children, and other families like mine, can build their futures here. What motivates me most is the ever-increasing cost of living that is squeezing everyday people. Life keeps getting more expensive, and our county government is not helping. In many cases, it is making the problem worse. Lake County has the highest property tax burden of any county in Illinois, yet residents see property taxes rise year after year. On top of that, the County has added new taxes, including a recent gasoline tax, further driving up the cost of daily life.

Many of the people I grew up with have fled Lake County and live elsewhere. That is deeply concerning, because Lake County should be a place people choose to put down roots. We have incredible natural resources, strong schools, economic opportunity, and solid infrastructure. Yet we are failing to make the County affordable and welcoming for the next generation. I want my children to want to live here. I am running to change the direction of Lake County so families can stay, grow, and thrive instead of feeling forced to leave because of high costs.

If you are an incumbent, describe a few important initiatives you’ve led. If you’re not an incumbent, describe a few ways you would contribute to the board.

One of my main initiatives will be improving transparency and accountability to taxpayers. On a heavily Democrat County Board, I will act as a counterbalance and speak up when ideological projects and private interests outweigh the interests of residents. I will also advocate for clear budgets and property tax bills that show which agencies or entities are receiving money, as well as how to contact them. Another priority is housing affordability. Often, well-intentioned mandates price people out of the market. For example, if a homeowner or developer wants to invest tens of thousands of dollars in bird-friendly windows, that should be their choice, not a government mandate on every new build. I would work to roll back mandates like this that raise costs without giving families flexibility.

While I am cautious about government intervention, I believe the County has a responsibility to protect affordability, especially when multibillion-dollar institutional investors with no community connection buy up single-family homes at scale, distort the market, drive up prices, and make it harder for people to buy a home. In those cases, the County should act to protect its constituents.

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

The service most lacking in County is public safety, particularly effective community policing and accountability in the criminal justice system. Eric Rinehart’s and Sheriff Idleburg’s soft-on-crime policies, pulled from the Safe-T Act, do not make Lake County safer. Based on my work with clients, I have seen firsthand how victims of crime too often feel ignored, with crimes not pursued and justice delayed or denied. When people lose confidence that crimes will be taken seriously, it erodes trust in government and harms the entire community.

Public safety is the most fundamental service the county provides. Residents should be able to live, work, and raise their families without fear, and victims deserve to know that the system will stand up for them. Improving public safety does not require raising taxes. The Sheriff’s Office and State’s Attorney should be focused on enforcing the law across the board and holding offenders accountable. By doing so, the County can reduce repeat offenses and lower long-term costs associated with chronic criminal behavior. A system that prioritizes accountability ultimately protects residents while being more fiscally responsible.

Lake County Board members also serve as forest commissioners. What do you consider the biggest priority or need in your district from the forest preserve side?

As a frequent user of the forest preserves, I see firsthand how fortunate we are to have some of the best natural areas in the State. For many residents, these preserves are not just for recreation but are essential to physical and mental health.

My top priority in my District is thoughtful stewardship. That means continuing habitat restoration and preservation efforts, improving amenities, and expanding and better connecting our trail systems so residents can safely and easily access the preserves from their neighborhoods. By focusing on preservation, accessibility, and connectivity, we can ensure the forest preserves remain healthy, usable, and protected for future generations.

With the county's budget being squeezed by federal funding cuts and other factors, what initiatives would you support to increase revenue and/or save money?

I do not believe the County should focus on raising revenue through new taxes or fees on Lake County residents. Our property tax burden is already among the highest in the country, and families here are stretched thin.

If there are ways to capture revenue from outside the County, I am open to considering them, but only if they are limited, proven, and do not raise the cost of living for residents. Otherwise, the focus should be on saving money. Other counties provide the same core services without imposing such a heavy burden, and Lake County should be able to do the same.

One place to start is a review of programs that were created or expanded using federal COVID-era grants that have expired or are expiring. If the federal government is no longer paying for those programs, we must be honest about whether they are essential and whether local taxpayers carry the cost going forward. Automatic continuation should not be the default. By reviewing those programs, cutting unnecessary mandates, and tightening spending, the County can protect essential services while easing the tax burden on residents who already pay more than their fair share.

What is the single most important issue facing your district, and how should the county address it?

High property taxes are the single most important issue facing our District, which the County should address by lowering property taxes. Lake County has the highest property taxes of the 102 counties in Illinois, and Illinois has the highest property tax burden of all 50 states. That reality is hitting families, seniors on fixed incomes, and small businesses in my district hard, and it’s forcing people to make difficult decisions about whether they can afford to stay in my community.

The County needs to get back to basics and make lowering property taxes a clear priority. That means focusing on core county responsibilities, setting realistic budgets, and being honest about what taxpayers can afford. Other counties are able to provide essential services without continually increasing the tax burden, and Lake County should be able to do the same. Through disciplined budgeting, spending restraint, and stronger oversight, we can reduce property taxes while still delivering the services residents expect and rely on.

Why are you the best person to serve in this role?

I am the best person for this role because I bring legal expertise and a fresh perspective that is otherwise missing from the Board. With Mike Danforth not seeking reelection, there will be no practicing attorneys on the Board. That matters because the Board writes ordinances and oversees the County courthouse. As a practicing attorney, I understand how laws are applied in practice and how poorly drafted laws create unintended problems.

I also come from a younger generation that is underrepresented in government. As President of Lake County Young Republicans and a parent, I have insight into the concerns of young people and young families and bring a fresh, results-focused mindset that is not tied to the status quo.

My background further equips me for this role. I studied economics and political science, giving me a foundation in smart fiscal public policy. I help manage a small law firm, so I understand budgets, payroll, and the challenges facing small businesses. I serve as an intelligence officer in the Navy Reserve, which instills a commitment to discipline, accountability, and service. I also have experience working at the local, state, and federal levels of government.

This content is neither