Daniel P. Hebreard: 2026 candidate for DuPage County Forest Preserve Board president

Bio

Office sought: DuPage County Forest Preserve Board president

City: Woodridge

Party: Democrat

Age: 49

Previous offices held: DuPage County Forest Preserve Board president

Q&A

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

I am running for re-election to continue to fight for our open spaces. Thrilled to be 3/4 done with the 2019 Master Plan and want to continue that work, connect more trails, improve amenities and continue supporting more sustainable governance.

If you are an incumbent, describe your two biggest contributions to the board. If you are a non-incumbent, describe two ways you would contribute to the board.

Ensured our preserves are safe and accessible for our public.

Completed huge projects like river restorations and infrastructure improvements like bridges and at Willowbrook.

What role should the forest preserve play in preserving historic buildings on its land?

The Forest Preserve has and should continually take thoughtful care and allocate resources to the historic structures on it's property. It should also be willing to work and support partners.

How would you rate the job the commission is doing to develop existing forest preserves and make them accessible to residents? How would you approach things differently?

I rate the forest preserves accessibility as a B, but hope to continue improvements outlined in the master plan and achieve an A.

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

The most important issue facing the Forest Preserve District is balancing safety and accessibility, restoration work and amenity improvement. We must continue to thoughtfully evaluate these critical components and make strategic long term investments in each.