Andrew Dalkin: 2024 candidate for Lake County Board District 12

Bio

Party: Republican

Office Sought: Lake County Board District 12

City: Lake Forest

Age: 59

Occupation: Attorney

Previous offices held: None

Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election for the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you? If so, what?

My entire career has been defined by public service — as a prosecutor, a supervisor at the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA), and now as an attorney representing law enforcement officers.

I am running for the Lake County Board not just to continue that commitment, but because the current board member has failed this district. He has proven time and again that he cannot be trusted. He either cannot or will not do the job he was elected to do.

He made campaign promises he did not keep, and instead of owning up to it, he continues to lie about his failures. Worse yet, he has missed, arrived late, or left early from over 75 county board meetings since 2021.

Lake County deserves better. We need leaders who keep their promises, tell the truth, and show up to do the job they were elected for. I am running because the 12th District deserves honest, accessible representation from someone who takes this role seriously and is committed to following through on the promises he makes.

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?

I will bring a commitment to honesty, transparency, hard work, and community engagement, with a career dedicated to public service. As a prosecutor for over 20 years, I took an oath to seek justice — not just for victims, but for those accused of crimes and the people of Illinois. I earned a reputation for being open, honest, and fair with fellow prosecutors, judges, and defense attorneys.

I tirelessly advocated for victims while always upholding my duty to seek justice. As a supervisor at COPA, I ensured transparency, integrity, and fairness in every investigation.

As a member of the county board, my promise will be to continue to uphold these values and work for the good of all residents, regardless of party, race, gender, or religion. Ensuring a healthy, vibrant and welcoming Lake County is my number one priority.

Describe your position regarding the balance between county spending and revenues as it exists today, then describe the chief threats you see looming in the future and how the county should deal with them.

The county board plays a critical role in ensuring our county agencies have the resources to provide top-tier services to residents, while also ensuring our forest preserve system remains the finest in Illinois. However, achieving these goals should not come at the cost of burdening our citizens with excessive taxes or unchecked, wasteful spending.

Property owners pay some of the highest property taxes in the entire country. Yet, my opponent voted to double the county’s portion of the tax levy last year despite promises that he would not raise taxes. County agencies must be held accountable for every dollar they spend. Taxpayer money should never fund unnecessary or inefficient projects. County government must operate within a balanced budget.

Lake County already has some of the highest taxes in Illinois, and unless we prioritize smart, responsible spending to reduce this burden, both businesses and residents will continue to leave. Fiscal responsibility must be a priority.

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

Partisan politics too often blocks the Lake County Board from doing what's truly best for our residents. Most of the issues we face aren’t political — they’re local, practical, and based on common sense.

That’s why I’ve always believed the county board should be nonpartisan. But as long as it is, board members must avoid blindly following their party line. Instead, they should make decisions based on what's right for the people they serve.

Board members have a duty to collaborate across party lines to ensure residents continue receiving the highest level of services. Our society is divided, but as a county board member, I will set that aside. I will work with both Republicans and Democrats to make sure every voice in Lake County is heard — not just those who voted one way or the other.

What do you see as the greatest need in your district from a county (roads, etc) and forest preserve (facilities, amenities) standpoint?

The greatest need in the 12th District is clear: voters deserve a county board representative they can trust — someone who listens to the community and fulfills the duties they were elected to perform. Unfortunately, our current representative has failed in these basic responsibilities. He made numerous promises not to raise property taxes but then voted to more than double the property tax levy in 2023, breaking his word to the people.

Moreover, he's been largely absent from the community, rarely engaging with residents or business owners to understand their concerns. His attendance record is equally troubling, missing over 40 meetings and arriving late or leaving early from more than 30 others.

The 12th District deserves better. Our representative must listen, show up, and get the job done for the community. It's time for accountability and leadership that puts people first.

What have constituents in your district been asking about that you would like to see addressed in some fashion?

When speaking with constituents, two primary concerns consistently come up. First, they are deeply concerned about the high taxes in Lake County, which has some of the highest taxes in Illinois, and they continue to rise. In 2023, the county board voted to increase the property tax levy from 2.4% to 5%, following an earlier decision to raise the gas tax by 4 cents per gallon. These tax hikes are driving businesses and residents out of Lake County, with many more considering leaving.

The second major concern is that most people have little to no idea what the county board does or who represents them. There’s widespread frustration and concern that their voices are not being heard because their county board representative isn’t engaging with the community or addressing the issues that matter to them.

Is the county/forest board behind the pay curve compared to other jurisdictions and how can the county/forest board best strive to attract and retain key employees?

While representing Lake County Correctional Officers in recent contract negotiations, I witnessed how the county's failure to fairly compensate these officers caused a mass exodus to other counties with higher pay and safer conditions. We secured a new contract with more competitive salaries for current officers and incentives to attract new hires, helping to stabilize the workforce.

The staffing crisis isn't limited to correctional officers. The state’s attorney’s office also faces understaffing — not just due to salaries, but due to low morale and frustration with the administration. When the current state’s attorney took office, many attorneys were fired, and others left as the office shifted its focus away from justice and victims' rights to prioritizing the accused.

Despite these challenges, some county board members recently voted to raise their own salaries. I firmly oppose this. We should be improving conditions for those who serve our community — not rewarding ourselves.

Do you think the forest preserve should proceed with an agreement with Waukegan Port Authority for 52 acres of Waukegan Savanna? Why or why not?

I strongly oppose the use of any Forest Preserve land for the expansion of the Waukegan airport. One of Lake County’s greatest assets is the forest preserve system. We should be looking to expand the forest preserves, not downsizing.

Additionally, we have two, large, international airports within an hour of Waukegan, Milwaukee and O’Hare, which are fantastic alternatives to Waukegan airport expansion.

Is there a general issue or concern on your radar you would like to see the county/forest board address?

The county board needs to move away from partisan politics and start focusing on implementing ideas and budgets that target the needs of all Lake County residents, not just the ones that voted for you. I’d also bring back community-based representation to Deerfield, Highland Park, Bannockburn and Lake Forest. My opponent not only doesn’t show up for board meetings, but he is also absent in the community. I’ll bring monthly community coffees and work with fantastic organizations like the West Deerfield Township to hold community education events like the Dementia Caregivers event held last summer. There is so much more we can do with this office and I look forward to the opportunity to make it happen.