The Ballot Brief
Cook County, Illinois

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner (Six Year Term)

6 candidates are tracked for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner (Six Year Term) on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Precious Brady-Davis, Eira Lizeth Corral Sepulveda, Beth McElroy Kirkwood, Michelle Pennington, Timothy E. Rueckert and Jill B. Shestokas. Candidate information follows official Cook County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

On Cook County's November 3, 2026 general election ballot, per the Cook County Clerk's official candidate filing list. Voters choose up to three; the top three are elected districtwide.

What this office does

Special district board member. Special districts are single-purpose local governments with their own boards and, usually, their own tax levy. The board adopts the budget, sets the levy within voter-approved limits, hires the director and approves capital projects. The board's powers are limited to the district's purpose.

This race. Voters choose 3; the top 3 finishers win seats.

Illinois › Cook County › Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner (Six Year Term)

Precious Brady-Davis

Democratic

Top priorities
  • Stop leasing MWRD land to polluters and protect South and West Side neighborhoods from flooding
  • Expand green infrastructure and stormwater management, including completing the McCook Reservoir's Stage II
  • Cut greenhouse gas emissions through infrastructure upgrades and renewable energy

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Brady-Davis is a social justice advocate and communications professional who currently serves as a Commissioner at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and as Chief Strategy Officer at the Center on Halsted, per the campaign site. Brady-Davis previously spent nearly seven years with the Sierra Club and served as youth outreach coordinator managing HIV prevention and LGBT leadership programs at the Center on Halsted, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Eira Lizeth Corral Sepulveda

Democratic

Top priorities
  • Manage wastewater and stormwater treatment efficiently and equitably
  • Increase investment in green infrastructure to protect residents from climate-related flooding
  • Prioritize equitable community engagement in MWRD projects

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Eira Lizeth Corral Sepulveda appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner (Six Year Term), per the county elections office's certified candidate list.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Beth McElroy Kirkwood

Democratic

Top priorities
  • Preserve green space and align local land-use decisions with long-term environmental stewardship
  • Bring equity, access and clear communication to MWRD governance

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Kirkwood brings more than a decade of experience in municipal operations, education, and community leadership and was appointed to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District board by Governor JB Pritzker in December 2024, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Michelle Pennington

Republican

Top priorities
  • Review the MWRD budget for waste and work to lower property tax bills
  • Combine environmental protection with fiscal responsibility

Per the Patch (Glenview).

Biography

Michelle Pennington appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner (Six Year Term), per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.

Timothy E. Rueckert

Republican

Biography

Timothy E. Rueckert appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner (Six Year Term), per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.

Jill B. Shestokas

Republican

Biography

Jill B. Shestokas appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner (Six Year Term), per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.

Next on your ballotMetropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner (Two Year Term)

See your full ballot

Your address is only used to match your districts.

Voting info and more

Voting info and more
Questions about this race

Who is running for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner (Six Year Term) in 2026?

6 candidates are tracked for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner (Six Year Term) on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Precious Brady-Davis, Eira Lizeth Corral Sepulveda, Beth McElroy Kirkwood, Michelle Pennington, Timothy E. Rueckert and Jill B. Shestokas. Candidate information follows official Cook County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner (Six Year Term) election in Illinois?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Illinois are on the Illinois election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Cook County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Cook County and state election office filings, last verified September 27, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Illinois election office, or see the full Cook County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Cook County ballot

135 tracked races in Cook County, Illinois. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
Illinois Senate District 2Illinois Senate District 3Illinois Senate District 5See all 135 Cook County races
Candidate profiles
Precious Brady-Davis, full profileEira Lizeth Corral Sepulveda, full profileBeth McElroy Kirkwood, full profileMichelle Pennington, full profileTimothy E. Rueckert, full profileJill B. Shestokas, full profileOfficial Illinois election office