The Ballot Brief
Winnebago County, Illinois

Winnebago County Forest Preserve Commissioner

4 candidates are tracked for Winnebago County Forest Preserve Commissioner on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Eric Johnson, George Kallstrom, Cheryl A. Maggio and Jeff Tilly. Candidate information follows official Winnebago County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Four nonpartisan candidates for Forest Preserve Commissioner appear on the county's official November 3, 2026 candidate list: Eric Johnson, George Kallstrom, Cheryl A. Maggio and Jeff Tilly. The list does not state how many seats are up; the seat count here is not confirmed and should be verified against the sample ballot before publication.

Illinois › Winnebago County › Winnebago County Forest Preserve Commissioner

Eric Johnson

Nonpartisan

Biography

No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.

George Kallstrom

Nonpartisan

Biography

No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.

Cheryl A. Maggio

Nonpartisan

Biography

Cheryl Maggio has served on the Forest Preserves of Winnebago County Board of Commissioners since first winning a seat in the November 2014 election, per the Rockford Register Star. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.

Jeff Tilly

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

  • Continuing to acquire and conserve forest land and expand the district's preserves and wildlife corridors
  • Opposing a proposed data center and TIF industrial development near Kilbuck Creek and other environmentally sensitive areas

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Jeff Tilly is the sitting Forest Preserve Commissioner and the longest-serving President of the Forest Preserves of Winnebago County Board of Commissioners, with twelve years on the board, per the district's governance page and his campaign site. He is a U.S. Navy veteran who earned degrees from Rock Valley College and Northern Illinois University and works as Facilities Director at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford, per his campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)
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Questions about this race

Who is running for Winnebago County Forest Preserve Commissioner in 2026?

4 candidates are tracked for Winnebago County Forest Preserve Commissioner on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Eric Johnson, George Kallstrom, Cheryl A. Maggio and Jeff Tilly. Candidate information follows official Winnebago County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Winnebago County Forest Preserve Commissioner 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 Winnebago 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 Winnebago County and state election office filings, last verified September 29, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your Winnebago County ballot

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

Also on your ballot
Winnebago County Advisory Question: Legislative Redistricting ProcessWinnebago County Advisory Question: Property Tax ReliefPecatonica Fire Protection District Property Tax Limiting Rate IncreaseSee all 29 Winnebago County races
Candidate profiles
Eric Johnson, full profileGeorge Kallstrom, full profileCheryl A. Maggio, full profileJeff Tilly, full profileOfficial Illinois election office