Candidate for 11th State Central Committee
My name is Daniel Hebreard and I’m a lifelong Chicagoland resident. I earned a degree in Parks and Recreation Management from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. I had stops at the Oak Brook Park District, Palos Heights Recreation Department and Yorkville Recreation Department before I found a perfect fit. In 2005 I was hired as a Ranger at the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. The job is a mixture of community service officer, educator, natural resource technician and maintenance staff- all rolled into one. I went back to school, earning my Masters in Business Administration from Benedictine University in 2007 and was promoted to Senior Ranger at about the same time. I enjoyed our beautiful open spaces, caring for them and welcoming the millions of visitors we have each year.
However, in 2014 we were having a major board change and staff was worried about benefits being reduced and a continual lack of leadership from our board. As such I worked with Metropolitan Alliance of Police (MAP) and collected cards to form a union for our Rangers. We turned in our cards in the summer of 2014 and after multiple court battles were certified in 2016. As steward of the union, I led the charge in court and the ensuing negotiations- saving our benefits and gaining a fair wage scale. However, our new board President was a continual disappointment and had gone unopposed in the 2014 election.
Thus, I decided to continue my public service by running for President of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County in the 2018 cycle. Our agency had split from the county in 2002 so I would be running to represent nearly 1 million people and would need the majority of our over 500,000 registered voters. I was thrilled with the support I received and was able to turn in double the minimum requirement of signatures. Once again, however I found myself in court fighting frivolous claims to keep me off the ballot. With the help of friends and a good legal team I was able to stay on the ballot, even though they took the challenge to the appellate court. I ran a grass roots campaign sharing my love and knowledge of the agency and tried to be at every event I could to spread the message. I was outspent $200,000 to $15,000- a whopping 15-1 ratio but outworked my opponent mightily with Democratic power of the precinct committeeman! I was down 3500 votes on election night but fought to validate over 1500 provisional votes and over 12,000 mail in ballots and in the end won by 702 votes becoming the first county-wide elected Democrat in DuPage in over 70 years and the second ever!
Immediately, I focused on treating our staff better and bringing professionalism to the board. One of the first initiatives was passing a Master Plan for our agency, which I did in 2019. I’m proud to say we are almost 2/3 complete and I hope to substantially finish it during the next 4-5 years. I also believe every level of government should be fighting climate change and have passed an aggressive Sustainability & Green Energy Plan. Under my leadership we are approaching 2 megawatts of solar installation, a NET-ZERO project and hundreds of acres of natural resource restoration. We have also won several regional and national awards including multiple awards from Chicagoland Wilderness, Green Garage for the nation’s top green fleet and financial reporting awards for transparency and accuracy. I’m proud to lead an agency that is AAA rated and bonded and regarded as a leader in the field of conservation. I’m also the President of the Illinois Association of Conservation and Forest Preserve Districts (IACFPD).
Finally, I’m your neighbor who is standing up in a time when we need to keep Democracy thriving and fight for our country. I’m excited to continue my leadership journey on the state central committee representing the 11th District and ensuring the Democratic Party of Illinois is doing all it can to support our local candidates. My wife of 22 years, Donna, is a 24 year IEA union teacher at Plainfield District 202 and we are raising our wonderful kids, Kevin and Lea in Woodridge. I humbly ask for your vote and support in this election- and you will be in good company as I have been endorsed by our Congressman Bill Foster.
Sincerely, Daniel Hebreard
Dhebreard@hotmail.com
DanielHebreard.com
630-849-1505 (please text)
1999
Graduated from University of Illinois Champaign Urbana with a degree in Parks and Recreation Management
2005
Starts career at Forest Preserve District of DuPage County as a Ranger
Promoted to Senior Ranger
Graduated from Benedictine University with a Master’s degree in Business Administration
2007
2014
Forms a Union for the Rangers with Metropolitan Alliance of Police (MAP) and voted Steward
2017
Completes first contract for Ranger Union after winning court battles and ensuring fair conditions and preserving benefits
Gets outspent $200k to $15k, but outworks incumbent opponent to become first county wide Democrat elected in 80+ years
Resigns position as Ranger and Union Steward. Next day is sworn in as President of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
Eliminates political insider “Presidential Assistant” contracted position, saving the taxpayers $25k annually ($100k for 4 year term)
Refuses any extra benefits as President, saving tens of thousands of dollars
Passes balanced budget
2018
Passes “Building Renewal Program” to ensure that bridges, roofs and other preventative maintenance items are funded in the budget and keep preserves safe
Reviewed Preserve at Oak Meadows Clubhouse project and added solar to the project on the golf cart storage barn that produces 100% solar powered golf carts annually; clubhouse completed 2020
Added baby changing stations to several flush toilet facilities throughout the District to ensure each and every one has that available to our public
Added a designated Nursing Mother’s room at our Headquarters facility
Passed Master Plan for Forest Preserve which included 32 approved projects and 15 initiatives, totaling over $100 million in improvements to the District
2019
2020
Stayed open every day during COVID pandemic as a needed outlet for our residents
Kept level of service at same high level as visitation jumped from 4.5 Million annually to over 6 Million visits during COVID pandemic
Funded study on safety and appropriate policing of preserves which found DuPage has the safest preserves in Chicagoland
Ensured our Police were fully staffed to maintain our secure preserves and trails, including adding more cameras
Completed solar array at Willowbrook with $25k private donation
Passed Responsible Bidder Ordinance to ensure quality, local labor completed our contracts
Passed $40 million bond issuance without raising taxes
District won Force of Nature award for creek restoration at Blackwell
2021
2022
Passed $25 million Max contract for NetZero animal hospital and rehab complex at Willowbrook
District has budgeted and initiated work on 15/21 Master Plan projects
District has 1000 acres of restoration in progress from Master Plan
District hired full-time safety manager and created Director of Public Safety and Services position to coordinate all District security efforts
Throughout first term, oversaw purchase of 8 parcels that will be preserved in perpetuity as District holdings
2023
Historic Hidden Lake Bridge - Reconstruction of cast and wrought iron bowstring pony truss bridge dating back to the 1870s.
Butterfield connector trail completed which linked Cromwell Drive at Butterfield Road to the Danada-Herrick Lake Regional trail.
Springbrook Prairie trail connector at Plainfield/Naperville Road. Connects into trailhead that provides safer access to Springbrook Prairie, the Southern DuPage Regional Trail, and thousands of acres of open space.
Replaced bridge at Waterfall Glenn, which was washed out due to large ice slabs in Sawmill Creek. The new bridge was designed 3 feet higher over the creek to avoid possible future ice damming.
Added solar energy (260.2-kilowatt photovoltaic array) to the FPDDC fleet management facility. The project provides for the facility’s annual energy needs, while preventing over 230 metric tons of carbon from entering the atmosphere each year.
Undertook the single largest restoration project at Herrick Lake, including removing invasive species and seeded and planted plugs, trees, and shrubs on 454 acres.
Completed major exterior renovation at historic Mayslake Hall in Oakbrook.
Acquired 35 acres of land to add to Danada Forest Preserve in Wheaton.
Renovated and restored outdoor shelter at York Woods that was originally build in the 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
New underpass under York Road was constructed at Fullersburg Forest Preserve.
Removal of Graue Dam that resulted in cleaner water in the Salt Creek and the return of eight native fish previously only found downstream.
Launched “Preserve for You” Campaign to engage DuPage County residents and to inform them about the numerous benefits of land preservation.
Purchased new all-terrain outdoor Grit Freedom Chairs to allow individuals of all abilities to connect with nature and each other.
Debuted the short film – “Mussel Matters: Saving Critical Species in DuPage County” in partnership with North Central College and The Conservation Foundation, highlighting the importance and challenges facing our rivers and streams .
2024
Constructed and opened four new flush accessible family restrooms at Mallard Lake in Hanover Park, Pratt’s Wayne Woods in Wayne, Wood Dale Grove in Wood Dale, and Waterfall Glenn in Darien.
Completed major historic renovations at Danda House & Atrium in Wheaton.
Constructed new leachate extraction system at the former and now closed landfill site at Blackwell Forest Preserve, protecting future generations for years to come.
Completed construction of the new DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center at Willowbrook in Glen Ellyn.
Began new natural restoration project at Springbrook Prairie, that will be on-going for a few more years.
Completed Phase III restoration of Springbrook Creek at Blackwell Forest Preserve.
2025
Completion of the FPDDC’s new Grounds & Natural Resources campus at Blackwell Forest Preserve.
Installation of new solar energy at FPDDC Headquarters, which will generate over 527,000 kilowatt-hours of clean electricity every year, reducing our energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
Maple Meadows golf course and club house renovations will commence, resulting in a one-year closure due to construction.
Phase II of Mayslake Hall renovations and energy conservation upgrades, resulting in a one-year closure due to construction.
Completion of a new Master Plan for Herrick Lake Forest Preserve.
Land Acquisition throughout DuPage County.
2026
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