County Board:
Major Shake-Up or the Status Quo with New Faces?
FREEPORT, IL – November 01, 2025
Inside the 2026 Stephenson County Board Elections
With Monday marking the final day to file petitions for the March 17, 2026 Primary Election, the Stephenson County Board could soon look very different. Eight of the sixteen seats are on the ballot, and filings so far reveal a mix of uncontested races, open seats, and political maneuvering that could reshape county leadership for years to come.
What the County Board Does — and Why It Matters
The Stephenson County Board serves as the county’s legislative and financial authority. Members oversee budgets, set policy, and decide how taxpayer dollars are spent on infrastructure, law enforcement, and community services.
Though rarely in the spotlight, the board’s votes directly affect residents’ taxes, roads, and public services — making these elections among the most consequential at the local level.
District-by-District Breakdown
District B
Current Representative: Samuel L. Newton (D)
Status: No candidate filed yet.
Newton has not filed for re-election, and no petitions have been submitted. If no one steps up, District B could go unrepresented in 2026.
Anyone residing in the district who wants to serve should contact fighting4freeport@gmail.com for guidance.
District C
Current Representative: Lou Ann Hayes (R)
Status: Filed (23 signatures); unopposed.
Hayes filed to seek another term and, unless challenged before Monday, will sail through both the primary and general election uncontested.
District D
Current Representative: William (Bill) Hadley (R)
Status: Has not filed for re-election.
This district stands out as one of the cycle’s most politically charged.
Two candidates have filed:
Tory Barr (R) — 25 signatures, backed by State Senator Andrew Chesney, former State Senator Brian Stewart, County Board Member Dale Diddens, and Freeport 6th Ward Alderman Greg Shadle.
Roxanne Rice (D) — 46 signatures, backed by Democratic Chair Jody Coss (who collected three signatures herself) and Township Trustee Ted Odendahl.
But District D’s significance goes far deeper.
In the past, Fighting4Freeport has reported that Jody Coss and the Stephenson County Democratic Party had planned to run Hadley (R) as a Democrat against Mayor Jodi Miller in the 2025 Freeport mayoral race — a behind-the-scenes plan derailed when Joshua Atkinson entered the race and refused to allow either party to manipulate voters.
Now, with Atkinson running against Andrew Chesney in the 2026 Republican Primary for State Senate, Coss appears to be dusting off the same playbook.
Multiple local sources confirm she intends to either run or support Hadley in a 2027 challenge against Alderwoman-at-Large Joy Sellers(D), positioning that race as a springboard for Hadley’s eventual 2029 mayoral bid.
The broader goal, insiders say, is part of a long-term effort by Coss to re-establish her political relevance inside Freeport City Hall after years of diminished influence and minimal Democratic success.
District D, then, isn’t merely a local contest — it’s a test run for a coordinated comeback strategy built on crossover alliances and quiet positioning for future control of city leadership.
District E
Current Representative: Adam I. Moderow (D)
Status: Filed (84 signatures); challenged by Joshua Libby (R).
Moderow enjoys support from Circuit Court Judge James M. Hauser, County Board Member Lynette Williams, and Democratic Chair Jody Coss, who gathered eight signatures.
His challenger, Joshua Libby (R), filed with 38 signatures and is backed by Circuit Court Judge Peter J. McClanathan.
Expect this to be one of the election’s most competitive races.
District F
Current Representative: Brooke Deininger-Wagner (R)
Status: Not seeking re-election.
Clayton Zimmerman (R) filed with 29 signatures and currently faces no opponent.
District G
Current Representative: Jackie DeMeester (R)
Status: Filed (28 signatures); faces primary challenge.
Jerry Clay (R) filed with 32 signatures — one of them from his opponent DeMeester herself — suggesting a friendly handoff rather than a fight. Clay serves as a Stephenson County Republican Committeeperson (Dakota Township).
District H
Current Representative: Nicole Baker (R)
Status: Filed (44 signatures); unopposed.
Baker, the Rock Grove Republican Committeeperson, is on track to retain her seat without challenge.
District I
Current Representative: Timothy S. Whalen (R)
Status: Has not filed.
Cynthia J. Lawfer (R) filed with 32 signatures and runs unopposed. She currently serves as a Republican Precinct Committeeperson (Harlem 2).
The Committeeperson Pipeline
Many County Board members also serve as precinct committeepersons — the grass-roots organizers who control party infrastructure.
Clayton Zimmerman(R) Appointed – West Point 2
Jerry Clay(R) Elected – Dakota
Nicole Baker(R) Elected – Rock Grove
Tory Barr(R) Appointed – Freeport 2
Adam Moderow (D) - First Vice Chair, Stephenson County Democratic Party
This overlap shows how the Republican Party has cultivated a pipeline for future officeholders, while Democrats have largely failed to do the same.
Party Snapshot
Democrats: Disengaged, Divided, and Searching for Relevance
Beyond limited involvement from Chair Coss, Lynette Williams, and Ted Odendahl, the Stephenson County Democratic Party has struggled to mobilize this cycle. Coss’s collection of just eight signatures across eight races illustrates a party disconnected from its own base.
Still, Coss appears to be redirecting her focus — working to re-establish political relevance inside Freeport City Hall through selective candidate alliances and crossover campaigns. It may rebuild her personal influence, but it continues to leave many local Democrats feeling politically homeless and frustrated by a lack of clear leadership.
Republicans: Organized but Insular
While their public presence is mostly seen in parades and community events, the local Republican Party remains structured and strategic. Its interwoven network of committeepersons and candidates suggests a long-term plan centered on continuity and control — a machine that functions smoothly even if it doesn’t always serve broader community growth.
What It All Means
The 2026 County Board races highlight both parties’ contrasting realities: Democrats grappling with disengagement and Republicans consolidating power. Whether this year ushers in a major shake-up or simply the status quo with new faces will depend on who steps forward before Monday — and who shows up to vote.
Final Thoughts
Local government only works when local people get involved. If you live in District B or any uncontested district, this is your moment to step up and make a difference.
To learn how to file or volunteer, email fighting4freeport@gmail.com.
Fighting4Freeport will continue tracking these races and providing updates, signature analyses, and candidate profiles as the 2026 Primary Election approaches.
