The Libertarian Party of Illinois is fielding a slate of local candidates for the state’s 2025 consolidated elections in April. The party is running a spread of candidates across the state, including for municipal trustee, library, and school board positions.
In a statement submitted to Independent Political Report on Friday, the party said that it’s proud to be supporting a variety of candidates seeking office this year, including several of whom that have prior municipal experience. Those candidates mentioned by the party include two actively seeking reelection, an appointed official looking to make a switch over to an elected school board seat, a former municipal trustee seeking to return to office, and two additional candidates associated with the state party.
The Libertarian Party of Illinois currently has seven members holding local elected office, with three up for re-election this year and the remaining four in 2027. However, it is losing one official this year, as Jonathan Russell, a two-term board member of the Harrisburg Community Unit School District #3 Board of Education, has opted not to seek re-election for a third term.
Notably, the party’s website lists an eighth officeholder not mentioned in the release—Brandon Wisenburg, a Trustee for Peoria Heights Village whose term runs until 2027.
Petitioning for Illinois’ consolidated elections formally began last year, with the actual election date set for April 1. All races in the consolidated election that the party is fielding candidates in are nonpartisan. While the election does not impact the state party’s ballot access for future races, the party emphasizes that Libertarians should still seek office at all levels, regardless of major ballot access cycles.
A full copy of the release submitted to IPR is below:
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
February 21, 2025Libertarian Party of Illinois Announces Local Candidates for April 1, 2025 Consolidated Election
The Libertarian Party of Illinois (LP Illinois) is excited to confirm its roster of local candidates for the upcoming consolidated election on April 1, 2025. The party is proud to support a diverse group of candidates dedicated to serving their communities and advocating for libertarian principles.
While all these political races are nonpartisan or independent in nature, it’s important that Libertarians pursue elected offices at all levels wherever possible regardless of whether the elections fall on our major ballot access election cycles (e.g. 2026, 2028, etc.) or for our less restrictive local elections (e.g. 2025, 2027, etc.).
Seeking Re-election
Patrick Liapes Trustee, Poplar Creek Public Library District, Cook County
• Background: Elected to an unexpired two-year term in 2023, Liapes is now seeking a full six-year term. He is expected to win uncontested. A member of LP Illinois since 2020, Liapes is committed to enhancing library services in the district.Kelly Liebmann Trustee, Greenwood Township, McHenry County
• Background: Liebmann is running for her second term after being elected in 2021. A dedicated member of LP Illinois since 2013, she currently serves as Operations Director within the party’s IT Division.Appointed Official Seeks Election
Brett Ryan Member, Nettle Creek CUSD #24C Board of Education, Grundy County
• Background: After a previous unsuccessful bid for the school board in 2023, Ryan was appointed to the Board of Education. He seeks election in a race that will secure his position uncontested. Ryan has been a member of LP Illinois since 2020.Former Elected Official in Contested Race
Jonathan King Trustee, Village of Bellmont, Wabash County
• Background: King, a former village trustee of the Village of Bellmont, is among seven candidates vying for three trustee seats. A member of LP Illinois since 2018, King currently serves as Campaigns Director within the party.Additional Candidates
Brian Voyles President, Village of Wilsonville, Macoupin County
• Background: Voyles is in a three-way race for village president and has been an active member of LP Illinois since 2016.Jake Leonard Trustee, Nokomis Township Public Library District, Montgomery County
• Background: Leonard is one of two candidates seeking a full six-year term and is expected to win uncontested. A member of LP Illinois since 2013, he has held various roles within the party’s Political Division, including two terms as Political Director.Not Seeking Re-election
LP Illinois acknowledges that Jonathan Russell, a two-term board member of the Harrisburg Community Unit School District #3 Board of Education, has opted not to seek re-election in 2025. Elected in 2017 and re-elected in 2021, his tenure will conclude on May 20, 2025. The party extends its gratitude for his service over the past eight years.Elected Officials in Illinois
While Russell will not be seeking re-election, he is one of seven elected officials in Illinois, including:
• Aisha Pickett City Treasurer, City of Harvey, Cook County
Elected in 2019 and re-elected in 2023, Pickett has been a member of LP Illinois since 2018.
• Justin Gerstner Village President, Village of Hamel, Madison County
Elected in 2023 via an uncontested bid, Gerstner has been with LP Illinois since 2018.
• Brody Anderson Trustee, River Valley Library District, Rock Island County
Elected in 2021, Anderson has been a member of LP Illinois since 2014.
• Christopher Laurent Member, Chicago Police Council 14th District, Cook County
Elected in 2023, Laurent has been a member of LP Illinois since 2022.The party also has five local precinct and township committeepersons due to LP Illinois having recognized party status in Cook County:
• Justin Tucker, Nico Tsatsoilis, Jim Humay, Dan Lewis Ward Committeepersons, Chicago, Cook County
They were elected in 2024 as Libertarian Ward Committeepersons in the 1st, 5th, 36th, and 38th Precincts in the City of Chicago. Tucker has been a member of LP Illinois since 2016. Humay and Lewis have been members of LP Illinois since 2021. Tsatsoulis has been a member of LP Illinois since 2024.
• Jason Decker Township Committeeperson, Bremen Township, Cook County
Decker was elected to the position in the 2022 Libertarian primary. He has been a member of LP Illinois since 2020.For more information about the Libertarian Party of Illinois and its candidates, please visit lpillinois.org.
Contact:
Jake Leonard
Political Director, Libertarian Party of Illinois
[email protected]
Best wishes to the Libertarian Party candidates in Illinois for electoral success!
William –
Thank you for the congratulations. We know firsthand about appointments—as I stated in the press release, one of the people seeking office was appointed to his school board. I don’t know the full circumstances that led to the appointment, but I would presume someone on the board reached out to him after a board member either resigned, retired, moved outside of the district, or passed away.
During my early days as a member of LP Illinois, we had a party member appointed to a newly created Planning Commission in the City of Greenville in 2016.
Running candidates for winnable local office is one of the most important things the LP can be doing at this point. Let’s also not forget that there are appointed offices up for grabs that any Libertarian should be able to get himself appointed to. Congrats to the LP-Illinois!