Local Government Leaders Across Illinois Selected for 2026 Edgar Fellows Program

URBANA — Mayors, county officials and local elected leaders from communities large and small will join dozens of other rising public policy leaders this summer after being selected for the 2026 Edgar Fellows Program, a statewide leadership initiative founded by the late Gov. Jim Edgar.

Among this year's class are Bolingbrook Mayor Mary Alexander-Basta, DeKalb Mayor Cohen Barnes, St. Charles Mayor Clint Hull, Metropolis Mayor Gregg Jeffords, Quincy Mayor Linda K. Moore, Elgin Council Member Diana Alfaro, Peoria County Board Member Jennifer Allison, Stark County Board Chair Kari Bush, DuPage County Board Member Cindy Cronin Cahill, Jackson County Board Vice Chairman Andrew Erbes, Vermilion County Clerk Robyn Heffern and Jasper County Board Chair Jason Warfel.

The Executive Leadership Training Program, scheduled Aug. 2-6 in Urbana-Champaign, is designed to expose participants to major statewide policy issues while encouraging them to learn directly from one another. That cross-section of experience is central to the Edgar Fellows philosophy: local officials gain insight from state leaders, business executives, labor representatives, nonprofit organizations and policy experts, while sharing the practical experiences they bring from their own communities.

Former Congressman Ray LaHood said the program remains faithful to Governor Edgar's original purpose.

"It was Jim Edgar's goal to bring together up-and-coming leaders with different backgrounds and politics from across Illinois. Governor Edgar's vision continues to provide unique leadership training for Illinois' future leaders."

Throughout the week, Fellows will participate in discussions on electric capacity, workforce development, criminal justice, Medicaid, artificial intelligence, proposed data centers and Illinois' fiscal outlook. Just as importantly, organizers say participants begin building relationships that often continue for decades as alumni work together in different sectors and regions of the state.

Governor Edgar often described that transformation as one of the program's defining characteristics.

"With each class, it has been gratifying to watch people who were strangers on Sunday become good friends by Thursday. It's what the Edgar Fellows program is all about, finding common ground and respect, so that our Fellows can work together to help shape a better Illinois."

As the newest class joins the program, the Edgar Fellows alumni network will approach 550 leaders from every region of Illinois, creating an expanding statewide network dedicated to respectful leadership and collaborative problem-solving.

2026 Edgar Fellows Class

• Mary Alexander-Basta, Mayor of Bolingbrook
• Diana Alfaro, Elgin Council Member and Latinx Business Development Manager, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development
• Jennifer Allison, Peoria County Board Member
• Oswaldo Alvarez, Executive Director, Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation
• Cohen Barnes, Mayor of DeKalb
• Gia Biagi, Secretary, Illinois Department of Transportation
• Kari Bush, Chair, Stark County Board of Supervisors
• Rob Carney, Manager of State Government Affairs-Midwest Region, Caterpillar
• Peter Chico, Chicago Alderman, 10th Ward
• Tameeka Christian, Director, Pritzker Community Health Initiative
• James Clayton, President and CEO, Illinois Chamber of Commerce
• Cindy Cronin Cahill, DuPage County Board Member
• Rep. Lisa Davis
• Rep. Margaret DeLaRosa
• Rep. Kimberly du Buclet
• Andrew Erbes, Vice Chairman, Jackson County Board
• Jonathan Feipel, Executive Director, Illinois Commerce Commission
• Ald. Jessica L. Fuentes
• Emily Goldman, First Assistant Deputy Governor for Education
• Earl Grandberry, Director of National Bridgebuilding Initiatives, Interfaith America
• Robyn Heffern, Vermilion County Clerk
• Dan Hohl, Illinois State Medical Society
• Grace Hong Duffin, Comcast
• Clint Hull, Mayor of St. Charles
• Gregg Jeffords, Mayor of Metropolis
• Rep. Gregg Johnson
• Marcus Jordan, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa Foundation for Fair Contracting
• Sen. Patrick Joyce
• Michael Mahoney, Chief of Staff to the Will County Executive
• Samantha McClain, Chief of Staff, Illinois AFL-CIO
• Linda K. Moore, Mayor of Quincy
• Lauren Neill, T-Mobile
• Crystal Olsen, Advocate Health
• Sen. Willie Preston
• Sean Rapelyea, Office of Gov. JB Pritzker
• Carlos Rivas Jr., Civilian Office of Police Accountability/Chicago Board of Education
• Tim Ruestman, Candidate for State Representative, District 105
• Judith Soto, AbbVie
• Sen. Rachel Ventura
• Jason Warfel, Chair, Jasper County Board
• Tiffany White, Executive Director, The Dirksen Congressional Center.