Republican candidate Morris Beverage III and Democratic candidate Jean Sency will face off for a Lake County commissioner seat during the Nov. 5 General Election. Related Articles Election | Morris W. Beverage III, Lake County Commissioner candidate, November 2024 Election | Jean Sency, Lake County Commissioner candidate, November 2024 In the GOP March Primary Election, Beverage defeated incumbent Commissioner John Hamercheck  who has served in the position since 2017. According to the Lake County Elections Board, 165,661 people are eligible to vote in the race. The position carries a term of four years and pays an annual salary of $102,043 for 2025. The winning candidate will begin serving Jan. 3. Here are some of the answers the candidates provided in response to questionnaires sent to them by The News-Herald: Morris Beverage III If Beverage is elected, he plans to take a “deep dive” into the county budget, related primarily to the impacts of the Lake County Public Safety Center project, which has “already been set in motion.” He noted that he would make any cuts possible to make sure the county is as efficient as possible. “With the savings that we find, stretching tax dollars as far as we can, we should be able to fully staff the (Lake County) Sheriff’s Road Patrol (Department) and pay for it out of the county funds,” Beverage wrote. “This would allow us to stop relying on local tax levies to pay for police protection. “I will do all these things in a very open and public manner so citizens feel educated and witness the process, not just informed about the decisions afterward without any input,” he added. “I will also do all of this in a professional, dignified way, so as not to bring shame to the office or my county.” Beverage believes he has the “perfect resume” to serve as commissioner. “The things I want to accomplish will benefit all of Lake County’s citizens for generations to come,” he emphasized. “Voters can be confident that I will make decisions for the best interest of Lake County, and not to benefit my personal, political agenda.” Jean Sency If Sency is elected to the position, she plans to focus on infrastructure improvements, affordable housing and economic development. “I will work closely with local contractors and labor unions to ensure projects are executed by local workers, which will boost the local economy,” she wrote. “I will establish transparent timelines and budget tracking to keep the public informed. “I will address the underbuilt housing crisis by expanding affordable housing options in both urban and rural parts of the county by partnering with developers and nonprofit organizations to incentivize affordable housing projects, particularly for middle- and lower-income families,” Sency added. “I’ll advocate for zoning adjustments that enable the development of multi-family homes while ensuring these projects are sustainable and meet community needs.” Developing small business grants and loan programs to foster economic growth is also a key goal, she wrote. “I will work to encourage entrepreneurship and create public-private partnerships for workforce training programs,” Sency emphasized. “I will also work to attract tech and green energy companies to diversify the job market….each of these areas is essential to improving quality of life and creating long-term prosperity for the community. “With 18 years of service at United Way of Lake County, I’ve worked hands-on to address critical issues like education, poverty and health,” she wrote. “This experience has given me the practical knowledge and leadership skills needed to bring people together to solve complex problems. “I believe in accountability and transparency, and I have a track record of delivering on initiatives and seeing projects through to completion,” Sency added. “And I’ll ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and that progress is measurable and visible to all residents.”