As part of News is Out’s Election 2022 coverage, we are looking at races all over the country and sharing campaigns of key LGBTQ+ candidates.

Name: Maggie Trevor

Office: Cook County Board of Commissioners (9th District) 

Bio: Trevor was born and raised in Rolling Meadows, where her parents were among the city’s original residents. In late 2014, Trevor moved back to Rolling Meadows from California to found Trevor Research Services, LLC, specializing in custom market research.

Trevor, who identifies as lesbian, fell short when running for the Illinois General Assembly in 2018 and 2020. 

Opponent: Trevor’s opponent is Republican Matt Podgorski, the son of a retired police officer.

According to his campaign website, Chicago native Podgorski attended Holy Cross High School and graduated with a B.A. in political science from Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU). He went on to earn a master’s degree in economics and public policy from Pepperdine University in 2004. In addition to a successful private sector career, Podgorski was an adjunct professor of political science at NEIU during 2004-14. He currently works as director of logistics at Great Lakes Coca-Cola Bottling.

Most important issue in the race: Trevor plans to fight for better and more affordable healthcare as well as safe communities, the environment and the efficient use of tax dollars. Podgorski’s platform revolves around crime, taxes, cost of living and public health.

The significance or historic first of if this person wins: Trevor would be the first out lesbian on the Cook County Board of Commissioners. 

What the campaign is like on the ground: Republican Peter Silvestri is vacating the seat, meaning these candidates are vying for an open spot on the board. 

Both have weighed in on the controversial SAFE-T Act, which goes into effect Jan. 1 and which, among other things, eliminates cash bail for jailed individuals. (A judge will decide if a person accused of a crime needs to be detained while awaiting trial or can go free.) Trevor said during a debate that the measure will keep people “from being essentially warehoused” simply because they lack the money for bail although she has concerns about the measure, The Daily Herald noted. However, Podgorski called the act “extremely misguided.”