Title
Special recognition honoring Lake County Board Member Michael Danforth.
Body
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
WHEREAS, Michael Danforth has dedicated nearly a decade to serving on the Lake County Board since February 2017, representing District 17, which includes Barrington, Barrington Hills, Fox River Grove, Island Lake, Lakemoor, Lake Barrington, North Barrington, Port Barrington, Tower Lakes, and Volo, as well as portions of Lake Zurich and Round Lake; and
WHEREAS, through his years of public service, Member Danforth brought his experience as an attorney and certified public mediator to local government, thoughtfully considering complex issues and helping his colleagues understand the legal, financial, and practical considerations behind the decisions facing Lake County; and
WHEREAS, he has served on a wide range of Lake County Board committees, including Law and Judicial, Health and Community Services, Financial and Administrative, Public Works and Transportation, Legislative, Rules, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Technology, and the Special Committee on COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery and Investment; and
WHEREAS, as Vice-Chair of the Special Committee on COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery and Investment and a member of the Financial and Administrative Committee, member Danforth helped guide the County’s investment of the $135.2 million it received in federal pandemic relief funding, supporting immediate needs and long-term community investments, including the First Responder and Veteran Wellness Center and life-saving cardiac monitors and automated external defibrillators for the Wauconda Fire District; and
WHEREAS, Member Danforth was a key supporter of efforts to consolidate regional 9-1-1 services in Lake County, helping create LakeComm and the Regional Operations and Communications Facility, which have strengthened 9-1-1 services and emergency response across the county; and
WHEREAS, his years of service on the County Board have been marked by a willingness to take on complicated issues, ask difficult questions, and give thoughtful consideration to the policies and decisions that affect Lake County residents; and
WHEREAS, Member Danforth will also be remembered by his fellow Board members for his ability to explain complicated government processes through memorable metaphors that made difficult concepts easier to understand.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RECOGNIZED, by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois, that Michael Danforth is hereby honored for his dedicated public service and for his contributions to the Lake County Board and communities throughout Lake County; and
BE IT FURTHER RECOGNIZED, that this County Board extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Michael Danforth for his service, thoughtful approach to public policy, and commitment to the people of Lake County, and wishes him all the best in the years ahead.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, on November 10, 2026.