Juan Beto Ruiz, a political newcomer who hopes to unseat District 16 Lake County Board member Esiah Campos in the March 17 Democratic primary, is attacking the incumbent’s attendance as Campos points to his track record during his first term.
District 16 includes Round Lake Beach, Round Lake Heights and portions of Round Lake and Round Lake Park. Campos was elected to the board in 2022.
Campos and Ruiz, both Latino candidates, have raised concerns over federal immigration enforcement in the region that rattled Lake County. Both are also highlighting infrastructure and affordability.
The primary seems likely to determine who will sit on the County Board after November, since no Republican candidate has been announced, and both candidates expressed confidence that the heavily Hispanic district will remain blue.
Esiah Campos
Campos is a Navy veteran and pension analyst for the Teamsters union which, according to campaign contribution data, has been a key financial supporter.
His 2022 win made local history — Campos became the first Latino member of the County Board, as well as its youngest. Running as an incumbent was a different feeling, he said. But he has the benefit of a track record, and Campos argues that makes him the best choice come March.
The “macro” issues, as Campos put it, include concerns about federal immigration enforcement. Lake County last year banned federal agents from using county property for immigration enforcement, and Campos said he has helped organize rapid-response teams to alert people when federal immigration agents are in the area.
The community needs to be ready for trouble as well, he said.
Also critical is infrastructure, he said. Campos wants to see several projects through, including improvements to Rollins Road, Hainesville Road, and the Cedar Lake Road realignment.
Those road projects will change the area for “years to come,” he said.
Affordability is also on people’s minds, Campos said. Although county government is more limited in this arena, he said he wants to stave off any raises to fees that impact “people’s everyday lives.”
“I don’t want to raise taxes,” he said. “I don’t want to make it harder.”
Although no Republican candidate has come forward, Campos argues he is best positioned to defeat any challengers, with a well-known track record in the community.
Juan Beto Ruiz
Ruiz is a professional data manager for a school district which he has worked for in various roles for decades. He hasn’t held political office, but said he was pushed to run over concerns with Campos’s work on the board.
“I don’t agree with his work ethic,” Ruiz said. “I’m pretty sure he’s a really nice guy, but on paper he looks really bad.”
Ruiz is running a comparatively cash-strapped campaign, pitching it as a “David versus Goliath” political fight. He’s run a negative campaign against Campos, criticizing the incumbent’s attendance record on the County Board and various committees, arguing Campos is “not showing up” and “letting opportunities walk right in front of us.”
For example, housing is a big concern for the district, Ruiz said, and it’s an area Campos “has a tendency to brag about,” despite no longer being on the Lake County Housing and Community Development Committee. He was replaced by Linda Pedersen last year, which Ruiz alleged was due to his poor attendance.
Ruiz described himself as a “hardworking Latino,” born in Mexico and working since he was 8 years old.
“You’ve got to work hard. If you’re getting compensated to do something, the least you can do is show up to work,” Ruiz said. “My main issue with Esiah is work ethic.”
Campos said Ruiz’s accusations were false, meant to elevate his name as a newcomer against an incumbent. Campos cited scheduling conflicts and a death in the family for previous absences.
“Don’t conflate that with me not caring about the district, because it’s absolutely dishonest,” Campos said.
With taxes rising every year, the district needed to look at economic development, Ruiz said, and see what county land could be used. He also plans to “take a look” at the roads and sidewalks.
“Every single year, it drives me crazy seeing high school students walking on main roads in the winter,” Ruiz said. “We don’t have proper sidewalks for the students.”
Ruiz also accused Campos of “bragging” about projects despite not having “done much for us.”
“I was going around to our local Latino businesses and giving them signs for ‘no trespassing’ for ICE’ … for residents,” Ruiz said. “It’s almost offensive when you’re doing the work, and someone else goes out there and takes credit.”
Ballot challenge
There are questions about whether Ruiz will be allowed on the ballot after a challenge was filed against his nominating petitions. According to Ruiz, he had “inadvertently omitted” his maternal last name during the petition process.
The challenge argues that the omission meant the public would not be able to review his criminal record. Ruiz argued his voter registration records were located “without issue,” calling the challenge an attempt to stop his campaign.
Campos argued it was “pretty cut and dry,” and Ruiz had failed to fill out his petitions correctly.
The complaint comes from two Round Lake-area residents, including Travis Haley, a Round Lake Area Public Library Board trustee. According to campaign contribution data, Haley donated $250 to Campos’ campaign in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Ruiz criticized the challenge, saying it was “less about transparency and more about discouraging my candidacy.”
“It’s a struggle,” he said. “It’s a concern for the future, but I’m willing to take the risk to hopefully stay on the ballot.”
