Political News

Hancock County Clerk and Recorder Holly A. Wilde-Tillman has officially announced her intention to run for election as an Independent in the November 2026 General Election. 

Because she is running as an Independent, voters did not see her name on the March 2026 General Primary ballot. Instead, Wilde-Tillman began gathering petition signatures on February 25, 2026, to secure her place on the November ballot. 

She will need approximately 500 signatures, which may come from any registered voter in Hancock County, regardless of party affiliation.

Wilde-Tillman was appointed as Hancock County Clerk and Recorder in September 2020 and successfully ran unopposed in 2022 as an Independent candidate. Over the past several years, she has worked diligently to improve services, modernize office capabilities, and enhance transparency and security for residents.

Among her key accomplishments:

• Launched the Property Fraud Alert Program to protect local property owners from fraudulent real estate transactions and unauthorized filings.

• Partnered with the County Board to utilize ARPA funds to upgrade election tabulation equipment and ADA-accessible voting machines, improving election security and voter experience.

• Added online historical election result search tools, increasing election transparency and making information more accessible to the public.

• Collaborates with townships, municipalities, school districts, libraries, park boards, and fire districts, ensuring they have the information and resources needed for efficient local governance.

• Recently began preserving and safeguarding historic county records, implementing improved storage and archival practices to ensure they remain accessible for generations to come.

• Introduced online land record searching, which increases revenue for the county while improving convenience for businesses and the public.

• Expanded online services including vital record requests and at-home marriage license applications to better serve residents.

• Helped many Hancock County property owners apply for Illinois Heritage Farm Programs through the Department of Agriculture gaining Centennial, Sesquicentennial or Bicentennial farm status.

• Maintains a dedicated staff of four employees and currently hosts a cooperative learning student from a local High School.

When asked about her favorite part of serving Hancock County, Wilde-Tillman didn’t hesitate:
“The people—and helping them.”  She wants all the citizens of Hancock County to consider her as their County Clerk and Recorder because she strives to work for them all. 

Holly and her husband, Timothy, are lifelong residents of Hancock County. Together, they share a family of seven children, including two who are married, and they cherish the time spent with their children and three grandchildren, who bring them endless joy.

As the 2026 General election season approaches, Wilde-Tillman looks forward to continuing her work with the County Board and serving the citizens of Hancock County.