Christopher Laurent

Christopher Laurent

Libertarian Party

Candidate, Cook County Board of Commissioners District 8

Chicago Police District Council District 14

Tenure

2023 - Present

Term ends

2027

Years in position

2

Report an officeholder change

Elections and appointments

Last elected

February 28, 2023

Next election

March 17, 2026

Education

Bachelor's

Northeastern Illinois University, 2018

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Navy

Years of service

2004 - 2017

Personal

Profession

Paralegal

Contact

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Christopher Laurent is a member of the Chicago Police District Council in Illinois, representing District 14. He assumed office on May 2, 2023. His current term ends on May 4, 2027.

Laurent (Libertarian Party) is running for election to the Cook County Board of Commissioners to represent District 8 in Illinois. He declared candidacy for the Libertarian Party primary scheduled on March 17, 2026.^[source]

Biography

Christopher Laurent's professional experience includes working as a paralegal, journalist, and public relations professional. He served in the U.S. Navy from 2004 to 2017. Laurent earned a bachelor's degree from Louisiana State University in 2004 and a bachelor's degree from Northeastern Illinois University in 2018.

Elections

2026

See also: Municipal elections in Cook County, Illinois (2026)

General election

The primary will occur on March 17, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.

Democratic primary

Democratic primary for Cook County Board of Commissioners District 8

Incumbent Jessica Vasquez (D) and Nicholas Cade (D) are running in the Democratic primary for Cook County Board of Commissioners District 8 on March 17, 2026.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Jessica Vasquez
	Submit photo	Nicholas Cade

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
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Libertarian Party primary

Libertarian primary for Cook County Board of Commissioners District 8

Christopher Laurent (L) is running in the Libertarian Party primary for Cook County Board of Commissioners District 8 on March 17, 2026.

		Candidate
		Christopher Laurent

---

	There are no incumbents in this race.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.

2024

See also: Municipal elections in Cook County, Illinois (2024)

General election

Special general election for Cook County Clerk

Monica Gordon defeated Michelle Pennington and Christopher Laurent in the special general election for Cook County Clerk on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Monica Gordon (D)	68.3	1,320,946
		Michelle Pennington (R)	27.4	530,680
		Christopher Laurent (L)	4.3	82,526

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 1,934,152
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Laurent in this election.

2023

See also: City elections in Chicago, Illinois (2023)

General election

General election for Chicago Police District Council District 14 (3 seats)

David Orlikoff, Christopher Laurent, and Ashley Vargas defeated Justin Tucker in the general election for Chicago Police District Council District 14 on February 28, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	David Orlikoff (Nonpartisan)	52.7	16,483
✔		Christopher Laurent (Nonpartisan)	34.3	10,719
✔	Submit photo	Ashley Vargas (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)	12.8	4,006
	Submit photo	Justin Tucker (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)	0.1	41

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 31,249
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Christopher Laurent has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. If you are Christopher Laurent, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

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2024

Christopher Laurent completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Laurent's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Chris grew up in the New Orleans area, where he attended university to earn a bachelor’s degree in Journalism. After university, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, taking him all over the nation on assignments. After active duty, he settled into Chicago, where he affiliated with the Navy Reserves – which included a one-year assignment in Afghanistan. Upon completion of his combat tour, he focused his attention to making the world around him to be a better place. He earned another bachelor’s degree in Communication Theory and holds two post-bachelorette certificates (Project Management and Paralegal). When not working at a local law firm, Chris devotes much of his time contributing to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, of which he is the Senior Vice Commander of Post 2978 (Logan-Avondale). In matters concerning the public, he continues his pledge of when he first joined the military, “I am committed to excellence and the fair treatment of all.” Chris lives in the 14th District with his wife, Beth and their dog, Ernie.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• The Libertarian Blueprint for an Innovative and Accessible Clerk's Office Our mission is to streamline bureaucracy, enhance transparency, and ensure that every resident of our great county has equitable access to the essential services provided by the Clerk's office. By embracing technology and innovation, we can create a more efficient and responsive government that respects the time and resources of our citizens.
• Chris is the most qualified candidate in this race, as he has experience in administrative duties and leading a team to mission accomplishment.
• Unlike his opponents, Chris has no ulterior motive to providing the essential services to the residents of Cook County.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I intend to carry on the progress of the dearly departed Clerk and move the county into the future with an approach to a 'service first' mindset. The cost of government should not continue to burden the citizenry.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Honestly, I look up to my wife, Beth. She has been a bastion of character for me and I strive every day to be the perfect partner for her.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

These positions should be reserved for those who have a service-based approach. The people are being bled dry through bureaucracy. Those seeking these positions need to be humble servants and sacrifice themselves before lining the pockets of themselves or their party affiliates.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

As I am a current office holder in the city of Chicago, I maintain my experience in office. My military background has provided me with years of training on being a leader. And my astute attention to detail has best prepared me for this role in government.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Accuracy - This position requires the accuracy and precision to make certain no mistakes are made. This office deals with important documents that record the details of people's lives.

Efficiency - The tasks of any government office should be performed in the most efficient manner, as the costs are shared by the population served. Being a great steward of that fact should be in the forefront of any administrator's mind.

Professionalism - Know that this position represents the trust and confidence of the people they represent. Being a professional in this capacity is the low bar for excellence and representation.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like for people to truly look at the role government has in their lives. It is imperative that we view the government as something we can aproach an change when necessary.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I vividly remember the Space Shuttle Challenger incident. I had just made 13 years of age and I remember watching the launch at a school assembly and the awkwardness of the teachers escorting us all out of the viewing area. Of course there were a lot of items in my past, but this one stood out to me as a lasting memory.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Howard Roark- Architect

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Proving that my intentions are pure.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Libertarian Party of Illinois

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

People have a right to know where every cent of the tax money being used in every aspect of government. This includes when fraud, waste and abuse is present. When those are apparent, there needs to be a correction to rectify the individual, or individuals accountable.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2023

Christopher Laurent completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Laurent's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am U.S. Navy Veteran, who is committed to leading the charge to represent the community and bring a clear line of communication with the Police District. I am pro community, which translates to bridging the gap in understanding between the police and the communities they serve.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Accountability at every level
• Safety through dialogue
• Embrace, not replace

Community Question Featured local question

Did the COVID-19 pandemic change your approach to local policy issues? If so, please give us an example. If not, why?

Yes. Chicago's approach to COVID-19 was barbaric. If you educate people on possible dangers, and allow them to make measured risk assessments on their own accord, then we have an accountable measure to combat the issue.

Community Question Featured local question

Do you believe crime rates are changing? Where do you get your crime rate data from? Would you make any changes to existing public safety policy?

Crime is escalating throughout the city and we need a cooperative working relationship with our police to make the changes necessary to restore safety and security.

Community Question Featured local question

Do you think the downtown area is healthy? What is your definition of a healthy downtown? What changes, if any, would you like to make?

No. The downtown area is ridden with crime and a stronger police presence is needed before people begin to abandon the area as a whole.

Community Question Featured local question

How important is it to involve residents in the government’s decision-making process? What plans do you have regarding resident involvement in this process?

Every decision I am charged with making will have the direct influence of the community. This position is not about me, or my preferences. As a public representative, it is imperative that I take full consideration of the community over my own whims.

Community Question Featured local question

How should record requests from the public be handled? Do you have any policies around transparency and accountability you want to enact?

As a former journalist, I am well familiar with the FOIA guidelines. I would add that archiving records after a designated time, making them available publicly and un-redacted with no statute of limitations for public greivances.

Community Question Featured local question

How would you address crime and public safety? Do you have a different stance than current city council policy?

Fully embrace the police and support them in their endeavors. By doing this, we gain an understanding of what the communities need and want, while developing a clear understanding of the limitations of the police.

Community Question Featured local question

How would you balance the needs and desires of existing business and housing communities with new development? Would you take gentrification and displacement into consideration when planning neighborhood development?

This does not fall within the purview of the office I am seeking.

Community Question Featured local question

How would you set priorities and develop plans in a way that will reflect community values and goals?

The voices of the community will always be paramount - even more imperative than my own interests.

Community Question Featured local question

What do you think about the city's current approach to public safety? Would you take any different positions?

We need a clean slate and approach to public safety. From the State's Attorney down. There needs to be a clear line of accountability.

Community Question Featured local question

What do you think about the city's environmental health? Would you make any changes to current policy?

Chicago has a very high emphasis on the environment. With the parks and green spaces, there are plenty of resources available to combat environmental hazards.

Community Question Featured local question

What plans do you have regarding infrastructure?

I would ideally like to see an expanded security video sharing program. Using the city of Chicago's program to assist in providing security cameras to properties, we create.a shared monitor of these for police to use in their investigations. These would only be used for cameras that show a view of publicly accessible areas and not private property.

Community Question Featured local question

What plans do you have regarding the police department? Would you make any changes from current policy?

I look forward to amplify the communications between the police and the community. Many of the misunderstandings we have with our police is this shroud of mystery. If people are unaware of the reasons why police do things a certain way, there will always be distrust.

Community Question Featured local question

What policies would you have implemented in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic? Why did you select those policies?

None. The government reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic by shutting people into their homes not only violated the rights of the people, it also created the lackluster economy we are dealing with today.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Provide a working environment with the community and police to reduce crime. Holding criminals accountable with due process.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Understanding that the office is representative of the community, not the opportunity for someone who is self-serving.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Empathetic listener and diligent in solving problems. Community-minded.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to begin the trend where office-holders push the agenda of the people they represent, not their own interests.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I remember being shuffled into a school library to watch the Space Shuttle launch where, unfortunately we lost the lives of all aboard. This was on January 26, 1986.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

No.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

Understanding of the law. Understanding of the limitations of the police.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Libertarian Party

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Note: Community Questions were submitted by the public and chosen for inclusion by a volunteer advisory board. The chosen questions were modified by staff to adhere to Ballotpedia’s neutrality standards. To learn more about Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection Expansion Project, click here.

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