Residents seeking improved mental health services in Sangamon County are one step closer to seeing change.
The county board has announced nominees for the new Mental Health Board, which will oversee funding for local services, according to a community announcement.
The board was approved by voters in a March 2026 referendum and is expected to hold its first meeting within the next 30 days.
More: Voters approve sales tax to fund mental health board in Sangamon County
A diverse group of nominees
The board will start with seven members and may expand to nine, pending a formal request from the seated board. The nominees bring experience from mental health, healthcare, corrections, education, the courts and community service.
The nominees include:
Jennifer Douglas, re-entry supervisor for the Illinois Department of Corrections and former social worker
Janice Gambach, retired president of Memorial Behavioral Health
Steve Nardulli, retired judge of the Circuit Court for the Seventh Judicial Circuit
Margaret Seymour, psychiatric clinician and former emergency room and outpatient therapist
Leigh Steiner, former commissioner of mental health for the state of Illinois and former CEO of the Andrew McFarland Mental Health Center
William Moredock, president of Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, clinical psychologist and former guidance counselor
Brian Wojcicki, attorney, lobbyist, Massey Commission member, and co-chairman of the Massey Commission work group on mental health
Two additional nominees are expected to be recommended once the board expands to nine members:
Michael Gaines, corrections coordinator for the Illinois Department of Public Health and former executive board member of the NAACP and Springfield Boys & Girls Club
David Racine, former executive director of the Center for State Policy and Leadership at UIS, founding member of the Points of Light Foundation, and experienced in evaluating government program outcomes
A rigorous selection process
The county received 103 applications from residents interested in serving on the board. Applicants were asked to submit resumes, letters of interest and supporting materials for consideration. Members of the review committee spent “countless hours” evaluating applications and identifying candidates with the necessary experience.
“We are grateful to everyone who stepped forward and expressed an interest in serving on the Sangamon County Mental Health Board,” Sangamon County Board Chairman Andy Van Meter said in the announcement. “The board has a lot of challenging work ahead to coordinate and strengthen our support for citizens who need help.”
Board will oversee funding
The Mental Health Board will be responsible for evaluating community needs, establishing funding priorities and overseeing the distribution of resources to local service providers. Revenue collection to support mental health services can begin no sooner than July 1, with the first distribution to the board expected no sooner than Oct. 1.
The board was recommended after more than a year of study and public input by the Sangamon County Mental Health Commission, which was created in January 2025 following a recommendation from the Massey Commission. The commission’s final report, submitted in November 2025, identified gaps in access to care, challenges navigating the current system and strong public support for additional investment in mental health services.
Community leaders express support
“The creation of this board began with the work of the Massey Commission following the murder of Sonya Massey, and I am proud the community came together to approve the creation of the board,” State Sen. Doris Turner said in the announcement. “This is a diverse and extremely qualified group of nominees, and their work will help Sangamon County build a stronger system of support for residents and families who need access to mental health services.”
“For far too long, our community has struggled with adequate mental health services for people in crisis,” Tony DelGiorno, Sangamon County Board Democratic Caucus leader, said in the announcement. “With gratitude to the voters of Sangamon County, we take the first step today to honor the life of Sonya Massey who embodied the struggle so many of our friends, family and neighbors have faced. I am encouraged by the team that has been assembled as our first County Mental Health Board and look forward to the progress they will make for our community.”
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This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Sangamon County names mental health board nominees