Lou Santoyo / LOUis4U

08/23/2026

What a night! Great friends, great people, and rockin’ music. This photo captures all of that...and so much more.

I’m grateful and proud to serve the Village of Elburn alongside Elburn Trustee Chris Hansen and our mayor, Jeff Walter for Congress. But today, I’m speaking not just as a fellow elected official. I’m speaking as someone who has gotten to know Jeff personally, and I am 100% behind Jeff Walter for Congress.

When I decided to run for Village Board, I didn’t know Jeff. I didn’t know Chris. In fact, there were moments when I questioned whether I should run at all. But I knew one thing: I wanted to serve my community, have a voice, and make a difference.

I’m incredibly glad I took that chance.

Today, Jeff is more than our mayor and someone I serve alongside...he’s become like family to me.

And here’s what I’ve learned about Jeff: he understands people. Not just some people. People.

I come from a very different world. I was raised in Chicago by proud, culturally strong Mexican parents. My upbringing, experiences, and perspective helped shape the man I am today. And one of the things I respect most about Jeff is that he doesn’t need someone to look like him, think like him, worship like him, or come from the same background as him to listen to them, respect them, and fight for them.

Jeff connects with people across cultures, beliefs, backgrounds, traditions, and walks of life.

That matters to me.

Leadership isn’t about serving the people who agree with you. Leadership is about serving everyone. It’s about listening. It’s about showing up. It’s about treating people with dignity. And it’s about remembering that public office belongs to the people...not the politician.

I’ve had the opportunity to see Jeff lead up close. I’ve seen his character. I’ve seen how he treats people. And I know the heart he brings to public service.

That’s why I believe that if given the opportunity to serve in Congress, Jeff Walter will shine...and he will work for EVERYONE.

So I don’t make this endorsement lightly.

I wholeheartedly and proudly endorse Jeff Walter for Congress.

Let’s send one of Elburn’s own to Washington.

Jeff Walter for Congress. 🇺🇸

-Lou Santoyo

🇺🇸 LOUIS4U 🇺🇸

I’m out at Elburn Days tonight, enjoying a great evening right here in the community, along with Elburn Trustee Chris Hansen and Elburn Trustee Lou Santoyo!

One of the best parts of running to represent Illinois’ 11th Congressional District is getting the opportunity to meet more residents, hear their stories, and listen to the issues that matter most to them and their families. 🇺🇸

08/22/2026

Elburn is home.

I grew up in Chicago. Then, on a random night in 2011, I met the woman who would become my wife. By 2012, I was living in a little town I honestly didn't even know existed.

Fifteen years later, I can't imagine calling anywhere else home.

My three boys were born here. They're growing up here. They go to school here. And when I see them outside playing with their friends, riding their bikes and simply being kids in a safe community, I feel an incredible sense of gratitude.

Sometimes I think, I would have loved to have grown up in a place like Elburn.

But in a way, I get to experience it now through them. Watching my boys grow up here has allowed me to see this community through their eyes...and appreciate just how special it really is.

Elburn is safe. Elburn is thriving. Elburn is home.

Serving as a Village Trustee has been an honor I don't take lightly. After 30 years in law enforcement, public safety is a big part of who I am, and I will continue bringing that experience to the Village Board.

I'll also continue fighting to make sure we're fiscally responsible with your money...investing it wisely back into our community while protecting the character, safety and quality of life that make Elburn such a special place to raise a family.

I'm proud of what we've accomplished, and there's more work to do.

When it's time to cast your vote, please remember:

Chris Hansen
Lou Santoyo
Addam Gonzales

for re-election to the Elburn Village Board of Trustees.

Elburn is home. And it's worth working for.

LOUis4U

08/22/2026

Elburn is home.

I grew up in Chicago. Then, on a random night in 2011, I met the woman who would become my wife. By 2012, I was living in a little town I honestly didn't even know existed.

Fourteen years later, I can't imagine calling anywhere else home.

My three boys were born here. They're growing up here. They go to school here. And when I see them outside playing with their friends, riding their bikes and simply being kids in a safe community, I feel an incredible sense of gratitude.

Sometimes I think, I would have loved to have grown up in a place like Elburn.

But in a way, I get to experience it now through them. Watching my boys grow up here has allowed me to see this community through their eyes...and appreciate just how special it really is.

Elburn is safe. Elburn is thriving. Elburn is home.

Serving as a Village Trustee has been an honor I don't take lightly. After 30 years in law enforcement, public safety is a big part of who I am, and I will continue bringing that experience to the Village Board.

I'll also continue fighting to make sure we're fiscally responsible with your money...investing it wisely back into our community while protecting the character, safety and quality of life that make Elburn such a special place to raise a family.

I'm proud of what we've accomplished, and there's more work to do.

When it's time to cast your vote, please remember:

Chris Hansen
Lou Santoyo
Addam Gonzales

for re-election to the Elburn Village Board of Trustees.

Elburn is home. And it's worth working for.

LOUis4U

Elburn Days is one of the best weekends of the year in our community, and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone out enjoying the festivities!

While you’re there, meet your candidates for Village of Elburn Trustee! I’ll be there throughout the weekend along with Lou Santoyo and Addam Gonzales, talking with residents, answering questions, and hearing what’s important to you and your family.

Local government works best when residents know the people representing them and have the opportunity to talk with them face-to-face. We’re proud to be part of this community and excited to spend the weekend with our friends and neighbors. 🇺🇸

08/05/2026

For us, serving as Village Trustees has never been about titles or positions... It's about serving the community we call home.

Together, Lou Santoyo, Addam Gonzales, and Chris Hansen are asking for your support for another term because we believe Elburn's best days are still ahead.

Each of us brings a different perspective to the table. Lou is a retired law enforcement officer with 30 years of public safety experience who also served as a police officer here in Elburn before being elected Trustee. Addam is a local business owner who understands the importance of supporting economic growth while protecting taxpayers. Chris is a business executive who travels across the country for one of America's most iconic motorcycle companies, bringing valuable experience in leadership, planning, and operations.

Those different backgrounds have made us a stronger team.

Over the past several years, we've worked hard to be responsible stewards of your hard-earned tax dollars. We've invested in our streets, parks, Village Hall, and police facilities while making thoughtful decisions that strengthen our infrastructure and prepare Elburn for the future.

We're proud that Elburn remains one of the safest communities in Illinois, and we're committed to keeping it that way. But we also know there's more work to do. And we are ready to keep doing it.

Our vision is simple: continue building a village where families want to live, businesses want to invest, and children have every opportunity to grow up in a safe, thriving community.

We're honored to serve you, and we'd be grateful for the opportunity to continue earning your trust.

Let's keep Elburn moving forward...together.

08/03/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chris Hansen, Addam Gonzales, and Lou Santoyo Announce Re-Election Campaigns for Elburn Village Trustee

ELBURN, IL. — Elburn Village Trustees Chris Hansen, Addam Gonzales, and Lou Santoyo have officially announced their campaigns for re-election, pledging to continue providing responsible leadership and putting the needs of Elburn residents first.

The three trustees are running on a shared commitment to fiscal responsibility, transparent government, public safety, responsible growth, and preserving the small-town values that make Elburn a great place to call home.

“It has been an honor to serve the residents of Elburn,” the candidates said in a joint statement. “We’ve worked hard to make thoughtful decisions that strengthen our community while protecting taxpayers. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished together and are asking voters for the opportunity to continue moving Elburn forward.”

Hansen, Gonzales, and Santoyo said they will continue focusing on maintaining strong Village fiscal responsibility, investing in infrastructure, and ensuring Elburn remains a safe, financially sound, and family-friendly community.

Additional campaign announcements and opportunities to meet with the candidates will be shared in the coming weeks.

LOUis4U

07/13/2026

September 15, 2016 changed a lot of lives.

My friend, partner, and fellow Cook County Sheriff's Police Officer, Jason Gallero, died in the line of duty after suffering a heart attack while running with new cadets at the Cook County Sheriff's Police Training Academy.

A few months later, my good friend and fellow officer, Tony Burns, introduced me to the Cycle Across Illinois. Tony spoke to our Chief so I could also represent the Cook County Sheriff's Police on this ride.

My plan was simple: ride one time in Jason's honor.
I thought that would be enough.

Then I experienced what this ride is really about.

Cycle Across Illinois is part of Illinois Concerns of Police Survivors (IL C.O.P.S.), an organization that stands beside the families of officers who have died in the line of duty. It's about making sure those families know they are never alone and that their loved ones are never forgotten.

One ride became ten.

This year marked my 10th Cycle Across Illinois, and it felt like everything had come full circle.

On the final day of the ride, I was given one of the greatest honors. I was asked to read Jason's memorial tribute, telling the story of the day he died. Standing there ten years after my first ride, reading his story aloud, was something I'll never forget.

Thank you, Tony Burns, for introducing me to this incredible mission.

Thank you to every rider, volunteer, donor, support crew member, and everyone who prayed for us and encouraged us along the way.

Jason, ten years later, we still remember you.
And we always will.

07/12/2026

Cycle Across Illinois 2026 is in the books. 🚴🇺🇸

Four days, hundreds of miles, incredible heat, and countless memories later, I crossed the finish line with a grateful heart.

This ride has never been just about cycling. It's about honoring the law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice and standing beside the families they left behind. Their courage, and the strength of their loved ones, is what gives this ride its true purpose.

I want to sincerely thank everyone who supported me along the way. Whether you made a donation, sent a message of encouragement, offered a prayer, or simply kept me in your thoughts, you were part of this journey. Your support meant more than you know, especially during the difficult moments.

To my fellow riders, volunteers, support crews, and everyone who makes Illinois C.O.P.S. and the Cycle Across Illinois possible, thank you for your dedication, friendship, and commitment to this incredible mission.

I'm heading home tired, sore, and incredibly thankful. It was an honor to ride for a cause that truly matters.

Thank you all. Until next year. 💙🚴🇺🇸

07/11/2026

Grateful. Day 3 in the books.
100 miles...

07/10/2026

Day 1 of the Illinois C.O.P.S. Cycle Across Illinois is in the books. 🚴🇺🇸

Despite waking up yesterday wondering if I was coming down with a cold, I made it through the first day and rode just over 100 miles from Edwardsville to Springfield alongside an incredible group of riders.
I'm tired, grateful, and ready to recover for Day 2. Thank you to everyone who has been praying, encouraging, and supporting this ride. One day down... three to go. 💙🚴

07/09/2026