Paul Vallas, Brandon Johnson, Mayor of Chicago Election Results

 To view results in the election for Mayor of Chicago between Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson, go here.

Election night results are unofficial and will not include all mailed and provisional ballots. 

O'Dekirk Announces Candidacy for Mayor of Joliet

Standing on the steps of the Joliet Police Station, Bob O'Dekirk announced his candidacy for Mayor of Joliet:


O'Dekirk then took questions from the small group of citizens, supporters, and reporters gathered.  One citizen asked what we can do about low voter turnout in local elections.  O'Dekirk said he hopes Joliet residents who saw four new taxes and are seeing crime increasing in Joliet will take ownership and vote.

O'Dekirk said during his 10 years as a police officer in the City of Joliet he developed deep ties to the community and that those ties would help him forge the gap between the community and city hall.

In regards to Joliet's economic situation, O'Dekirk said promoting a 5 Guys Restaurant coming to Joliet is not an economic plan.  O'Dekirk said Joliet needs a plan for economic development and that if Bolingbrook can do it, so can Joliet.

Braidwood Elects new Mayor

RAIDWOOD—Mayor Sue Grygiel was defeated in her bid for reelection. She served as the city’s first female mayor but was unable to break Braidwood’s history of changing mayors each election cycle. Jerry R. Pressley won with 611 votes or 46 percent. Former Mayor Wayne T. Saltzman received 423 votes to Grygiel’s 283 votes. The election results tonight are unofficial, pending the official canvas by the Will County Clerk.

The vote means only Commissioner of Public Buildings and Property James Hutton will return to the council.

Residents elected William Rulien as Commissioner of Accounts and Finance, with 64 percent of the vote, over Andrew Galatte.

Incumbent Fay Smith was defeated by Daniel K. Graf for the post of Commissioner of Streets & Alleys. Graf won with 53 percent of the vote, or 689 to Smith’s 592.

Hutton retained his seat over challenger Timothy N. Duran, with 58 percent or 738 votes to 533 votes.

The new Commissioner of Public Health and Safety will be Eric L. Tessler, with 59 percent of the vote, or 762 votes.

Warren Dorris, Joliet Mayoral Candidate: "We need to make sure the jobs we got here are paying a decent wage, so people can support their families"

At the Informate/Get Informed Candidates Forum hosted by the Unidos Marketing Network--a locally owned business in Joliet--Warren Dorris explained why his experience makes him the leader Joliet needs. Dorris cited his work with the Rev. Isaac Singleton to reduce the gang problem on the East Side of Joliet. Dorris also said he has a vision for Joliet and he has a 100 day plan to work on the issues Joliet faces.


Dorris also said we need justice for the warehouse workers of America, which struck a chord with the Warehouse Workers for Justice--a Will County group that advocates for improved working conditions, pay, and benefits in the many warehouses to have been built in Will County in the last decade.


Watch Joliet Mayoral Candidate Warren Dorris discuss his qualifications and his positions on the city budget and other issues:

Andy Mihelich: "We need to utilize the Latino business owners on Collins Street as an example of good entrepreneurship and use of private capital that creates jobs in the local neighborhood"

Will County News spoke with Joliet Mayoral candidate Andy Mihelich at the recent Informate, Get Informed Candidates forum held at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish Banquet Hall in Joliet.

First, in regards to salaries of City of Joliet employees, Mihelich said that City of Joliet "salaries and fringe benefits have to be sustainable, they have to be the right size to meet the needs of the citizens of Joliet without a property tax increase."

Next, Will County News asked Mihelich what he thought of a recent report by the Warehouse Workers for Justice which argued that many jobs in area warehouses are temporary and do not offer benefits.  Mihelich responded: "I don't consider a good job anything less than $10 dollars an hour with benefits.  We should not promote, we should not incentive any project that pays less than $10 an hour."

Mihelich said that if elected, he would implement an aggressive economic development program to include an economic development commission which would promote Joliet as Joliet, not as a suburb.  Mihelich also said he would create partnerships with local business groups and community resources such as JJC.

Mihelich said he would ensure minority contractor participation meets its goals.

Mihelich also said Joliet "needs to utilize the Latino business owners on Collins street as an example of good entrepreneurship and use of private capital that creates jobs in local neighborhoods."

Joliet Mayoral Candidate Michael Marconi: "Stop Marketing Joliet as a tourist location, market Joliet as a place to make money."

Will County News spoke with Joliet Mayoral Candidate Michael Marconi at last night's Informate, Get Informed Candidate Forum at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish Banquet Hall on East Jackson Street in downtown Joliet.


First, Marconi said more nightclubs and bars are not the way to bring prosperity to Joliet.  Marconi expressed outrage at the recent fight outside an all-ages nightclub on East Cass street.  Marconi said no matter how much is spent on banners and decorative lighting, no one is going to go downtown for business purposes until there are more policemen on the street and people feel safe.

Next, Marconi said Joliet needs to stop marketing itself for tourism because tourism connotes short-term stay.  Marconi said, "our buildings are suited for commerce.  Our roads and our skilled labor force make Joliet a place to make money, and we need to communicate that message--that Joliet is a place to make money--to businesses so they locate here and create jobs.  Again, we first need to clean up downtown and make it safe."

Lastly, Marconi shared that on a recent trip to downtown with a family member, as his group was walking back to their car, they saw 3 cars getting parking tickets. Marconi said he would examine the city's parking ticket policies because he thinks if people get tickets while parked downtown, they are less likely to come back to do business downtown.  Marconi said if you are trying to get people to go downtown and do business, you need to welcome them and give them encouragements to return downtown, not parking tickets.

Candidates for Mayor of Joliet speak at Plainfield Township Republicans forum

2011 Joliet Mayoral Candidates Warren Dorris, Lester Brown, Tom Girrante, Andy Mihelich, Dale Vollmer, and Kevin Hegarty speak at the Plainfield Township Republicans forum on February 10, 2011.  The candidates discussed important Joliet issues such as: the budget, taxes, the deficit, and safety.  Check out the candidate's responses:

















The nine candidates for Mayor of Joliet are:
Kevin Hegarty
Andy Mihelich
Jan Quillman
Tom Giarrante
Diane Harris
Lester Brown
Michael J. Marconi
Warren Dorris
Dale Vollmer

Joliet Mayoral Candidates Andy Mihelich and Jan Quillman Sign Petition to End Free Lifetime Health Care Benefits for Joliet Mayor and CIty Council

Joliet Mayoral Candidates Andy Mihelich and Jan Quillman have signed City Council Candidate Richard Rodriguez's online petition to end free lifetime health care benefits for City of Joliet City Council Members and Mayors.


The City of Joliet is in major financial trouble.  Yahoo recently listed it as one of 16 cities that could go bankrupt in 2011.

The following people are running for Mayor of Joliet:

Kevin Hegarty
Andy Mihelich
Jan Quillman
Tom Giarrante
Diane Harris
Lester Brown
Michael J. Marconi
Warren Dorris
Dale Vollmer

The election will be held April 5, 2011.