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.

Joliet Mayoral Candidate Michael Marconi questions whether rise in City Budget is Proportional to rise in City Population

Joliet Mayoral Candidate Michael Marconi's ad in the Joliet Herald News today features a comparison between Joliet in 1991 and Joliet in 2011.  According to Marconi, from 1991 to 2011, Joliet's population increased from 91,000 to 147,433, an increase of 62%, while the Joliet budget increased from $61,400,000 to $293, 000,000, an increase of 477%.

In his ad, Marconi asked, "How does the rise in population of 62% equate to a rise in the budget of nearly 500%?  Are you getting 5X the city services?  Are you making 5X the wages?  Are there 5X the city employees?"

Marconi goes on to state: "The answer is clear.  The citizens of Joliet can no longer afford career politicians, who treat the city budget as their own personal bank account.  We can do better.  We have to have a strategy to attract industry and commerce to the city."

Joliet Mayoral Candidate Michael Marconi says campaign is self-financed, would donate salary back to the City of Joliet

According to an ad he took out in the Joliet Herald-News today, Joliet mayoral candidate Michael Marconi's campaign is self-financed.  Marconi's ad stated he has "No Sponsors, No Fundraisers, No Donations."

Marconi is a retired Joliet Fire Battalion Chief and has served on the executive board of International Fire Fighters Association Local #2369.  Marconi states he has negotiated many contracts with the city.

Marconi's ad states he is a "lifelong, taxpaying resident of the City of Joliet" and "As Mayor, Mike will donate his salary back to the City of Joliet, and work full time to balance the budget, spend only where there is a need and cut all money-draining projects."

Marconi identifies the following as costly mistakes made by the City Council of Joliet:
"--Silver Cross Field, $27 million and ongoing debt
--Joliet Splash Station, over $8 million and ongoing debt
--Joliet Historical Museum, $9 million and ongoing debt
--Westward expansion that cannot be sustained with city services
--Insufficient revenue from prosperous times saved for the leaner years (extravagant spending)
--Raised water rates 35%
--Increased property taxes 12%
--Eliminated 62 police officer positions and 9 fire department positions compromising public safety"

Marconi is one of 9 candidates for Mayor of Joliet.  The other 8 candidates are:
Kevin Hegarty
Andy Mihelich
Jan Quillman
Tom Giarrante
Diane Harris
Lester Brown
Warren Dorris
Dale Vollmer


Here is Michael Marconi at Joliet Chamber Candidate Forum:

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.