The Joliet Mayors race heat's up:
By: Brandon Harris
(PS) The Joliet Mayors race is heating up and were all left to wonder whom will be representing the people after April. The current Mayor Thomas Giarrante has quite a competition this year. With three known candidates thus far we should defiantly see some real work from these candidates to fix the crime ridden town.
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| Mayor of Joliet Tom Giarrante |
Tom Giarrante the incumbent, continues to push tax hikes and has been in constant battle with the council, is up for the race. He has pulled his petitions for Re - Election. With much tension and the stakes high, his campaign staff have a lot of work to do to regin Joliet, if they hope to et him re - elected. Last run tom Giarrante spent $ 50,750 to win the election. He had taken 26.24 percent of the vote, with a 10 point lead over Mihelich.
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| Andy Mihelich at the witches night out |
Joliet City councilman Bob O'Dekirk and Joliet JJC boards Andy Mihelich are both also entering the race. Andy a former candidate whom opened his offices from his last race to the homeless, allowing them to sleep in a warm safe environment. This year he will re-run against Mayor Girrante.
Andy has received a degree in advanced education at the university of Champagne Urbana. His last run he spent $22,000 running for Mayor, loaning his campaign $20,000. In that election he received 13.64 percent of the vote in a whole. Andy an educator, with an impressive background in education, should work towards being superintendent. He has a real up hill battle, and is projected to rake in the least amount of votes this election. Were all left to wonder if he can gain enough votes to win.
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BoB O'Dekirk prepping for his run for
City Council, 2011. |
Bob O'Dekirk, a local attorney is the third contestant in the race. With years of public service under his belt , Bob has been a police officer for the city of Joliet and a commander in Iraq. Receiving his law degree from John Marshall. He now owns a Joliet law firm and is a city councilman. Bob is large contributing factor to the city's budget having a $6 Million dollar wind fall at the end of 2013. When coming into city hall, O'Dekirk and his constituents faced a $17 Million dollar a year negative balance every year. Thus far in the race Bob seems to be the most likely winner for the seat in April.
