Candidates Begin Filing for Joliet Offices; City Reminds Residents of Political Sign Rules

Filing for the April 2015 general election began Monday, and Joliet races are already heating up.

As of early Monday afternoon, Mayor Tom Giarrante had filed petitions in his re-election bid, along with Joliet Junior College Board Chairman and mayal hopeful Andy Mihelich.

District 1 city council candidates that filed include incumbent Larry Hug and Terry Cottrell. So far in District 2, Joliet Park District Commissioner Brett Gould and local businessman Patrick Mudron have filed.

In District 3, incumbent John Gerl filed, along with Ray Polikaitis. District 4 incumbent Bettye Gavin, who was appointed to the seat earlier this year, filed, as did Philip Petrakos. No candidate had filed yet in District 5.

Filing ends Dec. 22.

On Friday, the City of Joliet reminded residents of a zoning ordinance that regulates the size and location of signs supporting candidates:

State law effective January 1, 2011, prohibits municipalities from regulating when campaign signs can go up on residential properties (Public Act 096-0904). The law essentially allows property owners to put up outdoor political campaign signs without any limitation on the time that the signs may be displayed.

Municipalities are still allowed to regulate the size, height, and location of the signs. Signs cannot be larger than sixteen square feet in area, which includes the support structure. Signs cannot be more than five feet in height. Signs must be placed on private property and not in the City’s right-of-way, which includes the parkway between the street and the sidewalk, or in the median.

All signs placed illegally in the right-of-way, or on any other public property, will be removed by the City and discarded immediately. Political signs should, at no time, be placed any closer than ten feet from the edge of the pavement. In areas where sidewalks are present, signs need to be placed a minimum of two feet beyond the private property side of the edge of the sidewalk. The use of trees or utility poles as sign supports or standards is prohibited.

Please visit our website at http://www.cityofjoliet.info/City-Government/Ordinances.htm. Select the link for Zoning Ordinances to review section 47-17.21. Any signs posted in violation of these regulations will be deemed illegal and are subject to removal and possible fines. Should you have any questions about temporary political signs or to report violations, please contact the City of Joliet at 815-724-4000.