O'Dekirk Picks Joliet Construction President For Council Seat

JOLIET, IL, — The Joliet City Council will vote Monday night on Mayor Bob O'Dekirk second pick to fill the vacancy created by one of the members of the Mudron 5 coalition. The mayor's latest recommendation is Herb Lande, chairman of the city's police and fire board.

Lande, who is in his early 70s, is president of Imperial Construction here in Joliet.

After O'Dekirk's recommendation of retired Joliet Fire Capt. Todd Wooten ended in a 4-4 tie Tuesday night, the mayor promised to keep bringing forth more recommendations until members of his opposition, the remaining Mudron 4 members, agreed on a selection.

The person who is chosen will only stay in the office until May.

Normally, Joliet has nine elected officials but an empty seat was created by Don "Duck" Dickinson, who was involved in sending nude photos of his genitals to at least one woman in Joliet, according to Dickinson's own account.

Dickinson was also accused of making false accusations that he was the victim of blackmail over the past several months. Then, he skipped two Joliet City Council meetings in late November. Dickinson has since decided to remove himself from public office.

Most of the time, Dickinson joined forces with Pat Mudron, Bettye Gavin, Mike Turk and Sherri Reardon to make up the city council's powerful Mudron 5 coalition.

The mayor's support comes from Terry Morris, Larry Hug and Jan Quillman.