Upset: Dan Vera's Days Of Ruling Joliet Township Politics Ends

JOLIET, IL — Supervisor Dan Vera and other Joliet Township Democrat incumbents have been in political office for years, but their days are numbered and none of them will be on the election ballot for the April races, except the township assessor. On Tuesday night, a large crowd of about 140 Joliet Township Democrats turned out at St. Joe's Park for a party caucus.

The results mean that Vera and several other long-time Democrats including township clerk Julie Kinsella and highway commissioner Mike Turnbull will not be on the election ballot for the April 6 election. Incumbent township trustees Ray Slattery, Archie Gavin, Brian Hertzmann and Ray Slattery won't be on the ballot, either.

Instead, a group of new challengers, led by Angel Contreras, organized a large turnout of first-time caucus participants to remove Vera and most of his preferred slate from being on the April election ballot.

As a result of Tuesday night's caucus vote, Contreras will be the Democrat candidate for Joliet Township Supervisor, Alicia Morales will be the candidate for township clerk and Vince Alessio, a candidate who lost in the 2019 Joliet City Council election to Pat Mudron, will be the candidate for Joliet Township highway commissioner.

"I am thankful that people came out and supported me and my slate," Contreras told Joliet Patch's editor during a late night Tuesday interview. "I'm just very happy and gratified to all the voters and supporters."

Patch asked the 34-year-old Contreras why he chose to run for Joliet Township Supervisor. He serves on the Joliet Township District 204 School Board and is also chairman of the Joliet Housing Authority board of commissioners.

"I just wanted my opportunity to show I can be the head and manage a local government body from all the experience that I've been very privileged to be a part of," he said.

The Joliet Township board of trustee candidates will be: Suzanna Ibarra, Karl Ferrell, Cesar Escutia and Ranisha Brown. The Joliet Township government office is located in downtown Joliet right across the street from Joliet's City Hall.

Joliet Patch learned that incumbent Jim Brenczewski will be the Democratic nominee for township assessor. The Democrat slate of challengers who were victorious Tuesday night did not field a candidate for assessor.