Jim Lanham, Your Next Mayor Of Joliet? Candidate Aims To Stop Joliet Data Center From Ever Happening

JOLIET, IL — While Joliet Mayor Terry D'Arcy has not announced whether he will seek another four-year term, other people in the community continue to pull nominating petitions in hopes of having their names on the spring election ballot. Joliet Patch already reported that City Councilman Joe Clement intends to run for mayor — if D'Arcy chooses not to do so. Meanwhile, a second candidate has also emerged, one who has been a familiar face at Joliet City Council meetings over the years: Jim Lanham.

After learning of Lanham's potential run for Joliet mayor, Joliet Patch sent him several questions, that way, the community can gain a better understanding of his platform and reasons for seeking the office of leading the third largest community in all of Joliet.

Joliet Patch: The Joliet Data Center project was approved by the Joliet City Council in an 8-1 vote on the 795 acres of farmland near the Chicagoland Speedway. Why are you so opposed to this project and do you feel it can still be stopped from happening?

Lanham's Answer: "Seeing the questions data centers raise on the local state and national level that drove so many residents to attend several meetings that lasted several more hours than they normally would. I think the yes votes had no explanation why they voted yes. Studies show power grid stress increased 8 percent and could go as high as 12 percent and there's not really consistent laws regulating them. Really, there should be statewide laws/ guidelines for zoning and infrastructure."

Joliet Patch: You, along with John Sheridan and Diane Harris, strongly opposed the NewDay Apartments that now occupy the two-story building you call the Pedophile Palace at 1000 Cora Street in the Cunningham Neighborhood. Are you satisfied with the City of Joliet's response of building a small neighborhood park at the city-purchased lot at 1000 North Center Street?

Lanham's Answer: "We started this issue charging at it 100 percent. The city bought a distressed property nearby, razed it and through a donation I helped secure from Allied Landscaping and Nursery made it into a beautiful park. The goal was to create a property that would force the now TWELVE registered child sex offenders living there, I believe most are actually child sex predators at last look, to move. The pedophilse,I've been attacked by pedophile rights advocacy groups for calling them pedophiles, who at time of offense ranged in ages of 23 to 54 and their victims 0 to 13 years, would be forced by law to move. That is, if the property is called a playground vs being called a park.

"I can't speak for the city but i think there's concerns of lawsuits from Newday and the pedos they make money from suing the city for "violations of their rights" those pedos are volunteers not victims. I think the risk is worth the reward. install a swing. call it a playground. Get rid of the predators."

Joliet Patch: What are your thoughts about the overall performance of first term Joliet Mayor Terry D'Arcy? If Joe Clement formally entered the race, what would be your strategy against him?

Lanham's Answer: "I like Terry and Joe both. ALOT. There's not many issues I even have with most of their votes. But I still think it's worth a shot running. Joe would great if he stays in and Terry if he returns will keep the city on the winning track."

Joliet Patch: You were previously involved in efforts to draw attention to and clean up sections of downtown Joliet where you found dangerous and unpredictable homeless people lurking, and ultimately, the Joliet Police chief helped make that area safer. What are your impressions of the rest of Joliet?

Lanham's Answer: "Are there areas of the city that need attention or addressing now? I still see and hear a lot about District 5 and east side. Many infrastructure issues industrial issues and the like. I want District 5 which is my district to be treated equally. I also favor Flock cameras but maybe some transparency on how they're used. Show data not relevant to safety or investigations deleted would ease others concerns. I've seen 1st hand how they do work like catching Robert Hernandez violating an Order of Protection, finding stolen cars, locating wanted individuals etc."