Joliet City Council Candidates, Campaign Donations

JOLIET, IL — At this time four years ago, there was a three-way race for mayor of Joliet. Incumbent Mayor Tom Giarrante, City Councilman Bob O'Dekirk and Joliet Junior College Board Chairman Andy Mihelich. During the final month of the race, Giarrante raked in the highest amount of campaign donations, at least $25,600, according to campaign expenses posted on the campaign reform website Illinois Sunshine.

During that same period, O'Dekirk got about $19,850 in donations. Mihelich had contributed about $4,250 to his campaign for mayor during the same period.

On election night, April 7, 2015, O'Dekirk got 53 percent of the vote. Mayor Giarrante got only 38 percent of the vote. Mihelich got 9 percent.

What's the lesson here? Perhaps campaign contributions don't make or break Joliet City Council races. But, if money does make a difference, then three current Joliet City Council candidates: District 1 incumbent Larry Hug, District 3 challenger Joe Mutz and District 5 incumbent Terry Morris should all cruise to victory next Tuesday, April 2.

But will that happen? It all depends on voter turnout. It's possible that the Joliet Park District's ballot question that calls for a massive property tax increase upon Joliet residents will draw more people out to the polls. Then again, people in Joliet may not mind paying more in property taxes given that they supported the park district's last ballot measure, in November 2014, the one that built the new Nowell Park Recreation Center.

Here's a rundown showing how much money has been raised by the City Council candidates.

All five seats are being contested in next week's elections. However, O'Dekirk is running unopposed for another four-year term as mayor.

District 1

Incumbent Larry Hug,

Friends of Larry Hug, lists $24,008 for cash on hand and shows $11,525 in campaign donations since Oct. 25,2018. The following groups have made donations of $500 or larger in recent years:

• Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC: $3,000

• Joliet FOP Labor Council: $2,000

• International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150: $2,o00

• Will-Grundy Counties Central Trades And Labor Council AFL-CIO: $1,600

• Terry D'Arcy: $1,250

• Joliet Illinois City Employees: $1,050

• Herb Lande: $1,000

• Joliet Fire Department Officers Local 2369: $825

• Teamsters Local 179 PAC Fund: $800

• Iron Workers Local Union 444: $750

• Len Cox And Sons Excavating: $675 (an earlier version of this article stated that Cox's donations were in recent months. The $675 total is from September 2014 to present. Cox's most recent donation of $250 occurred last October.)

Marc Ragusa, challenger

Marc Ragusa For Joliet City Council lists no dollars on hand and no contributions since June 30, 2017.

City Council District 2

Incumbent Patrick Mudron

Committee to elect Patrick Mudron to Joliet City Council District 2 was formed Feb. 5, 2015. Mudron's campaign has received $4,500 since Jan. 1 and currently has $4,794 on hand.

Mudron recently got a $3,000 donation from the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 plus a $1,500 donation from Joliet Firefighters Local 44.

Vincent Alessio, challenger,

Friends of Vincent Alessio candidate committee was formed Jan. 16. Michael Alessio is chairman and Vera Erickson is treasurer. It lists no cash on hand and no donations since Dec. 25.

Roger Powell, challenger, no political campaign committee is listed on Illinois Sunshine.

City Council District 3

(two-term incumbent John Gerl did not seek re-election)

Joe Mutz, challenger, currently serves on Joliet Park Board,

Committee to elect Joe Mutz was formed March 5, 2015. It lists $15,655 in cash on hand and shows $13,050 in campaign donations since last Nov. 27. Among the highest donations are:

• Iron Workers Local 444: $500

• Middleton Doors: $500

• Will Grundy Building Trades: $500

• Joliet Illinois City Employees: $500

• Double J Sports Bar: $780

• Imperial Construction Associates: $1,000

• Joliet FOP Labor Council: $1,000

• Joliet Operators Joliet Labor PAC: $1,000

• Terry D'Arcy: $1,000

• LiUNA Chicago Labors PAC: $1,250

• Joliet Firefighters Local 44 PAC: $2,500

Ernest Crim, challenger, write-in candidate

Friends for Ernest Crim was formed Dec. 29. It lists no cash on hand and no donations since Dec. 25.

Sharon "Sherri" Reardon, challenger,

Committee to elect Sharon "Sherri Reardon," founded Dec. 6, 2018. It lists $2,100 for cash on hand and no donations since Dec. 31.

City Council District 4

Incumbent Bettye Gavin

Committee to elect Bettye Gavin was founded on Jan. 15. It lists no dollars on hand no contributions since Dec. 25, 2018, according to the Illinois Sunshine watchdog website.

James Foster, challenger,

Friends of James Foster was formed Dec. 21, 2018. It lists $100 for cash on hand and no contributions since Dec. 31, 2018.

Damon Zdunich, challenger,

There is no political campaign committee listed for Zdunich on the Illinois Sunshine website.

City Council District 5

Incumbent Terry Morris

Citizens to Elect Terry Morris was formed April 6, 2015. It shows $15,115 for cash on hand and $2,740 in campaign donations since Dec. 31. They were: $1,o00 from Joliet Firefighters Local 44 PAC and $1,740 from the Chicagoland Operators Joint Labor Management PAC.

Suzanna Ibarra, challenger

Suzy For Joliet 5 formed Dec. 26. It shows $279 for cash on hand and no contributions so far in 2019.