Joliet Mayor: 'I Can Tell You The Numbers Are Off The Charts'

Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk also announced plans to seek a third term in April 2023 during Wednesday's speech at Harrah's Casino.

John Ferak, Patch Staff

Posted Wed, Mar 9, 2022 at 2:27 pm CT|Updated Wed, Mar 9, 2022 at 4:41 pm CT

In 2021, Joliet announced that Olive Garden will build a new restaurant near Interstate 55 and Route 30 near the new Costco. That construction should happen in 2022. (John Ferak/Joliet Patch Editor)

JOLIET, IL — Showing slide after slide touting Joliet's economic development across the city, Mayor Bob O'Dekirk told a crowd of 250 gathered at his state of the city speech that he will be running for a third term of office in April 2023.

"And I want to keep the momentum that we have in Joliet going. I want to keep the city on the upward trajectory that we have been on, and I certainly want to see through these projects that have begun. I want to see them through their completion," O'Dekirk declared Wednesday.

In 2019, O'Dekirk ran unopposed for Joliet's mayor. He was first elected to the office in 2015 when he defeated incumbent Tom Giarrante, who lasted just one term.

Find out what's happening in Jolietfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Inside the Harrah's Casino ballroom, O'Dekirk showed several slides during his PowerPoint presentation to remind his audience of all the growth Joliet has experienced over the past year or so.

"I can tell you that the numbers are off the charts," O'Dekirk told everyone.