Republicans Will Field Slate Of Joliet Township Candidates

JOLIET, IL — Just two days after Joliet Patch broke the news of Democrat Joliet Township Supervisor Dan Vera's humiliating defeat at Tuesday night's party caucus, the Republicans in Joliet Township announced they, too, will be fielding several candidates to compete in the April elections.

Vera got defeated by a slate of candidates led by Angel Contreras, a well-known up-and-coming Democrat leader in Joliet politics.

Democrats have controlled Joliet Township politics for years. People who attended Tuesday's caucus at St. Joe's Park told Patch there were several senior citizens who walked out the building after vote, angry and using vulgar language to voice their displeasure at the surprise and stunning victory over Vera and his fellow Democrat incumbents.

On Thursday morning, the Joliet Township Republican Organization issued a news release announcing that it also held a party caucus this week, and the following people will be on the ballot to challenge Contreras and his slate of Democrats:

For Joliet Township Republican Supervisor: Diane M. Harris

For Joliet Township Republican Highway Commissioner: John Lawson

For Township Trustee: Republicans Jason King, Tim Hendricks, Jan Nahorski and Mike Carruthers

"JTRO is proud to endorse each of these candidates and believe that together we can restore our communities," Thursday's announcement stated.