Terry D'Arcy Intends To Defeat O'Dekirk, Announces Run For Mayor

JOLIET, IL — During March's annual state of the city speech, Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk announced plans to seek a third four-year term in the spring 2023 elections. On Thursday, one of O'Dekirk's major campaign donors, Joliet businessman Terry D'Arcy, held a news conference to announce his plans to run for Joliet mayor.

D'Arcy is the owner and president of D'Arcy Automobiles. He is originally from Plainfield and graduated from Plainfield High School in 1974.

Rumors of D'Arcy running for mayor have been circulating around Joliet since late spring. But on Thursday, at the D'Arcy Motors, 2022 Essington Road, Terry D'Arcy made it official.

He said that he's running for mayor because at 66 years old, he has the time necessary to devote his attention to being mayor of Joliet. He said he's running because of the public service component. He said he wants to give back to the city.

"I just want to help people," D'Arcy told reporters at Wednesday's news conference.

At the bottom of this article, Joliet Patch has published D'Arcy's entire speech.

Inside the showroom for his D'Arcy auto dealership on Essington Road, Terry D'Arcy was joined by his wife, his mother as well as two of his sons and other family.

Given that he's 66, Terry D'Arcy said he did not wait another four years, when he is 70, to run for the office of mayor. "This city has been so good to me," he remarked.

D'Arcy said he called Mayor O'Dekirk and notified him of his decision to run against him in next year's mayoral race for the third largest Illinois city and the county seat of Will County.

"I talked to the mayor and wished him well. I respect him," D'Arcy said of O'Dekirk.

He said that D'Arcy Motors now about 225 total employees between all its locations, and he's in the process of building a new $20 million building on his Essington Road property.

When one of the reporters at Wednesday's news conference asked if he had any key issue or issues that his campaign will focus on, D'Arcy responded, "let me work on that and get back to you."

D'Arcy stressed that his main reason for running was the public service component. Another reporter asked if he had any comments about the NorthPoint development in the Elwood area and D'Arcy indicated he needed to do further research on the topic before making any comments for or against the NorthPoint mega development off Route 53.

"I don't have an answer on that right now," he replied.

Joliet Patch asked D'Arcy if he's ever run for political office prior to Wednesday's announcement. "I've never run for office," he answered.

Prior to taking questions from reporters, D'Arcy told the crowd of supporters that "the folks that work with me are the reason that we're all standing here today. And I'm certainly appreciative of everything they do, they make me look good.

"So, it would be my honor to serve the city as mayor and imagineer for all of our futures, so, again, I'm announcing my candidacy for the mayor of the city of Joliet."

In November 2020, Joliet Patch reported that Terry D'Arcy, one of Joliet's major political campaign donors, received approval from the Joliet City Council to rezone 16.3 acres along Essington Road to expand his D'Arcy Motors in the 2000 block of Essington Road.

At the same meeting, the Council approved a resolution calling for an honorary street name change for Terry D'Arcy on Essington Road between Fiday Road and Old Castle Road. Terry D'Arcy is known around Joliet as both a philanthropist and as a behind the scenes mover and shaker in Joliet and Will County politics.

According to the Illinois Sunshine website on political campaign donations, Terry D'Arcy has donated at least $7,000 in political campaign contributions to O'Dekirk over the years. Last Aug. 26, D'Arcy gave $1,500 to the Citizens for O'Dekirk campaign. In 2019, D'Arcy contributed $500 on April 13 and another $500 on March 14.

Over the years, D'Arcy has given $4,500 to the Citizens to Elect Mike Kelley for Will County Sheriff including $1,500 from D'Arcy Hyundai last October and another $1,000 on behalf of Terry D'Arcy himself.

Even though D'Arcy has been giving money to Democrat Kelley's attempt to win a third term in office in the November general elections, D'Arcy has also started making campaign donations to Kelley's opponent, Republican candidate Jim Reilly. Reilly is a Will County Sheriff's deputy.

D'Arcy Buick, GMC made a $1,500 contribution to Reilly's campaign trying to defeat Kelley, last September, campaign records reflect.

According to the Illinois Sunshine Database, D'Arcy also serves as the chairman of the Committee to Elect Patrick Mudron, who is finishing his second term on the Joliet City Council.

D'Arcy's son, Christopher, is now a sergeant on the Joliet Police Department.

Last year, Christopher D'Arcy was the 11th highest paid employee for the entire city of Joliet, making $182,164 in police operations.

Terry D'Arcy's entire speech:

"Good Afternoon: For those who may not know me, my name is Terry D'Arcy and I would like to share with everyone that I will be asking the city of Joliet to allow me the privilege to be elected and serve as Mayor of this wonderful city in the April 2023 election.

"I have been in business here in Joliet for just over 30 years, and we have been blessed and fortunate to be able to grow our business here over that time.

"The skill set I have been able to assemble during my life has given me much opportunity to know and believe I could put my work ethic and leadership skills to good use.

"I started out after high school in the trades working as an Ironworker out of Local #444, and one day during a winter lay off, I was looking to buy a car at a local dealer, and the dealer talked me into trying to sell cars. I did that and began to like it, but during the training, one of the managers told the recruits I didn't look like I would make it, and here, I am, many years later, still in the business.

"My position in the trades has kept me grounded and very aware of the need for skilled labor, and in our dealerships, we have over 40,701 journey men technicians and several teamsters in our parts and porter positions. All of our buildings are constructed with skilled labor.

"During my business career, I have been able to serve on many boards in charitable, university, hospital, auto dealer associations, and the Illinois Tollway Authority, in which I served a 4 year term, I was assigned to the 3-person finance committee as we began a $12 Billion dollar multi-year expansion, our committee, would research and present the full board 100's of millions of dollars in contracts for full board approval during the year. During that term, I realized we were investing in generational roads and bridges.

"I would like to use my leadership skill set to help Lead for the future of this great city with clear and energetic communication while keeping my ear to the ground for our every day needs as Mayor and vote number 9 on the council. We are a city Manager/council form of government, and I understand how we can work well together.

"My approach as a servant leader in our businesses that employ over 225 wonderful people has allowed me to now have the time to devote myself to public service as I have worked myself out of a job.

"It would be my honor to serve the city as Mayor and Imagineer for all of our futures. Thank you
God Bless you and your Families, and God Bless America."