Who's Donating To Terry D'Arcy For Joliet Mayor?

JOLIET, IL —Two of the Joliet Police Department's four deputy chiefs — Sherrie Blackburn and Christopher Botzum — are among the roughly 150 Joliet residents and notable businesses helping Terry D'Arcy build up his campaign coffers in hopes of defeating two-term Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk on April 4.

A review of campaign donations listed on the Illinois Sunshine political contribution database shows Blackburn and Botzum each gave $250 to D'Arcy's mayoral campaign on Sept. 28.

Since summer, about 150 people or local businesses have contributed at least $250 to the D'Arcy for Joliet mayoral campaign. D'Arcy's total donations have topped $150,000, according to the Illinois Sunshine.

As Joliet Patch reported Saturday, the Joliet Police Department is taking a strong interest in the mayor's race between D'Arcy and O'Dekirk.

The Joliet Police Department Supervisors Association recently announced the supervisors are unanimous in their support for D'Arcy, not O'Dekirk, in the April 4 municipal races.

Prior to being promoted to deputy chiefs, Blackburn and Botzum would have been members of the Joliet Police's Supervisors Association.

Blackburn was elevated to Joliet's deputy chief of administration in January 2021 by Jim Capparelli, who had just taken over as the new city manager. Blackburn has been with the Joliet Police Department since 2000. According to her department, Blackburn previously worked in patrol, the Neighborhood Oriented Policing Team and in the narcotics unit.

As for Botzum, he joined the Joliet Police Department in 2003. He had been serving as lieutenant of internal affairs since July 2020 after previously working in patrol, criminal investigations and in the public affairs unit.

This January, Capparelli promoted Botzum to take over as deputy chief of technical services, replacing Mike Batis, who retired in September 2021.

In addition to the two current deputy police chiefs, one of former Police Chief Al Roechner's deputy chiefs, Marc Reid, also donated $250 to the D'Arcy for Joliet campaign on Sept. 28.

In the summer of 2021, Joliet Patch reported that "After being demoted from Joliet deputy chief to lieutenant in January, Marc Reid negotiated an $18,000 raise, then got a doctor's note, letting him go on sick leave until he retired April 4. Now, Reid is becoming a full-time police sergeant for Elwood."

As a lieutenant in rank, Reid officially retired from Joliet's Police Department in April 2021, a day after he turned 50. Reid retired at a much higher salary than what he made for Joliet in 2019 and 2020, allowing Reid to “spike” his retirement pension from the city of Joliet.

Besides the three past and present deputy police chiefs for Joliet, several area businesses and notable Joliet residents are donating thousands of dollars in the hopes of electing D'Arcy.

Here's a sampling of D'Arcy's major campaign contributors:

J.D. Ross, $1,000 on Sept. 30

The Dock at Inwood, $1,000 on Sept. 30.

Gloria Dollinger, $1,500 on Sept. 30.

Ed Mattox, $2,500, on Sept. 30.

Charles Sharp, $5,000, on Sept. 9.

Sharp Property Solutions, $10,000, on Nov. 15.

D Construction, $10,000, on Oct. 20.

Michael Hansen, attorney at law, $5,000, July 14.

Cecilia Hansen, $5,000, on July 14.

Bob Sohol, $5,000, Sept. 22.

Candace Sohol, $5,000, Sept. 22.

Tom Vana, $5,000, on Oct. 12.

Michele Vana, $5,000, on Oct. 12.

G Barr 11/21, $5,000, on Sept. 30.

Jay Bergman, $5,000, on Sept. 22.

Herb Lande, $5,000, on Sept. 22.

Lori Lande, $4,512, on Nov. 8.

Gregory Lewis, $2,500, on Sept. 27.

Brascia Holdings, $2,500, on Sept. 27.

Dave Hoffman, $5,000, on Sept. 22.

M & J Equipment, $5,000, on Aug. 30.

Terry D'Arcy donated $75,000 to his own election campaign on July 12.

See all of Terry D'Arcy's major campaign contributions here.

For donations to Citizens of O'Dekirk, find them here.

Related Joliet Patch coverage:

• O'Dekirk's Biggest Campaign Donors: Mayor Raises Another $66,650
• Calling Ex-Chief 'Dumb, Unmotivated Lump' Is Not Defamation: Lawyers
• Sergeant Promotion Delayed For Joliet Officer Bob Mau Jr.