Politics & Government
O'Dekirk to Announce Bid for Joliet Mayor at Tuesday Event
The 2nd District councilman says issues of partisanship and self-interest have been halting Joliet's progress.
Joliet City Councilman Bob O'Dekirk will forgo a second term in favor of a bid at being Joliet's next mayor.
O'Dekirk, a 10-year veteran of the Joliet Police Department who became a lawyer in 2003, will announce his candidacy at a event set for 4 p.m. Tuesday on the steps of the Joliet Police Department.
"For too long, partisanship and self interest have stood in the way of progress in our city," a release announcing O'Derirk's candidacy event said. "O’Dekirk is dedicated to bringing about a renewed sense of shared purpose on the council and establishing a professional approach to the development of municipal policy."
Current Mayor Tom Giarrante has not made a formal announcement that he is seeking re-election, but the Will County Central Democratic Committee is holding a fundraiser on his behalf -- with checks payable to the Committee to Elect Giarrante -- on Feb. 20 at the IBEW Local 176 Hall in Joliet.
The election, still more than a year away, will be held April 7, 2015.
O'Dekirk was elected to represent the city's 2nd District in 2011, the same year Giarrante was elected to his first term as mayor.
He's been a private practice lawyer in Joliet since 2006. He graduated from John Marshall Law School in Chicago in 2003 and spent three years working as a prosecutor for the city of Chicago.
During his tenure as a Joliet police officer, he was nominated four times for police officer of the year and was awarded the Martin S. Murin Labor Award in 1995.
O’Dekirk, his wife and three children live in the Cathedral Area and are parishioners of the Cathedral of St. Raymond.
"For too long, partisanship and self interest have stood in the way of progress in our city," a release announcing O'Derirk's candidacy event said. "O’Dekirk is dedicated to bringing about a renewed sense of shared purpose on the council and establishing a professional approach to the development of municipal policy."
Current Mayor Tom Giarrante has not made a formal announcement that he is seeking re-election, but the Will County Central Democratic Committee is holding a fundraiser on his behalf -- with checks payable to the Committee to Elect Giarrante -- on Feb. 20 at the IBEW Local 176 Hall in Joliet.
The election, still more than a year away, will be held April 7, 2015.
O'Dekirk was elected to represent the city's 2nd District in 2011, the same year Giarrante was elected to his first term as mayor.
He's been a private practice lawyer in Joliet since 2006. He graduated from John Marshall Law School in Chicago in 2003 and spent three years working as a prosecutor for the city of Chicago.
During his tenure as a Joliet police officer, he was nominated four times for police officer of the year and was awarded the Martin S. Murin Labor Award in 1995.
O’Dekirk, his wife and three children live in the Cathedral Area and are parishioners of the Cathedral of St. Raymond.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here
