Joe Clement As Your Next Mayor Of Joliet? Two-Term City Councilman, Retired Police Detective Pursuing Idea

JOLIET, IL — Terry D'Arcy has served as the mayor of Joliet since defeating two-term incumbent Bob O'Dekirk in April 2023, but so far, he's made no public remarks regarding plans of seeking a second term.

On Tuesday, Joliet City Councilman Joe Clement issued a statement informing Joliet Patch of his consideration of running in next spring's election for mayor.

"I called Mayor D'Arcy to let him know I requested a petition packet to run for mayor of Joliet in the event that Terry decided not to run, either now or later," Clement revealed. "The Mayor indicated that he intends to run for re-election, and we talked at length about the progress we have made in Joliet in the past and plans for the future.

"We will continue working cooperatively for the benefit of Joliet and I have no intention of running against the mayor of Joliet if he files for office and remains as a candidate."

Joliet Patch left a voicemail message with D'Arcy shortly before 1 p.m. seeking on comment on his political future now that Clement is testing the waters for a possible run at mayor. This story will be updated if D'Arcy responds.

In recent weeks, a number of political sources around the city of Joliet suggested that D'Arcy would pull petitions to get on the ballot and then at the very last minute, back out of running for re-election and endorse his ally and Joliet City Councilman Cesar Cardenas. The downtown Joliet businessman runs a marketing and social media company and helped D'Arcy win his election in 2023.

The same sources suggested another scenario, that D'Arcy would run for re-election and, shortly after winning office, announce his intention to step down, paving the way for Cardenas to take over without having to go to the voters for a decision.

Last November, in Chicago, CBS News reported that U.S. Rep. Jesus "Chuy" Garcia (D-Illinois) was facing backlash over his last-minute decision not to run for another term in 2026, a move that helped open an obvious path for his chief of staff to replace him.

CBS reported that while the Congressman filed nominating petitions on Oct. 27 to run for re-election, his chief of staff, Patty Garcia, who is no relation to the congressman, filed her own nominating petitions at the deadline, and Chuy Garcia withdrew his own petitions, leaving his top aide as the only Democrat running in the upcoming primary.

In June 2022, Joliet Patch was on hand to cover D'Arcy's candidate announcement inside his D'Arcy Motors auto dealership on Essington Road.

"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," D'Arcy told everyone. "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."