It was heartfelt and emotional goodbyes for Mayor Bob O’Dekirk and Councilwoman Bettye Gavin Monday evening as they attended their final meetings on the Joliet City Council.
But those re-elected to their prior posts and the duo who will preside over their first meetings as the newest elected officials on the City Council on Tuesday, Monday night was the beginning of what they hope will usher a brighter future for all residents of Joliet.
O’Dekirk was defeated last month for the mayoral post by Terry D’Arcy, who won by more than 3,800 votes. The former Joliet police officer was first elected in April 2015 and subsequently re-elected to a second term in office in 2019. Before he was elected mayor, O’Dekirk served as District 2 councilman. Tycee Bell also unsuccessfully ran for mayor.
O’Dekirk was commended for securing $170 million in funding for the Houbolt Road bridge project, a new Will County courthouse and obtaining new water source for Joliet. The outgoing mayor said Joliet has come a long way from a $27 million deficit in 2011 to having $84 million in reserve funds today with a balanced budget.
“I am not a politician, but I became an elected official,” said O’Dekirk. “The approach to mayor was to make the most of the time I was given.”
While he regrets not being able to see the completion of all the projects he started, O’Dekirk did warn D’Arcy to expect scrutiny from the media, the community and especially on social media.
After taking his oath of office, D’Arcy said “I love Joliet” was the mantra he used during his campaign and a slogan he will incorporate everyday as the city’s new mayor.
“I want to make Joliet a better place, not just for today, but for tomorrow.”
Along with D’Arcy, Councilman Larry Hug of District 1, Councilman Pat Mudron of District 2, and Councilwoman Sherri Reardon of District 3 all took their oaths of offices. Incumbents Hug, Mudron and Reardon were all re-elected to four more years to the Joliet City Council board.
The newly elected members of the Council are Cesar Cardenas of District 4 and Suzanna Ibarra of District 5, who also took their oaths of office during the special meeting Monday night.
Ibarra defeated incumbent Terry Morris who was seeking his fourth term as District 5 Councilman. Cardenas is the new face of District 4 as incumbent Bettye Gavin opted against seeking re-election as councilwoman.
Gavin, who was first appointed as District 4 councilwoman in 2014 and subsequently elected in 2015 and 2019 was cited for “making quality of life for Joliet residents her most important priority.”
Following a standing ovation from the audience, Gavin urged everyone to “bring the voice of the community to the table” by working together.
“To God be the glory for allowing me to serve the residents of this city,” said Gavin. “This city is an amazing city.”
Gavin, who along with O’Dekirk and Morris were given plaques and a proclamation for their service to the city, thanked the city’s police and fire personnel for “putting your butts on the line every day for us.”
Saluting her family, particularly her husband, Archie, Gavin said, “My family is the wind beneath my wings.”
Reardon commended Gavin for her heartfelt service to the city.
“To know Bettye is to love her,” said Reardon. “I look forward to the next chapter of our friendship.”
While Morris did not attend Monday’s special meeting as he was out of town with his wife, Hug described his former colleague as a “true friend.”
“He is not flashy. He is intelligent,” said Hug. “Terry leaves a vacuum here to be filled.”
Councilman-at-large Cesar Guerrero joked that he would have to step up his clothing game to take over as the best dressed on the City Council as he described Morris as always “looking fly.”
Cardenas told the audience his intention is to keep the campaign promises he made to his constituents.
“My actions speak louder than words,” he said. “I am just excited to be here.”
Fighting back tears as she took the oath of office flanked by her parents, Ibarra said her only regret is “my brother didn’t live to see this day.” Madhu Mayer, Times Weekly, reporter – mm@thetimesweekly
