Joliet Mayor Candidate Survey: Terry D'Arcy

JOLIET, IL — Patch submitted questionnaires to the three candidates running for mayor of Joliet in the April 4 election. The following responses were provided by Terry D'Arcy, president of D'Arcy Motors, who is challenging two-term Mayor Bob O'Dekirk in the April non-partisan elections. D'Arcy, O'Dekirk and Tycee Bell are the three candidates on the Joliet ballot.

Your name:

Terry D'Arcy

Age (as of Election Day)

67

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

Yes, my son is a police officer on the Joliet Police Department.

Education

I attended Trade School and was a former union ironworker for Ironworkers Local 444 here in Joliet. In my thirty years in the auto industry, I have attended various classes in leadership, finances and professional development.

Occupation

I am the Owner/President of D’Arcy Automobiles, Joliet, IL. I have been in the auto industry in Joliet for over 30 years.

In my position, I oversee all operations and finances, including sales, budgets, accounting, profit and loss (P & L), forecasting, compliance, safety, service and marketing. Profit and loss responsibility includes directing how the company’s resources are spent after expenses for the entire organization.

Campaign Website

https://terrydarcyformayor.com...

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

I served on the Illinois Tollway Board from 2012 to 2016.

The most pressing issues facing our (board, district, etc.) are _______, and this is what I intend to do about them.

There are a number of issues facing our city. Water, crime, infrastructure, truck traffic, pollution, and the lack of a comprehensive/long term plan for our city.

My campaign goals consist of three “C” words… Community, Communication and Collaboration. Community should be something we all strive for to make this city with a big heart, the world-class city it should be.

If elected, I would strive to make Joliet a safe and healthy community to live, work in and raise our families. We as a city must have improved Communication. As leaders we need to listen to our constituents and communicate with them on the positive change we are making to improve their lives.

Finally, what separates good leaders from Great Leaders is one word, Collaboration: the act of working together with other people or organizations to create or achieve something.

My commitment to the residents is to listen, govern and be sure all the residents have fair and balanced investment and resources throughout the city and not just for a select few.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

My leadership style sets me apart from the current Mayor. I have a vision and a plan for improving our city.

I will work with all of our partners and stakeholders with mutual respect and an open mind toward ideas. We need to work toward solutions and not create problems. That’s how I have always led our businesses. I would be council member number 9 and vote on all action items placed on the agenda and the residents will know why I vote the way I do and not take a pass.

I know that I have the necessary skills, high ideals, professionalism, knowledge and experience to serve the citizens of Joliet.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

I'm not sure failed is the correct word but the current mayor seems to have stopped listening to the very people he took an oath of office to represent. We have a real lack of communication on issues affecting residents.

We are not working with our regional,, state or federal partners to address concerns. We are not providing equal investment in all our neighborhoods. We are not addressing quality of life issues.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

My campaign consists of three “C” words…Community, Communication and Collaboration. Community should be something we all strive for to make this city with a big heart, the World Class City it should be.

If elected, I would strive to make Joliet a safe and healthy community to live, work in and raise our families. We as a city must have improved Communication.

As leaders, we need to listen to our constituents and communicate with them on the positive change we are making to improve their lives.

Finally, what separates good leaders from great leaders is one word Collaboration: the act of working together with other people or organizations to create or achieve something.

My commitment to the residents is to listen, govern and be sure all the residents have fair and balanced investment and resources throughout the city and not just for a select few.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have been invested as a business owner for over 30 years in Joliet. I have grown my business from 26 employees to 260.

In the 30-plus years I have been involved in the auto industry, I have served in leadership roles and on boards including the General Motors National Dealer Council which puts me in meetings with the top leaders of General Motors. So I know what is expected to serve in a leadership role if I am elected mayor.

In addition, I understand finances and getting big projects completed. While on the Illinois Tollway Board which operates the three hundred or so miles of toll roads, we rolled out a $12 billion-dollar multiyear plan for expansion and improvements.

These experiences and more have prepared me for the role of mayor.

Why should voters trust you?

My leadership style sets me apart from the current Mayor. I will work with all of our partners and stakeholders with mutual respect and an open mind toward ideas. We need to work toward solutions and not create problems.

To get respect, you must give respect. That’s how I have always led our businesses. I would be councilmember number 9 and vote on all action items placed on the agenda. I pledge to you that you will know why I vote the way I do and not take a pass.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?

My greatest accomplishment woud be to achieve my platform goals of improving our quality of life, improving how resources are allocated and improving how our great city is viewed.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the handling of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

I am fiscally responsible with the revenues of our businesses and would do the same if elected mayor along with holding our administration and city council accountable.

Do you support the Illinois assault weapons ban, and would you support a local assault weapons ban in this community?

The tragedy in Highland Park could have happened here in Joliet. We need to do all we can to protect our citizens from these tragic mass shootings. I support any effort to keep the residents of Joliet safe. I believe the current ban is being challenged in the courts.

I think the community would need to speak up and speak out on any local assault weapons ban in Joliet.

Do you support Black Lives Matter, and do you think the current board has done enough to support racial equality? If not, what specifically should be done to do so?

I believe everyone should be treated equally and fairly. We need to embrace the cultural diversity of our community in all things we do.

I believe we can also do some of the following:

• Set asides for minority contracts – IF NOT ALREADY IN PLACE
• TIF agreement can help with increasing minority participation
• Sales tax agreements, can also help with minority agreements
• Condition of business licenses - Bolingbrook has a business license for a cannabis dispensary where 51% owned by African Americans.
• Diversity Officer to increase minority hiring – If not already in place
• Making sure our city workforce is diverse.

Do you support the SAFE-T Act? Why or why not?

There seems to be some good points and bad points within the Act. This Act should be reviewed often to be sure the cause and its intended affect has the best outcome for all.

What are your thoughts on the crime rate in your community, and what more can be done to combat crime — especially violent crime — in town?

Yes, we have an issue with crime in Joliet. As mayor, my first order of business will be to ensure our city focuses on public safety and quality of life for all.

We need to ensure a fully staffed, well trained and equipped police department.

As first responders our police officers need to be culturally aware and sensitive to mental health issues.

The current mayor claims to have hired 134 new police officers. But is this putting additional officers on the street or replacing those that retired or left due to attrition?

We need to have a plan to keep a full contingent of officers on the street and we do that by planning ahead. Finally, we need NOPT (Neighborhood Oriented Policing Teams) in all the neighborhoods that need them.

What is your view of the city's/village's approach to commercial and residential development?

The City of Joliet does not have an approach to these topics because we do not have a long term comprehensive plan. We need a plan for the next five, ten and twenty years.

I propose adding student housing to our downtown area. This will create a natural customer base to utilize existing businesses and spur the growth of new businesses. USF has been committed to bringing student housing downtown and has been trying to get this accomplished for many years.

I would also like for us to have a public/private partnership to revitalize our downtown area.

Bo Jackson/Elite Sports and I have talked about building a 130,000 square foot tournament dome with hotels and restaurants on the same campus. It will bring in economic development in areas that desperately need it.

The site of the old steel mill would be ideal for this type of redevelopment. This could be a game changer for the center of our city and start to enhance the quality of life. It could be a new piston in our economic engine.

Bo Jackson/Elite Sports has done this in Columbus, Ohio, Texas and Bensenville by the airport. These are the types of respected partnerships that a true leader can bring to the table.

When it comes to development, what are some key areas for improvement or additions you feel are most wanted by residents? What will need to be done to make this happen?

I think there are several ways to look at the issue of development. There are needs for housing development to bring in first time home buyers to Joliet. We also have a need for adult living for those 55 and older who want to remain in Joliet and size down from their larger homes. We need to also consider development that addresses quality of life issues.

Residents want to be able to go to a vibrant downtown area to dine and enjoy entertainment venues, cultural or social events.

What we need to obtain these goals is to create a long term comprehensive plan, revitalize our downtown area and work to develop housing that meets the needs of our residents.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

No I would serve my full term if elected.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

My father used to tell me to be myself and be honest with those who put their faith in you.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

People want hope and they want change and they want a mayor who listens to them. Change can happen for the better for all of us. The only thing missing is the Political will to get things done.

I have the will and with the vote of the people I will have the ability to help make the changes we need and deserve.