Juan Moreno Improperly Elected To Joliet City Council In April: State's Attorney Glasgow's Office

JOLIET, IL — Five months after the voters of Joliet elected Juan Moreno Jr. to the Joliet City Council, the Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow has filed a lawsuit against Juan Moreno Jr. seeking to remove him from his seat as an elected official.

Joliet Patch obtained the complaint on Thursday at the Will County Courthouse. The complaint indicates that Moreno "while being not eligible to be a candidate, was purportedly elected to the office of City Council for the city of Joliet on April 1, 2025."

According to the state's attorney filing, Moreno, as of March 2024, was a resident of unincorporated Troy Township and the mailing address of the Troy Township property was 819 Baskin Drive, Joliet, "in which he claimed a homestead exemption. Resident cast his March 19, 2024, primary election ballot as a resident of 819 Baskin Drive, Joliet. August 28, 2024, (Moreno) changed his driver's license address to 3916 Jonathan Simpson Drive, Joliet."

Assistant State's Attorney Scott Pyles indicated that on Nov. 13, 2024, Moreno executed a statement of candidacy "under oath stating he was legally qualified to hold the office of City Council for the city of Joliet at the time he executed the document. On April 1, 2025, (Moreno) was purportedly elected to a seat as City Council member for the city of Joliet."

According to the State's Attorney's filing seeking a declaratory judgment, "the Illinois Municipal Code prohibits those who are not residents of the city for 12 months prior, to take this office and serve as City Council member of the city of Joliet ... respondent Juan Moreno Jr. was not a resident for 12 months prior to the election. Respondent filed a false statement of candidacy regarding his qualifications."

The State's Attorney filing is requesting that Will County's judges require Moreno to show by what authority he seeks to hold a seat as City Council member for the city of Joliet.

"Should ... Juan Moreno Jr. be unable to do so, the people request that this court enter a judgment barring respondent, Juan Moreno Jr. from exercising any duties as City Council member for the city of Joliet and from holding the seat as City Council member for the city of Joliet."