Larry Walsh Jr., Jim Lanham Eye 86th District Seat: IL 2024 Election

JOLIET —State Representative Lawrence "Larry" Walsh, Jr., a prominent Democrat in Will County politics, faces competition in Tuesday's general election from Republican challenger Jim Lanham in the race to represent the people of the 86th District.

The 86th District includes parts of Joliet, and other towns such as Elwood, Channahon and Shorewood. Larry Walsh Jr. is seeking re-election.

Walsh has served as a state representative for the past 12 years. According to his political biography, Walsh was born and raised in Elwood, and he was a former trustee on the Jackson Township Board. He has also been a member of the International Machinist and Aerospace Workers Union. Walsh is also a member of St. Rose’s Parish in Wilmington. He is married to his wife, Theresa, and is the father of three children.

In Springfield, Walsh's committee assignments consist of counties and townships; energy and environment; gaming; health care licenses; prescription drug affordability. He is the chairman of the public utilities' committee; co-chairperson of the supply chain subcommittee, sub-chairperson of the telecom Subcommittee and on the utilities' subcommittee.

According to his political website, "Larry strongly backs the Rebuild Illinois program, which is investing $45 billion in infrastructure and will create and support 540,000 jobs. He’ll fight to fund skilled trades training so the next generation is ready for these and other high-wage jobs."

Just last week, Walsh served as one of the featured speakers at a city of Joliet press conference, hosted by Mayor Terry D'Arcy, to rededicate the city of Joliet's Route 66 Park along Broadway Street near the Rich & Creamy ice cream stand.

The Route 66 Park also features a 1/3-mile paved path meandering through the Greenway and a playground. In 2007, the city received a state tourism grant to add Route 66-themed elements, officially branding this site as Route 66 Park.

Route 66 Park will also feature an 8-foot-tall Steelman statue.

At Joliet's October press conference, Walsh said that improving Joliet's image has been a key goal of his for some time so "that people know there is a lot of good things here, a lot of history here, going back to when we were steel and stone. You talked about the Steelman. That's Joliet Township High School. My father was a graduate from both schools, Township and East, that history is abundant," Walsh told the crowd.

"In 2018, with the celebration of the Route 66 1ooth birthday, the State of Illinois and the General Assembly created the Illinois Route 66 Commission, or centennial commission, that is basically set up to promote and market the celebration of 100 years of Route 66 working with the city of Joliet ... we've been able to give municipalities across the state, multiple dollars, millions of dollars actually, to make improvements and enhance the byway of Route 66 for this celebration that coming in two years."

Enhancements to Route 66 Park were funded by a Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Route 66 Grant. Heritage Corridor Destinations, the region’s convention and visitors bureau, manages the grant awards for this program locally.

The 7-acre linear park spans approximately 2,000 feet along the east side of Broadway Street, from just south of Ross Street to Ingalls Avenue. In addition to Route 66 Park and Rich & Creamy, the Greenway features a 1/3-mile paved path lined with benches and receptacles, as well as an arboretum showcasing a variety of plant species identified with tags.

In October 2023, Walsh opened a new constituent service office at 3141 W. Jefferson St. in Joliet. For the past several years, the Democrat from Elwood had his office located in a less visible area of Joliet in an office building along Springfield Avenue.

“While we’ve been at the old location for years, it was time to move to a location that is more accessible for the majority of our residents,” Walsh announced in his press release. “Although there was a change in location, my staff and I will continue to deliver the same services and assistance that our community deserves and expects.”

Walsh’s Joliet office recently changed locations to become more accessible for residents residing in the 86th District, which includes parts of Joliet, and other towns such as Elwood, Channahon and Shorewood.

Lanham Challenges Walsh

As for Walsh's Republican challenger, Lanham, according to his page on X, formerly known as Twitter, Lanham calls himself the "third most famous Atlanta Braves fan after Jimmy Carter and Evander Holyfield" and he's the "GOP candidate for Illinois state representative District 86."

Lanham also garnered significant coverage in Joliet Patch over the past several months. Lanham's most recent interview took place on Oct. 17 when he and the president of the Cunningham Neighborhood Council John Sheridan and Jim Lanham both praised the Joliet City Council for approving $100,000 to finally build the Cunningham Neighborhood Park at 1000 N. Center St.

Lanham told Joliet Patch during the Facebook Live interview that the 11 child sexual offenders who are all occupying the same two-story apartment building only one block away, at 1000 Cora Street, will all be gone in the coming months.

Back in 2022, Lanham came up with the phrase "Pedophile Palace," to describe the concrete apartment building at the corner of Cora and Moran Street, 1000 Cora St.

"Yes I did, and I also got scolded by the NARSOL people, which is the National Association for Rational Sex Offense Laws," Lanham told Joliet Patch. "They were very offended that I called pedophiles 'pedophiles.' They think I should call them 'registrants' instead. But, they're pedophiles, and they're predators, and that's what they are."

Patch asked Lanham if he expected the current group of 11 sexual predators to be residing at 1000 Cora St. a year from now.

"If they were adults that offended against other adults, they'll be moved in there," Lanham predicted. "But there is also another loophole in Illinois law where child sex offenders and some predators can live near a school if they've only been convicted of criminal sexual abuse or sexual abuse, which doesn't make any sense, they're still child offenders ... there was one living across from a school in Plainfield, which is legal because the law was changed, it was amended to allow them more freedom and that's not right, that's the General Assembly not looking out for the safety of our children."

In late September, Joliet Patch interviewed Lanham for a story drawing awareness to one of the most dangerous areas of downtown Joliet at that time: the overgrown berm on the west side of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe tracks. The property is across the street from Union Station.

Joliet Police Chief Bill Evans was also interviewed, saying the berm along the BNSF tracks had become an eyesore and a public safety concern. Since Joliet Patch's article was published, Burlington Northern Santa Fe hired landscaping crews to remove all the brush.

Lanham, who works in downtown Joliet, said he is pleased the berm is safe again.

"BNSF came out, and they got a crew right on it, cut it down, they sprayed it, so hopefully this will be maintained like this," Lanham said. "I think it's pretty important the railroads, the utilities, Metra, Pace, all that stuff, keep the trees down, keep the weeds down, make sure the gates and fences are functional."

When weeds, trees and brush began growing out of control last summer along the steep berm in proximity to the Joliet Slammers baseball stadium, Lanham said that homeless people were known to hide in there, sharing their drug needles and consuming hard liquor.

"That's some of the evidence I've seen, empty bottles, drug paraphernalia, so yeah, it was a good idea getting this down," he said. "Just make it safer for commuters, the people that park down here, downtown employees. Joliet Central's right there, kids going back and forth. I think there's a grade school or two in this area, so let's keep the hazards to a minimum."