Meet Joliet City Council Candidate: Joe Clement

JOLIET, IL — After serving four years on the Joliet Park District Board and working more than 27 years on the Joliet Police Department until retiring last August, Joe Clement is ready to represent to the voters of Joliet. Clement is one of 12 candidates vying for the three open at-large seats on the Joliet City Council in the April 6 elections.

Clement recently filled out the Joliet Patch candidate survey, and his answers can be found below:

Name: Joe Clement

Office sought: Joliet City Council at large

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you're running for.

No

Education: Coal City High School, Police Training Institute (University Of Illinois)

Occupation: Retired Joliet Police Officer, 27 1⁄2 years.

Campaign Website: Facebook Page: Joe Clement For Joliet City Council

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office:

Joliet Park District Commissioner

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Although the Joliet City Council very recently seems to have begun to work cooperatively in the best interests of our city, the damage from the last few years of political infighting and administrative instability needs to be repaired. I hope to help ensure that we stay on the right track in terms of professional legislative behavior and responsiveness to the needs of our constituents.

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

There are so many candidates running, especially young first time candidates who have not been
previously engaged in the community, I believe that my collective life experience as a father, husband, homeowner, taxpayer, former business owner, former police officer, community volunteer, and current elected official give me a more balanced perspective and background on how government can help our city be the best it can be.

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

Since multiple incumbent council members have retired and there are three open seats, I don’t consider myself a challenger to anyone.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform?

Helping facilitate the creation of 100 new businesses for Joliet with living wage jobs, helping facilitate a better relationship between the Joliet Police Department and all of the citizens they serve, and supporting our city manager in leading the administration as our city rebuilds its economy.

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

My service as a Joliet Park District Commissioner, service as a police officer, and my experience as a business owner, father and husband. All are positions of great responsibility in my opinion.

Why should voters trust you?

The voters of Joliet have already established that they trust me to make decisions on their behalf and manage their tax dollars responsibly by electing me as a Commissioner of the Joliet Park District. I will be no less diligent in maintaining that trust as a Joliet City Council member.

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

Helping facilitate the creation of 100 new businesses for Joliet with living wage jobs, helping facilitate a better relationship between the Joliet Police Department and all of the citizens they serve, and supporting our city manager in leading the administration as our city rebuilds its economy.

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

Don’t spend more that you generate in revenue so that you don’t leave a legacy of debt for your children and grandchildren to pay. This is currently the shameful legacy that exists in the State of Illinois government, Cook County government and the City of Chicago government. They have jeopardized the economy of Illinois and Joliet through their irresponsibility and I will not support any such irresponsible spending in Joliet government.

Do you support Black Lives Matter and what are your thoughts on the demonstrations held since the death of George Floyd and the shooting of Jacob Blake?

I believe in equal justice in the eyes of the law and the equal treatment of all citizens every day — I always have. That is why I became a police officer and why I have always treated the Joliet citizen's with respect and dignity even when I was not afforded the same courtesy. I know firsthand that police officers have to deal with split second life and death decisions which are always second guessed in hindsight, but that never excuses blatant violations of civil rights or intentional violent acts, such as with George Floyd. At the same time, I believe the BLM movement has been hijacked by radical elements who have an agenda of anarchy or radical governmental destruction, and some organized criminal elements have hijacked and tarnished legitimate peaceful BLM protests by turning them into violent riots where selfish enrichment occurs in the form of looting. Until BLM separates itself from these elements and actions, I will support the equal rights under the law for everyone and they are welcome to support me in doing so peacefully.

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

I think the Mayor and City Council have proactively increased diversity and inclusion in policy, practice and personnel and I intend to support the expansion of those actions if elected. We are moving in the right direction and there are some people who will always say it is too fast while there are some people who will always say it is too slow.

What are your thoughts on the national and local coronavirus response? Do you favor measures such as limiting operation of non-essential businesses and restricting indoor/outdoor dining? And do you favor a local mask mandate?

Joliet has a de facto mask mandate in place already because we are under the jurisdiction of the State of Illinois Executive Orders which mandate masks in all public buildings and businesses. In addition, people have been proactively wearing masks to protect themselves and their families. I think a business or restaurant that responsibly requires mask wearing when moving around while constantly cleaning and sanitizing is sufficient to protect our physical health while preserving Joliet’s economic health.

What are your thoughts on the state and local coronavirus vaccine distribution, and how do you think local governments should work together to handle vaccine rollout?

The vaccine rollout should be planned and executed in a linear fashion down from the Federal, state and county governments in conjunction with health care providers and our national pharmacy chains, which have branched out to become de facto community clinics in the last 10 years. I think local municipal governments should hold our state officials accountable for rolling out the vaccine plan while providing any assistance that is asked, but one entity needs to be in charge and that is the state. If not, you will have anarchy as a year ago when you had 50 states addressing the problem differently in competition with one another instead of working together. Much time, effort, money and lives were wasted due to lack of a unified top-down organizational response.

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

None that I can think of.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Keep your powder dry, do the right thing, and help people in your community.

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

I will enter this job with an open mind and I will be open to all suggestions and input from the
community. In the end, if I am elected, voters trust me to use my best judgment to vote for the policies I believe will move our city forward. That’s how I intend to operate. If folks don’t like the way I do my job after four years, they can show me the door.