Retired Army Colonel Joliet's Next City Manager?

JOLIET, IL — Joliet private practice attorney Jim Capparelli recently turned in his petitions to run for one of the three at-large seats on the Joliet City Council, but Joliet Patch has learned that Capparelli may be in the line to replace Jim Hock as Joliet's next city manager.

Capparelli is expected to undergo an interview as early as Tuesday for the city manager post, according to sources. The Joliet City Council will likely name him or someone else to the position by the end of this week. Friday marks Hock's final day with the city of Joliet after returning to his former employer in an interim capacity in August.

A retired colonel in the U.S. Army, Capparelli worked as Illinois Assistant Attorney General, Bureau Chief, from 2005-2007. He was also appointed to Joliet's planning commission in 2019. Capparelli is usually inside the Will County Courthouse practicing law several days a week.

He works at the Castle Law Firm on Joliet's West Jefferson Street.

"A retired colonel in the United States Army Jim brings a unique combination of legal, military and management experiences provide a broad overview of executive-level human capital, talent management, benefits communications, change and strategic management acumen. Jim is a skilled leader and administrator with strong training, administration, and negotiations expertise. A problem-solver with in-depth understanding of systems, processes and mechanisms at all levels, including both corporate and governmental," his biography at Castle Law states.

Back in January, Patch reported that Capparelli, along with Wisconsin's Will Jones and Rhode Island's Mark Rooney were the three finalists for Joliet's permanent city manager's position. At that time, Capparelli told Patch he did not expect to be offered the job.

And he was right.

None of the three finalists were offered the permanent city manager's position. Instead, the Mudron 5 coalition of the Joliet City Council chose to keep city economic development director Steve Jones on the job for several more months.

Steve Jones, no relation to Wisconsin's Will Jones, filled in as interim city manager from July 2019 until early August 2020. Before him, corporation counsel Marty Shanahan served as interim city manager from October 2018 until late June 2019 when the Mudron 5 removed him from the position and sent him back to the city's legal department.

Nowadays, the Mudron 5 is no more.

Councilman Don "Duck" Dickinson resigned in November after admitting he was sending photos of his genitals to at least one other elected official. In his place, the Council appointed Herb Lande, 74, who had been chairman of the Joliet police and fire commission.

Will Capparelli become Joliet's next city manager? Will he be on the election ballot for the April 6 elections in hopes of winning one of three open at-large seats?

By the end of this week, Joliet's leadership uncertainty at City Hall could be resolved.