JOLIET, IL — For the second week in a row, the Joliet City Council voted on Mayor Bob O'Dekirk's recommendation to fill Don Dickinson's vacancy. Last week's choice of Todd Wooten ended without confirmation. Monday night's vote on Herb Lande gained unanimous approval.
In a 7-0 decision, the Council approved the mayor's choice of Lande to serve until May.
Lande, who turned 74 in November, has run the Imperial Construction Company in Joliet since 1979 and has served as chairman of the Joliet police and fire board since 2015. For 25 years, Lande served as a volunteer auxiliary deputy at the Will County Sheriff's Office, rising in the ranks to sergeant, lieutenant and captain, before retiring in 2011.
Lande told Joliet Patch that his family escaped Nazi Germany and he was born in Switzerland in 1946. Lande grew up on the north side of Chicago and came to Joliet in 1971. He said that his Imperial Construction Company employs about 100 ironworkers and most are members of Joliet Local 444.
"We built the new courthouse, we employ a lot of local guys," Lande told Patch.
Before Monday night's vote, Councilman Pat Mudron asked Lande about the fact that Lande has donated thousands of dollars in recent years to back the candidacy of O'Dekirk, who became mayor in 2015 and ran unopposed for re-election in 2019.
Lande responded by saying he's proud he did that.
"I put my money where my mouth is," Lande said during Monday's meeting.
Lande said the previous mayor of Joliet, Tom Giarrante, was leading the city of Joliet in the wrong direction. Lande also said he is not a rubber stamp for O'Dekirk on the police and fire board. Lande said he and O'Dekirk probably disagree more than they agree on city matters.
"I'm not a rubber stamp," Lande told the Council. "We don't always agree, mayor?"
"No," O'Dekirk answered.
Bettye Gavin said she chose to abstain from the vote because her employer has done business with Lande over the years. However, Gavin told everyone that Lande is a man of great integrity. "I respect your integrity, sir," she said. "You're a man of your word."
After the unanimous vote, City Clerk Christa Desiderio swore Lande in as the ninth council member. Lande will remain in office until after the April 6 city elections.
Lande will not be running for re-election in the April races. The three seats that will be up for election are his seat, the seat of Mike Turk and the seat of Jan Quillman. Only Quillman is seeking re-election.
"I am very happy the Council approved me. I have no political aspirations. I hope for the short time that I serve on the Council that I can make a difference for the citizens of Joliet. I am not looking for any permanent Council seat," Lande added.
December 06, 2020 at 01:39AM
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Herb Lande Joins Joliet City Council In Surprising 7-0 Vote - Patch.com
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