Equity Matters
Cesar Guerrero speaks at the February 20 Joliet Candidate Forum
February 20, Joliet, IL - At today’s candidate forum hosted by the Will County Democratic Black and Latinx caucuses, councilwoman Quillman was on the defensive on her recent votes as well as plans for reaching her constituents.
The big moment came when the question turned to plans to reach Spanish speaking residents. Councilwoman Quillman seemed at a loss for words, eventually insisting that Spanish speakers should “learn English”. She went so far as to rationalize this regressive position with the racist talking point that, “our ancestors came here and they all learned the language”.
Candidate Warren Dorris quickly shot back, “You want to improve the communication, you elect a Hispanic to the city council. They’re one of the largest populations of people and there’s no representation, you elect a Hispanic to the city council so he can be ingrained and go back to that community, that’s what needs to be done.”
Cesar Guerrero, who, if elected, would be the only Latinx member of the Joliet city council had this to say, “Today we saw the truth, that our current mayor and city council see the people of Joliet not as the constituents they’re sworn to serve, but as an inconvenience. No matter the subject at hand, good jobs, affordable water, clean air, the only response from the Quillman-O’Dekirk administration is ‘why didn’t the voters do more to solve their own problems’? Government should work for the people, not the other way around. We have to set this straight and the only way to do so is if our communities come together in solidarity and elect leadership that believes equity and accountability are more than just talking points.”
Quillman’s statements that residents should have done more to inform themselves on the water crisis, should do more to improve their own economic situation, and should just “learn English” in order to participate in local democracy is reminiscent of Texas mayor Tim Boyd’s recent controversial statement that, "No one owes you [or] your family anything; nor is it the local government's responsibility to support you during trying times like this!"
Early voting begins this Thursday, February 25 and election day is April 6. The voters of Joliet have a clear choice, more dysfunctional government by the Quillman-O’Dekirk administration for the privileged few, or real representation for all the working families of Joliet with a vote for Cesar Guerrero.
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Quillman Statement (56:15)
Warren Dorris Statement (58:30)