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In A Closely Contested Race, 25 Year-Old First-Time Candidate Cesar Guerrero Declares Victory, Becoming The First Latino To Be Elected to City-Wide Office In Joliet
Guerrero’s victory was powered by an unprecedented grassroots campaign that logged thousands of hours in the field and raised funds from hundreds of grassroots donors, forging a progressive path to power in Joliet.
April 20th, 2021, Joliet-- Political newcomer, Cesar Guerrero, has officially overcome former JJC Board President, Bob Wunderlich, in the most dramatic fashion. Guerrero overcame his election night deficit of 55 votes with a strong showing in mail-in ballots that has left him 11 votes ahead of Wunderlich, enough to make him the first Latino in Joliet history to be elected to city-wide office.
“The people of Joliet have been calling out for someone who will stand up to the special interests and fight for the working families who deserve a fair shake,” said Guerrero, “What this campaign showed is that Cesar Guerrero was in this race for the right reasons, that I am willing to stand up to bullies and say NO to Northpoint, to fight for equity and justice, and for the right that every family has to clean, affordable water. I am so grateful to my community for standing with me and selecting me to serve as Joliet’s next city councilor. I look forward to continuing to work with my community to speak truth to power and change the way things work in the Joliet City Council.”
Along with being supported by hundreds of small donations by city residents, Guerrero gained the endorsements of progressive Congresswoman Marie Newman and Congressmen Chuy Garcia along with groups like Food and Water Action, Sunrise Movement, Illinois Nurses Associations, Unite25, and Workers United. The broad coalition in support of Guerrero is a departure from the narrow range of interest groups that normally dominate local elections. Guerrero is committed to ensuring his success is just the first step in reforming the city government to work towards the needs of everyday residents and not just the politically connected.
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