For the first time in 16 years, Will County voters will elect a new county executive to lead county government as it continues to deal with growth and development issues.
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County Executive Larry Walsh, an Elwood Democrat, last year announced he would not seek a fifth term so he could instead focus on health concerns. Walsh has endorsed his chief of staff, Nick Palmer, in the Democratic primary. Palmer, a Bolingbrook Democrat, also has the backing of several county board members.
“I enjoy the work,” said Palmer, who has been serving as Walsh’s chief of staff for the past 10 years, and served as deputy chief of staff for six years before that. “It’s more than a job for me. It’s a passion. I’m proud of the work we’ve done.”
State Sen. Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, a Shorewood Democrat, also is running for county executive. She has been backed by labor groups, Will County Coroner Patrick O’Neil and some county board members.
“With Larry retiring it’s a good opportunity for me to still work in public service, but closer to home,” said Bertino-Tarrant, who served as Will County regional superintendent of education before heading to the state senate to represent the 49th District in 2013. “You can make more of an impact closer to home.”
The winner of the March Democrat primary will face Republican Nick Ficarello, of Manhattan. Ficarello retired as deputy chief from the Will County sheriff’s office in 2009 before leaving the department and becoming Braidwood’s police chief, a post he held until he retired last year.
Bertino-Tarrant and Palmer both count the county’s transportation and infrastructure needs as one of the top issues they’d address if elected. They point to the need to effectively address increasing truck traffic as the county, now home to the largest inland ports in North America, continues to grow.
“We have a lot of needs throughout the county,” said Bertino-Tarrant, pointing to the $2 billion allocated to Will County for infrastructure needs in the state’s capital bill.
She said she would work with local municipalities and state lawmakers to make sure the county’s greatest needs are identified and addressed. Palmer said he would work with municipalities to plan for “responsible” growth and be proactive in making sure such growth also addresses infrastructure needs.
Neither Bertino-Tarrant, 50, or Palmer, 46, said they would support an moratorium on warehouse development. Both noted the county does not have veto power over municipalities but said they would work with municipalities to make sure regional transportation and infrastructure needs keep pace with development.
Palmer, however, noted he has concerns about NorthPoint Development’s proposed 1,300 acre business park just south of Joliet. The proposal, which includes annexing the land into Joliet, is expected to come before the Joliet City Council on March 17.
“I have serious reservations about the location of it,” Palmer said, noting the proposed project is not immediately near any state highways.
Both Palmer and Bertino-Tarrant said attention is needed to the type of jobs that will be created by such warehouse developments long after the construction phase is complete. Bertino-Tarrant suggested municipalities and the county can work with developers in the approval phases to help shape what type of businesses will locate within proposed projects.
“When companies come into the community that’s your perfect opportunity to negotiate what that’s going to look like,” Bertino-Tarrant said.
Both candidates also focused on a variety of other issues facing the county.
Palmer also identified health care and the county’s ongoing green initiative as two things he would focus on.
“I want to make sure Will County is the healthiest county in the sate,” Palmer said.
He said he would work to expand health programs offered through the county’s health department, particularly mental health and substance abuse programs, and collaborate with the forest preserve district to identify trail connection opportunities in county road projects. He also would continue the county’s green initiatives for county owned buildings and encourage green development for local businesses.
Bertino-Tarrant lauded the county’s green initiatives and said she would continue those efforts. She also said she would focus on updating the county’s technology to ensure efficiency and security of data that is kept by various county offices.
Bertino-Tarrant said she also would work to make sure the county’s workforce and contracts better mirror the county’s diverse population.
Alicia Fabbre is a freelance reporter.
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