2 Joliet City Council candidates taken off ballot running as write-ins

Two of the candidates knocked off the ballot after petition challenges will mount write-in campaigns in the April 1 election for Joliet City Council.

James Lanham and Larry Crawford have officially filed to run as write-in candidates.

“I’m not going to walk away because someone got a lawyer and a staff to get us booted off,” Lanham said Tuesday.

The Joliet electoral board met Tuesday to make official the removal of Lanham and Marzell L. Richardson III from the ballot, which had been decided previously.

Crawford’s removal was made official in December.

“I have a campaign strategy that will put my name out there,” Crawford said. “I have a campaign manager and a team.”

Filing to run as write-ins means ballots will include two spaces to write in their names, although Lanham and Crawford will not appear on the ballot.

Altogether, four of the nine candidates who filed petitions in November to run in the council election will not be on the ballot after their petitions were challenged.

Incumbent Councilman Cesar Guerrero removed himself from the ballot while a petition challenge was pending when he decided instead to run for supervisor of Joliet Township.

Richardson said he will not pursue a write-in campaign.

Crawford and Lanham said they plan to participate in candidate forums and debates as they seek recognition from potential voters.

In addition, Lanham said, he will “just get out in the community, get out and door-knock.”

The names of five other candidates will be on the ballot for the three at-large council positions that are up for election.

They include incumbent council members Joe Clement and Jan Quillman.

Also on the ballot will be Damon Zdunich, Juan Moreno and Glenda Wright-McCullum.

The council includes three at-large members, who are elected citywide, and five district members, who are elected within specified districts of the city.

The district council members and the mayor will be up for election in 2027.