Guerrero’s bid for Joliet Township supervisor doubtful

The Democratic Party’s grip on the Joliet Township supervisor’s seat is at risk because of apparent neglect on the part of the party’s preferred candidate.

Cesar Guerrero, a Joliet City Council member who opted to run for Joliet Township supervisor, is not likely to appear on the ballot despite his nomination for the post by the township Democratic Party.

Guerrero is on a state list of candidates barred from the ballot because of failure to comply with state election law.

Will County Clerk Annette Parker announced this week that Guerrero is among four candidates she will not put on the ballot because of irregularities with the Illinois State Board of Elections.

Parker on Wednesday said she knows of no process by which Guerrero would appear on the ballot, although he has insisted there is a pathway.

“If there’s a process, it won’t be through the clerk’s office,” Parker said.

Meanwhile, incumbent Joliet Township Supervisor Alicia Morales, a Democrat who lost the party’s nomination bid to Guerrero in November, has filed as a write-in candidate.

Morales said she filed to run as a write-in Jan. 29, when it was apparent that Guerrero’s issues would keep him off the ballot.

“I decided to run as a write-in candidate so the Democratic Party had an option – someone who would not be kicked off the ballot," Morales said Wednesday.

The Republican candidate is Darrell Boisdorf, a relatively unknown Joliet attorney whose chances for election have increased simply because his will be the only name appearing on the ballot for the supervisor’s job.

Boisdorf could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Guerrero did not return calls for comment.

But on his way into a Joliet City Council meeting Tuesday, Guerrero said he expected the matter to be resolved.

On Wednesday, Juan Rico, chairman of the Joliet Township Democratic Party, said the case to put Guerrero on the ballot rested with Parker.

“It’s really in the hands of the county clerk,” Rico said.

Rico said he first learned last week of Guerrero’s issues with the Illinois State Board of Elections.

But the problems date back at least to July 2023, when the state election board informed Guerrero that he faced a fine of $6,550 for not filing regular reports on contributions to his campaign committee.

Morales said she tried to get Joliet Township party leaders to put another candidate on the ballot when it became apparent that the Guerrero issue would not get resolved ahead of election deadlines.

“I had a feeling that this was going to happen,” she said, “and that’s why I put my name in as a write-in.”