Bipartisanship Highlighted as Courthouse Committee Leadership Changes

In what members described as a rare display of cross-party cooperation, Will County’s Ad Hoc Courthouse Committee reflected Thursday on its bipartisan achievements as leadership prepares to transition in December.

Outgoing chair Janet Diaz, who will leave the County Board next month, will hand leadership responsibilities to Sherry Williams, maintaining continuity on the courthouse park project.

“I can say it was definitely 50-50, and I’m proud of that,” Diaz said of the committee’s political makeup. “From the start, we all didn’t know that we were of the same mind, and then we found that we had a common goal.”

Committee member Dan Vera noted the unusual nature of the collaboration. “This was my first real experience with the County Board,” Vera said. “Both parties were working together to achieve a goal.”

Williams, while accepting the chair position, acknowledged occasional philosophical differences that didn’t impede progress. “I’m still getting my little digs in whenever chance I get because I still think we should have torn down [the old courthouse],” Williams said. “But we did get a chance to work together, and hopefully the park will be something that we’ll be proud of.”

The leadership transition comes as the committee moves forward with naming and development plans for the downtown Joliet space.