Arthur Schultz
Arthur Schultz (July 4, 1933 – November 26, 2011) was an American Republican politician. He was a five-term mayor of Joliet, Illinois, the then fourth largest (now 3rd largest) municipality in the state after Chicago, Aurora, and Rockford. He was last elected in April 2007. Prior to his first election, he served in the United States Navy and in the Joliet Police Department.
Arthur Schultz | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Joliet, Illinois | |
| In office 1991–2011 | |
| Preceded by | Charles Connor |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Giarrante |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 4, 1933 Joliet, Illinois |
| Died | November 26, 2011 (aged 78) Joliet, Illinois |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Frances Jacksa |
| Children | 5 |
| Alma mater | Joliet Catholic High School |
| Occupation | Police officer, politician |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1950–1954 |
| Unit | Submarine |
He finished as the first runner-up in the Joliet City Council election of 1989, but when a sitting councilwoman died a few months after the election he was passed over several times for the nomination. This was controversial as the nomination is customarily given to the runner-up in the most recent election. He returned to elective politics to defeat the mayor, who did not nominate him in the subsequent election in 1991.
In his time in office, Joliet changed from an economy of a prison town with declining population to a fast-growing entertainment and tourism economy, focused on riverboat casinos. Residential and commercial construction increased and racing tracks, a baseball stadium, and several civic works developed as a result of the booming economy.