Mayor Bob O’Dekirk formally announced his bid for re-election on Friday.

O’Dekirk was believed to be planning on a second term while amassing an unprecedented Joliet campaign fund that stood at $217,000 at the end of September. He told WJOL-AM radio during an interview last week that he was running again.

But the mayor had not taken out petitions for the April 2 city election as of Friday afternoon. No one else has taken petitions to run for mayor either.

O’Dekirk issued a news release Friday announcing his “intention to seek re-election.”

He emphasized the need for Joliet to develop new sources of revenue.

“Joliet needs to generate its own revenue to support local services and maintenance because both the Illinois state government and federal government are flat broke and running up huge deficits and debts,” O’Dekirk said.

“Local casino revenue is down 50 percent from its all-time high and will not be increasing again,” he said. “We are on our own and we either need to grow or fail, and I have plans to help us grow.”

The mayor said his primary goals in a second term will be to maintain city services and “continue to use our government resources to facilitate the expansion and diversification of the Joliet economy.”

His news release included a list of accomplishments that included the arrival of new companies and expansion of business in Joliet.

The list of more than 65 items includes some projects that were well underway before O’Dekirk became mayor and others, including plans for the Houbolt Road bridge and reopening of the Joliet Correctional Center for tourism, that were his initiatives. But O’Dekirk did not describe the list as personal successes and attributed accomplishments to “a team effort of officials, administrators, employees, civic leaders and engaged residents.”

Up for election in April will also be five district City Council positions. So far, the only contest is in District 1. Marc Ragusa has taken out petitions to challenge incumbent Larry Hug.

John Gerl has announced he will not seek re-election in District 3, where Joe Mutz, now a commissioner on the Joliet Park District board, has taken out petitions.

Incumbents Pat Mudron, Bettye Gavin and Terry Morris all have taken out petitions to seek re-election with no opposition appearing yet in their areas.