Plainfield mayoral candidates make case as Election Day approaches

John Argoudelis, a local attorney, and Margie Bonuchi, a sitting village trustee, are vying for the open seat in the April 6 election

The two candidates running to be the next mayor of Plainfield conceded it was difficult to tell just where they stood as the April 6 election drew near.

Local races tend not to attract the attention, much less the polling, that state and federal races draw.

Nevertheless, Margie Bonuchi, a village trustee who also oversees technology for Plainfield School District 202, and John Argoudelis, a local attorney, former Plainfield Township supervisor and former Will County Board member, have been trying to sell voters on their respective messages for the future in the village of about 44,000 residents.

The sitting mayor, Michael Collins, is not running for reelection.

In a less local publicized race, it’s a hit or miss whether a resident answering their door is even aware there is an election coming up, both candidates said.

“A lot of people don’t have a clue,” Bonuchi said. “Some people are really excited to see you. You just never know.”

That’s why getting out knocking doors is necessary, she added, though with a mask and respectful distance. Many residents don’t even want to answer phone calls nowadays considering all the robocalls they get spammed with, she said.

Though Bonuchi’s message is a simple one, addressing the bread-and-butter issues that are usually top of mind: taxes, traffic and transportation. She said one major way to tackle those concerns is to upgrade the village’s comprehensive plan so officials can more strategically position Plainfield to grow and develop without sacrificing quality of life for homeowners who complain of truck traffic and warehouses.

She also wants to help those who want to buy a new house learn more about plans for land use around their future home. That way they aren’t surprised once they’re already moved in that a warehouse is being built down the road.

Bonuchi said she wants to be more “conscientious” of balancing growth with quality of life, though she knows the logistics industry is driving the economy of the future, especially in Will County.

“Let’s face it, the malls are closed,” she said. “What’s happening now is everyone is ordering online. The trucks are here.”

For her, responsible growth means continuing what the village has already begun: expanding westward. She argued that will allow for more industrial and commercial growth and a widening of the village’s tax base which could alleviate the burden on homeowners.

Argoudelis is also arguing for the village to continue growing, but to him, it’s the “cronyism” that’s been keeping Plainfield back. He’s pointed to the Mercedes-Benz dealership set to come to Romeoville and criticized Plainfield’s leadership for not “aggressively” pursuing those opportunities.

“We are not competing with our neighbors for car dealerships and other good business opportunities because we’re very concerned with only taking care of our friends and family,” he said. “We need to be in the arena and winning some of those battles with our neighboring towns to bring some of that economic opportunity here.”

Argoudelis argued that type of growth is what can help lower the high tax burdens on residents, like one homeowner he spoke to last weekend who said he was paying over $10,000 in property taxes a year.

“That’s a big issue for people,” he said.

Argoudelis also pointed to Bolingbrook as another example with its amenities like a golf course and the Promenade mall which bring visitors and tax revenue.

“We haven’t done that,” he said. “We could have done so much more over the last 12 years.”

He added that his message as the change candidate resonates with voters.

“People really want a change,” Argoudelis said. “They don’t like the status quo.”

Bonuchi rebuffed her opponent’s framing.

“John keeps saying cronyism, but where’s John been for 12 years?” Bonuchi said. “If we were so bad for 12 years, why are you suddenly running now?”

She’s also repeated accusations that he owes the village money for not keeping his law office on Route 59 up to code, an allegation Argoudelis has said is a “complete falsehood.”

Argoudelis said the attacks on him and Bonuchi’s attempt to have him removed from the ballot earlier this cycle show the “clique” in power in Plainfield feels threatened by his candidacy.

“They didn’t want opposition,” he said. “They didn’t want another point of view being in the marketplace, but their plan got a little foiled because here I am campaigning very hard.”

Election Day is April 6, but early voting has already begun at locations across Will County.