 In August 1989 , Joliet Councilwoman Margaret Short died with two years remaining in her term and Joliet Mayor Charles Connor had the responsibility of nominating a replacement for consideration by the remaining councilmen . Rather than following the custom of nominating the first runner @-@ up in the most recent council election ( Schultz in this case ) , Connor nominated a political ally . The council did not support the nomination and after some delay she withdrew on September 19 . When Connor 's second nomination was again not one of the runners @-@ up , it was again defeated , which led to the council enacting legislation to strip the mayor of his power to nominate councilmen . On October 17 , Connor became the first Joliet mayor since the mid @-@ 1970s to refuse to sign legislation passed by the Joliet City Council . On November 21 , there was unanimous agreement on a compromise candidate who was also not one of the runners @-@ up . 
