About Joe Guest Sr.
Decades of Service, Enterprise Expertise, and a Commitment to Hickory Hills
Welcome to jdguest.com. My name is Joe Guest Sr., and I am running to serve as your next City Clerk for Hickory Hills.
I have proudly called Hickory Hills home since 1987, where my family and I built our lives. Over the last four decades, I have watched our community grow, thrive, and face new challenges. Throughout my time here, I have believed in a simple philosophy: if you care about your community, you roll up your sleeves and serve it.
Civic Leadership: Rooted in Hickory Hills
For over 20 years, I have dedicated my time to shaping the orderly growth and quality of life in Hickory Hills through municipal service:
- Plan Commission & Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA): Serving as a commissioner since 2003, I have worked closely with residents, local business owners, and city leadership to navigate complex zoning codes, public hearings, and community development.
- Chairman (Since October 27, 2022): In my role as Chairman, I oversee public hearings with fairness, transparency, and strict adherence to municipal protocol, ensuring every resident’s voice is respected and heard.
This extensive tenure means I am not an outsider trying to learn how City Hall operates; I am an experienced civic leader who already knows the machinery of local government from the inside out.
Professional Background: 45+ Years in Enterprise Technology
Before and alongside my civic work, I spent over 45 years in technology and technical sales support with industry giants including IBM, HP, and Ensono.
In the corporate world, my career was defined by:
- System Modernization: Taking outdated, inefficient legacy workflows and re-engineering them into streamlined, automated digital systems.
- Data Integrity & Security: Ensuring high-stakes enterprise information, records, and documentation were meticulously organized, secure, and instantly retrievable.
- Client Advocacy & Problem-Solving: Translating technical complexity into clear, accessible solutions for clients and stakeholders.
Why I Am Running for City Clerk
The City Clerk’s office is the administrative backbone of municipal government. It is responsible for public records, council minutes, FOIA requests, licensing, and ensuring residents can easily see what their local government is doing.
Unfortunately, legacy municipal operations often rely on outdated processes that create friction for residents and staff alike. I am running to change that by focusing on three main goals:
- Radical Transparency & Digital Access: Overhauling public records and archives so residents can easily search and access city documents, ordinances, and meeting details online without red tape.
- Streamlined Public Inquiries: Leveraging my decades of customer-facing enterprise tech experience to make interacting with the Clerk’s office fast, intuitive, and friction-free for homeowners and business owners.
- Elevating Office Morale & Efficiency: Bringing corporate-grade process improvements and a supportive, collaborative leadership style to City Hall staff, fostering a welcoming environment for everyone who walks through our doors.
Let’s Build a More Open City Hall Together
Government works best when it is open, responsive, and equipped with modern tools to serve the public. I am ready to bring my 20+ years of municipal leadership and 45+ years of tech expertise to work for you.
Have a question about the campaign, or want to share what city service you think needs an upgrade?