Joe Ricci’s and John Gillooly’s campaigns for mayor are gaining momentum, as is the controversy of Ricci’s decision not to participate in the League of Women Voters mayoral candidate debate as the Nov. 4, 2025, election approaches. Ricci has outlined goals for his campaign; he wants to continue supporting his work through the city council, and what they’ve been working on during his time on the city council.
“We have two major projects going on, starting now, actually, one is the water separation project, which is on Tonnancour, to hit the country club,” Ricci said. “And then we have a $12 million project going to the Farms, Pier Park, Deer Park.”
Along with completing old projects, Ricci has new plans for his possible mayoral term. In Grosse Pointe Farms, there has been a rise in car break-ins, often due to citizens leaving their wallets in plain sight or simply because the burglar wants to steal the car itself. Ricci also intends to focus the police on Mack Ave.
“Our number one police call is the Shell station at Nakamura,” Ricci said. “There is” also has six bus stops there and in the hospital.”
One of Ricci’s main goals is looking to the future, listening to the community and their issues, and giving every opportunity to future generations. Ricci strives to respond to emails promptly and attend school board meetings.
“You need somebody that you can complain to and listen to you,” Ricci said. “I have these coffee hours every quarter for the most part… I always have coffee. (I) have one next Wednesday right here.”
As for any job, you need some qualifications as well as experience. Ricci has a strong background with a bachelor’s degree in engineering and a master’s degree in psychology. He has had a 45-year-long career, including the buying and selling of 32 different dealerships. On top of what was mentioned before, he also spent almost 13 years on the city council. Ricci feels that he covers a large field when it comes to qualifications.
“If you want that specialist, go hire a specialist,” Ricci said. “If you want somebody who is multi-dimensional versus one-dimensional, that’s me.”
Gillooly has been on the Grosse Pointe Farms city council for ten years. Similar to Ricci, he wants to continue working on the city’s new projects, like a large sewer project, to help reduce flooding in homes after large storms. Gillooly has his own projects he would like to work towards during his possible term, like the proactivity of the police, along with a major focus on speeding in Grosse Pointe Farms, specifically in school zone areas.
“Speeding around school zones in the mornings, whether it be by a student or a parent or somebody who’s just passing through, it’s a huge safety issue, so they’re being very closely watched,” Gillooly said. “The police are giving more tickets than ever.”
Gillooly desires to create large-scale projects without raising taxes, and has measures to not affect the taxpayer. Gillooly believes funding is the most important part of what capabilities the city has.
“We’re gonna have to issue bonds for our new park complex that could probably cost ten million,” Gillooly said. “We have to sell bonds because we keep approximately five to six million in the bank as a rainy day fund.”
Another one of Gillooly’s main goals is maintaining Grosse Pointe Farms by keeping the streets clean. He asks the regular citizens to do their part in keeping their property clean of trash. The city will be doing its part by cleaning streets and public areas. Goollily participates in this effort by using a grabber to pick up litter around parks.
“I want to keep Grosse Pointe Farms pristine, I want to keep our lakeshore pristine, and Mack Ave pristine,” Goollily said.
Gillooly emphasizes the phrase “due process”; he believes that due process doesn’t just apply to criminals, but also to all aspects of public governance. Gillooly wants to be transparent with the people about how the city government works.
“They have an opportunity to know what’s going on, and they have to have an opportunity to participate and be heard,” Gillooly said. “That’s why in every city council meeting and every state meeting, people have the right to speak their mind.”
When it comes to experience, Gillooly is not lacking. Gillooly has been an attorney for 30 years plus; he specializes in municipal law, defending judges, prosecutors, and cities across Michigan. Gillooly was appointed to a vacant council seat and has stayed in it since.
“I’ve been on one side, representing them as an attorney, and now literally, as somebody having a vote in the matters affecting all of those who live, work, and come to visit Grosse Pointe Farms,” Gillooly said.
Gillooly is extremely proud of Grosse Pointe Farms; he has raised children in the Farms and went to Grosse Pointe South High School. Gillooly wants to continue the legacy he’s so proud of; he wants to not only affect people five years from now, but also people 50 years from now.
“I’m proud to have gone to Grosse Pointe South, I’m proud to live in Grosse Pointe Farms, and I have lived in this community my entire life,” Gillooly said. “And I’m going to do whatever it takes to make sure that we have a great relationship with our schools, and all the other Grosse Pointes.”
Gillooly understands that Ricci values communication with the community, so he’s confused and upset that Ricci declined the League of Women Voters mayoral debate invitation. Gillooly sees the debate as a key opportunity for the public to ask questions to the candidates.
“No other mayor candidate in the history of the Grosse Pointes has declined such an invitation for the League of Women Voters. I don’t care if they’re republican or democrat or moderate,” Gillooly said. “Not only does it deprive him of the opportunity to speak, or me the opportunity to speak because they won’t do it for one candidate, it also deprives the people of the ability to hear questions asked and answers given.
Ricci has a different opinion on the League of Women Voters debate. He believes that the debate is unfair, which is why he declines the debate. Ricci believes that the questions from the public are biased. He believes that one party can influence what questions are asked by telling their supporters to ask questions they already know the answers to, while the other might not.
“I would debate anybody one on one, if we’re both equal, we don’t know the questions, we don’t know the subject,” Ricci said.”We’re not sitting at a panel without any allegiance.”
Ricci also feels that the League of Women Voters is left-leaning instead of being non-partisan, because they support different movements. Due to this, he does not want to participate in the debate.
“They are for transgender boys or men playing women’s sports,” Ricci said.”And I’m sorry I can’t subscribe to that.”
Both of the candidates care deeply for the people and the city of Grosse Pointe Farms, and have the appropriate qualifications to run the city.
“My vision, my goal, is to make this place the best place to live,” Ricci said.
