He worked for the Danville Police Department from 1983 through 2016. With 43 years in law enforcement, he is currently serving on the Oakwood Police Department. And now, Dennis Witsman has announced that he’s running for Mayor of Danville in 2027.
Witsman told CIMG he actually thought about it prior to the last election, because he felt things were declining. And this time around, Witsman says he’s in; and will be out reminding residents what he believes he’s all about.
AUDIO: I’m a people person. I’m out there always talking to people. I resolve problems. I’m old school. I believe in giving people breaks, but under the understanding that they need to straighten their life up.
Witsman says one disagreement he had with Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr’s administration is the amount of COVID relief ARPA money that was spent on the new Garfield Park Pool.
AUDIO: Well that money was actually slated for development. So what I would’ve done was taken that money, and I would’ve developed South Gilbert Street. to bring more businesses in there.
Witsman stated he will certainly put to work what he’s done for a living all these years.
AUDIO: With my 43 years of law enforcement experience, I will reduce crime to 20 to 30 percent. And I’m going to put a task force together that nobody has ever seen before.
Witsman added that local, state, and federal agency reps would all be part of that task force
And with his family’s background in manufacturing, Witsman wants to see some newcomers setting up in Danville; perhaps even some companies currently based in Chicago.
AUDIO: My dad was in manufacturing all his life. I grew up around it. So I know what to ask for, and what to provide, for these people.
Danville’s next mayoral election will be Tuesday, April 6th, 2027.
