In a significant political upset, Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard, dubbed the "super mayor" of Illinois, faced a crushing defeat in the Democratic nomination for Thornton Township supervisor, a role she currently occupies.
The Tuesday night caucus, which marked a historic event, saw Henyard's political clout significantly diminished.
According to Fox News, Henyard's name was conspicuously absent from the ballot due to her failure to include a certified assessor in her team. The nomination process mandates that each candidate's slate comprises eight members, including a supervisor, highway director, clerk, assessor, and four trustees. In a surprising turn of events, Illinois state senator and Thornton Township Democratic committeeman Napoleon Harris clinched the nomination, leaving Henyard visibly irate.
"You didn't run none of this the right way," Henyard was overheard saying post-caucus. "Illegal, Napoleon."
Harris, as committeeman, had made the strategic decision to transition from a primary to a caucus, marking the first caucus for Thornton Townships Democratic Party in several decades. The party also declared that supervisor nominees would be barred from running for other positions. Harris staunchly defended the process, asserting that it was fair and that voters had their say.
"People in Thornton Township may be new to caucuses because they haven't had them in a while, but this has been the tradition for many other townships around the state," Harris stated.
Despite her defeat, Henyard retains the option to run as a write-in or independent candidate for Thornton Township supervisor in the April ballot. However, she has yet to indicate any intention of pursuing this route. Following the loss of the nomination, Henyard was heard vociferously declaring her intent to sue all parties involved in the process.
Meanwhile, Henyard is seeking re-election as Dolton mayor amidst a slew of ongoing scandals. She stands accused of embezzling funds and politically targeting her adversaries. Her office is also under scrutiny from an investigation led by former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
Lightfoot's preliminary report into the Village of Doltons financial situation unveiled a shocking decline in Dolton's general fund balance from $5.61 million in 2022 to a deficit of $3.65 million by May 2024. Lightfoot further revealed that Henyard had used the village credit card for personal purchases at various retailers, including a staggering $33,000 expenditure on Amazon on January 5, 2023.
The unfolding political drama in Dolton and Thornton Township continues to captivate the public's attention, with many awaiting Henyard's next move.
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