Scandal-plagued Dolton mayor announces run for second term – NBC Chicago

Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard, the subject of numerous investigations and lawsuits alleging financial mismanagement, corruption and retaliation, officially announced Tuesday that she will run for a second term.

“Beware, beware, beware, beware,” Henyard wrote in a Facebook post. “I’m running for re-election as mayor of Dolton.”

Henyard was first elected mayor of Dolton, a south Chicago suburb, in 2021 after serving two terms as a trustee on the village board. She is the youngest mayor in the village's history and the first African-American woman to hold the office.

A special election was called in 2022 to vote on Henyard's recall. The referendums were invalidated by a Cook County judge, and after the vote, a state appeals court ruled that the votes could not be counted because of incorrect wording in the recalls.

Dolton also serves as supervisor of the Thornton Township Board, overseeing services for a total of 17 communities.

As mayor and supervisor, Henyard is at the center of a number of investigations and lawsuits. A grand jury has been meeting since November 2023.

Federal investigators have requested financial records and other documents relating to Henyard in her role as mayor and also Thornton Township supervisors.

Ballot petitions are due next week. Trustee Jason House, who serves as deputy mayor, also plans to run for mayor.

Henyard received more than 80% of the vote in her candidacy in the 2021 election. The Democratic primary will take place during Illinois' municipal elections in February.

“I am running for re-election as mayor and have no doubt that the people of Dolton will give me their overwhelming support and mandate. “You know the truth and I am committed and determined to continue fighting for my village for the next four years,” said a statement from Henyard’s attorney.

Last week, Henyard filed a lawsuit against the majority of village trustees over the location of official village business. The filing came after a series of contentious meetings, with separate village board meetings held at the Dolton Village Hall and Park District.

The lawsuit, joined by trustees Andrew Holmes and Stan Brown, alleges that the meeting held at the Dolton Park District was illegal. The meeting at the Dolton Village Hall was canceled due to a lack of quorum.

Henyard was harassed upon her arrival at the Park District meeting.