Dolton, Illinois, mayor Tiffany Henyard projected to lose primary in landside

Dolton, Illinois, mayor Tiffany Henyard, a Democrat, faced a significant defeat in the village’s mayoral primary on Tuesday amidst a backdrop of scandals and allegations of corruption. Challenger Jason House emerged victorious, securing an overwhelming 3,896 votes compared to Henyard’s 536.

House, a village trustee and former ally of Henyard, campaigned on a platform of transparency and reform. He promised to “clean house” and restore accountability to the Dolton government. “Not only is Ms. Henyard depriving the public of what they deserve, it’s costing the village money,” House stated on Election Day. “Day one, every record will be turned over.”

Henyard, who took office in 2021, had been embroiled in controversy during her tenure as mayor. Allegations of financial mismanagement and other scandals plagued her administration, leading to a federal subpoena in May of last year seeking Dolton’s financial records to investigate the mayor’s costly out-of-state trips.

In an effort to address the concerns, former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, also a Democrat, was enlisted to probe Henyard’s handling of Dolton’s finances. The investigation revealed a concerning trend of diminishing funds, with the village’s general fund shifting from a $5.6 million surplus in 2022 to a $3.6 million deficit in 2024. Questionable credit card purchases and a lack of financial accountability raised further red flags.

Residents of Dolton expressed their dissatisfaction with Henyard ahead of the election, citing her involvement in various scandals and civil rights violations. The mayor also faced multiple lawsuits over alleged corruption and was recently embroiled in a physical altercation during a board meeting.

“The way that the present mayor has been doing things just hasn’t been sitting right with me,” remarked voter Sharon Hunley. Another resident, Regan Lewis, lamented the negative impact of the scandals on the village’s reputation, stating, “We’re kinda like a joke. It’s not a good thing, it’s embarrassing.”

House’s landslide victory signals a desire for change among Dolton residents, with hopes that his administration will bring much-needed transparency and accountability to the local government. As the village looks towards a new chapter, the outcome of the mayoral primary reflects a collective push for integrity and good governance in Dolton.