Dolton Trustee Jason House Claims Victory Over Mayor Tiffany Henyard in Democratic Primary

 

Dolton Trustee Jason House Claims Victory Over Mayor Tiffany Henyard in Democratic Primary

Dolton Trustee Jason House declared victory over incumbent Mayor Tiffany Henyard in the Democratic primary on Tuesday night.

With all 17 precincts reporting, House secured 3,896 votes (88%) compared to Henyard’s 536 votes, according to the Cook County clerk’s office. House, the Democratic primary winner, will now face Independent candidate Casundra Hopson-Jordan in the April 1 general election.

“The community spoke loud and clear tonight,” House told supporters. “We faced four years of intimidation and failure.”

“Today marks the end of a dark chapter for Dolton,” he added. “Today is the beginning of a new future.”

The primary race drew significant attention, but voter turnout was slightly over 24% of Dolton’s 16,506 registered voters, according to the clerk’s office.

House's slate of trustee candidates also performed well. Three trustee positions were up for grabs in the primary.

• Incumbent Trustee Brittney Norwood led with 3,554 votes,
• Trustee Kiana Belcher secured 3,414 votes,
• Former trustee Edward "Ed" Steave had 3,335 votes.

Steave had lost his re-election bid the previous year.

The trustee candidates running with Henyard trailed behind, with Joslyn King earning 653 votes, Linda Terrell receiving 618 votes, and Vanessa R. Wesco obtaining 536 votes, based on unofficial results.

Independent trustee candidate Charles Rayburn received 375 votes.

Incumbent Village Clerk Alison Key, running on House’s slate, garnered 3,490 votes, while challenger Tannika Hughes received 871 votes.

Trustees aligned with House expressed gratitude for community support and optimism for the future.

“This is about doing what’s right for our town,” Steave shared with supporters.

Norwood, reflecting on the community's backing, said, “Every small piece helped us become whole. This win is for everyone here, and we’re going to make you proud.”

Belcher, acknowledging the struggles with Henyard and their often contentious relationships, remarked, “It only brought us together, it only made us stronger.”

Longtime Dolton resident Dan Lee expressed his approval of the result.

“The will of the people has been heard,” he said after the unofficial results were announced. “We’re on the right path.”

Lee also emphasized the need for significant work to restore the village’s reputation and financial health. “This is a big step, but we have much more to do,” he noted.

Thornton Township Trustee Christopher Gonzalez observed that the results showing House’s overwhelming lead were significant. “The people spoke, and louder than I expected,” he said.

Gonzalez reflected on Henyard’s early leadership potential, saying, “She had everything for success at the start, but did the opposite.” He added, “She had the board and should have worked together, but she didn’t.”

House had initially supported and ran alongside Henyard in 2021, as did trustee candidates Kiana Belcher and Brittney Norwood, and clerk candidate Alison Key—all of whom were elected. Henyard referred to the group as a “dream team.”

However, House’s decision to run for mayor meant he would have left his position as trustee had he lost the bid.

Henyard has faced scrutiny from both the federal government and Dolton residents. Federal investigations into her administration began in spring 2024, when subpoenas were served to Dolton Village Hall and Thornton Township offices. Henyard, who also serves as township supervisor, has struggled to secure a full term in office and was blocked from participating in the Democratic primary for that position.

Allegations of financial mismanagement under Henyard’s administration prompted the village to hire former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot as a special investigator. Lightfoot’s report uncovered a shift from a balanced budget to a multimillion-dollar deficit since Henyard’s election. The investigation also highlighted extravagant trips, including a Las Vegas conference aimed at bringing business opportunities to Dolton, which Henyard argued yielded no tangible benefits.

Relations between Henyard and the board soured quickly after their election, with trustees accusing her of withholding information regarding public funds. Tensions led to open disputes during Village Board meetings, and Henyard missed the final two meetings before the primary.

Henyard’s support among Dolton residents also waned significantly. In June 2022, two referendum measures—one establishing a recall mechanism for the mayor and another targeting Henyard—were approved by Dolton voters, passing with 56% of the vote. Henyard’s legal challenge to the constitutionality of the recall was ultimately unsuccessful, as a state appellate court later ruled the votes invalid.

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