Latest news with #CleanHouse
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Dolton trustees seek forensic audit of finances; Tiffany Henyard skips final meeting
Dolton trustees plan to hire a firm to conduct a 'forensic audit' of village finances as the exit nears of an administration under Mayor Tiffany Henyard, who they've accused of mismanaging village funds. Monday was the last regular Village Board meeting before Trustee Jason House is inaugurated as mayor at the May 5 meeting. Henyard was a no-show Monday, marking her fourth consecutive absence. Board meetings are held once a month. In the April 1 general election, House had more than 95% of the vote over Independent mayoral candidate Casundra Hopson-Jordan. In the February primary, House bested Henyard, garnering 88% of the vote. Residents Dan Lee was among those who congratulated House as well as village clerk and trustee candidates who ran on the Clean House slate. 'I am feeling more optimistic now than I ever have,' Lee said. House said the community has come together since the election, and said 'Clean House has become the community.' The trustee, who first ran with Henyard four years ago, said his Clean House would transition to the label of 'Dolton United.' House said regardless of who supported who in the recent elections, 'we are here to serve every resident.' House said their priorities would be transparency and accessibility. 'Making sure we are accessible and responsive to everyone who contacts us,' he said. Trustee Kiana Belcher, reelected to the board, moved to request proposals from outside firms to conduct a forensic audit, saying such a probe will 'give us some clarity on what we don't know' about village finances. Belcher said the audit would focus primarily on spending in the village's Police, Water and Housing departments. Last year the state comptroller ordered a forced audit of Dolton finances, ultimately assigning an outside firm to conduct audits after Dolton was unable to find an auditor willing to take on the job. House said he expects two audits, for the 2023 and 2024 fiscal years, to wrap up within the next four months. Since Henyard took office, the village has been delinquent in filing annual financial reports and audits with the state comptroller's office. Comptroller Susana Mendoza last year said her office notified Henyard and the village of the delinquency for two years, but said the mayor's office had 'refused to communicate with us or address the problem.' Until the delinquent reports are filed, the comptroller is holding back payments to Dolton collected under its offset program. The program collect debts owed to local governments by deducting from state employee wages, tax refunds or lottery winnings. For Dolton, that amounts to more than $100,000 a year, according to the comptroller. In seeking a forensic audit, House said it would be a more detailed probe into village finances. A typical audit, he said, will look at a sampling of financial transactions but a forensic audit will examine every transaction for possible irregularities. 'Forensic audits are much more expensive,' House said. The Village Board never did adopt a budget for this fiscal year, which ends April 30, and the new budget year starts May 1. House said he and trustees are working on a draft budget. Along with House, village Clerk Alison Key will be sworn in May 5, as well as Belcher and Trustee Brittney Norwood, reelected to the board. Also to be sworn in is former trustee Edward 'Ed' Steave, who lost his bid for reelection in 2023. Although vote totals are still unofficial, the Clean House trustee candidates appear to have won office over candidates backed by Henyard. mnolan@
Chicago Tribune
08-04-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Dolton trustees seek forensic audit of finances; Tiffany Henyard skips final meeting
Dolton trustees plan to hire a firm to conduct a 'forensic audit' of village finances as the exit nears of an administration under Mayor Tiffany Henyard, who they've accused of mismanaging village funds. Monday was the last regular Village Board meeting before Trustee Jason House is inaugurated as mayor at the May 5 meeting. Henyard was a no-show Monday, marking her fourth consecutive absence. Board meetings are held once a month. In the April 1 general election, House had more than 95% of the vote over Independent mayoral candidate Casundra Hopson-Jordan. In the February primary, House bested Henyard, garnering 88% of the vote. Residents Dan Lee was among those who congratulated House as well as village clerk and trustee candidates who ran on the Clean House slate. 'I am feeling more optimistic now than I ever have,' Lee said. House said the community has come together since the election, and said 'Clean House has become the community.' The trustee, who first ran with Henyard four years ago, said his Clean House would transition to the label of 'Dolton United.' House said regardless of who supported who in the recent elections, 'we are here to serve every resident.' House said their priorities would be transparency and accessibility. 'Making sure we are accessible and responsive to everyone who contacts us,' he said. Trustee Kiana Belcher, reelected to the board, moved to request proposals from outside firms to conduct a forensic audit, saying such a probe will 'give us some clarity on what we don't know' about village finances. Belcher said the audit would focus primarily on spending in the village's Police, Water and Housing departments. Last year the state comptroller ordered a forced audit of Dolton finances, ultimately assigning an outside firm to conduct audits after Dolton was unable to find an auditor willing to take on the job. House said he expects two audits, for the 2023 and 2024 fiscal years, to wrap up within the next four months. Since Henyard took office, the village has been delinquent in filing annual financial reports and audits with the state comptroller's office. Comptroller Susana Mendoza last year said her office notified Henyard and the village of the delinquency for two years, but said the mayor's office had 'refused to communicate with us or address the problem.' Until the delinquent reports are filed, the comptroller is holding back payments to Dolton collected under its offset program. The program collect debts owed to local governments by deducting from state employee wages, tax refunds or lottery winnings. For Dolton, that amounts to more than $100,000 a year, according to the comptroller. In seeking a forensic audit, House said it would be a more detailed probe into village finances. A typical audit, he said, will look at a sampling of financial transactions but a forensic audit will examine every transaction for possible irregularities. 'Forensic audits are much more expensive,' House said. The Village Board never did adopt a budget for this fiscal year, which ends April 30, and the new budget year starts May 1. House said he and trustees are working on a draft budget. Along with House, village Clerk Alison Key will be sworn in May 5, as well as Belcher and Trustee Brittney Norwood, reelected to the board. Also to be sworn in is former trustee Edward 'Ed' Steave, who lost his bid for reelection in 2023. Although vote totals are still unofficial, the Clean House trustee candidates appear to have won office over candidates backed by Henyard.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
South and southwest suburbs choose mayors/village presidents
There were more than two dozen mayor and village president races to be decided Tuesday night in the south and southwest suburbs. Unofficial results from Cook and Will counties show some incumbents heading toward defeat. In Burnham, Mayor Robert Polk had 52.5% of the vote over challenger Antwon Russell. Dixmoor Mayor Fitzgerald Roberts led with 73% of the vote over Cynthia Mossuto with two of three precincts in. In Dolton, Democratic nominee Jason House had more than 95% of the vote over Independent candidate Casundra Hopson-Jordan with 14 of 17 precincts counted, with his Clean House slate for trustee easily outpacing the sole Rebuliding Dolton candidate. House will replace incumbent Mayor Tiffany Henyard. In Evergreen Park, Village President President Kelly Burke had nearly 85% of the vote over challenger William Lorenz with 11 of the 12 precincts counted. Flossmoor Mayor Michelle Nelson faced a challenge from Joni Bradley-Scott. With six of seven precincts counted, Nelson had 54% of the vote and Bradley-Scott 46%. In Ford Heights with all precincts in, official results had interim Mayor Freddie Wilson leading with 29% of the vote. He was appointed after Charles Griffin was forced to step down from his post in September after a conviction for fraud. Former Trustee Scottie Hatten followed with 22.7% of the vote, followed by former Trustee LaDell Jones with 18%, former Mayor Annie Coulter with 15.4% and Trustee Antonia McMichaels with 14.9%. Frankfort Mayor Keith Olge led with 57.8% of the vote over businessman Justin Ozinga with two-third of the precincts counted. In the Glenwood Toleda Hart of the Glenwood Strong Party was leading incumbent Village President Ronald Gardiner of the Glenwood Progress Party with 53% of the vote and all precincts reporting. In Hazel Crest four candidates faced off for village president. With 9 fo 11 precincts counted, Sandra Alexander of the Rebuild Renew Revive slate led with 31.9% of the vote, followed by Marlon Rias from the Hazel Crest Progressive ticket with 28.5%, Democrat Isaac Wiseman with 27.3% and and Independent Java M. Rogers with 12.5%. In Hometown, with both precincts counted, Mayor Frank Finnegan had 68.6% of the vote over challenger John Forney with 31.4%. In Homewood, incumbent Mayor Richard Hofeld led the Greater Homewood Party slate and had 74.9% of the vote with all but one precinct counted over Independent Bradley Chalmers. In Lockport, Mayor Steven Streit had 79.4% of the vote over challenger Darren Deskin, but only a bit more than a quarter of the precincts had reported. Manhattan Village President Mike Adrieansen had 81% of the vote over David Beemsterboer with just a fifth of the precincts reporting. Matteson Mayor Sheila Chalmers-Curris with the Matteson Moving Forward ticket had 84% of the vote with all precincts in, over Independent Muhaymin Muhammad. With fewer than half the precincts in, George Metanias on the Friends of Mokena ticket had 55% of the vote over Mayor Frank Fleischer who led the Mokena's Future slate. In Monee, Mayor Theresa Bogs had 91% of the vote over challenger Doneshia Codjoe, who was charged with wire fraud during the campaign. Three candidates sought the mayor's office in Oak Forest, with James Hortsman with 45.25% of the vote in the three-way race against Kenneth Wallace Keller with 35.1% and Donald Guisinger at 19.6%. Only one precinct remained out. In Olympia Fields, Mayor Sterling Burke had 56.5% of the vote over Cassandra Matz with all precincts in. In Palos Heights, Mayor Robert Straz led with 72% of the vote over Jeffrey Key with all but two precincts reporting. Palos Hills Mayor Gerald Bennett led with 66.4% of the vote over challenger A.J. Pasek with all precincts in. Phoenix President Terry Wells had more than 90% of the vote over challenger Trustee Benny Williams. In Sauk Village, Marva Campbell-Pruitt led with 46.7% of the vote in her challenge to Mayor Derrick Burgess, who had 38.6% and Arnold Coleman with 14.7%. Steger had three candidates lead slates. William Joyce with ACTIVE led with 80% of the vote with all Cook County precincts in and half the precints in Will County. He was followed by Ernesto Lopez with Better Together for Steger with 36% and Alliance led by Gerald Stewart with just 11%. In Thornton, Trustee Maxine Reynolds had 60% of the vote over incumbent Robert Enright for village president.
Chicago Tribune
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
South and southwest suburbs choose mayors/village presidents
There were more than two dozen mayor and village president races to be decided Tuesday night in the south and southwest suburbs. Unofficial results from Cook and Will counties show some incumbents heading toward defeat. In Burnham, Mayor Robert Polk had 52.5% of the vote over challenger Antwon Russell. Dixmoor Mayor Fitzgerald Roberts led with 73% of the vote over Cynthia Mossuto with two of three precincts in. In Dolton, Democratic nominee Jason House had more than 95% of the vote over Independent candidate Casundra Hopson-Jordan with 14 of 17 precincts counted, with his Clean House slate for trustee easily outpacing the sole Rebuliding Dolton candidate. House will replace incumbent Mayor Tiffany Henyard. In Evergreen Park, Village President President Kelly Burke had nearly 85% of the vote over challenger William Lorenz with 11 of the 12 precincts counted. Flossmoor Mayor Michelle Nelson faced a challenge from Joni Bradley-Scott. With six of seven precincts counted, Nelson had 54% of the vote and Bradley-Scott 46%. In Ford Heights with all precincts in, official results had interim Mayor Freddie Wilson leading with 29% of the vote. He was appointed after Charles Griffin was forced to step down from his post in September after a conviction for fraud. Former Trustee Scottie Hatten followed with 22.7% of the vote, followed by former Trustee LaDell Jones with 18%, former Mayor Annie Coulter with 15.4% and Trustee Antonia McMichaels with 14.9%. Frankfort Mayor Keith Olge led with 57.8% of the vote over businessman Justin Ozinga with two-third of the precincts counted. In the Glenwood Toleda Hart of the Glenwood Strong Party was leading incumbent Village President Ronald Gardiner of the Glenwood Progress Party with 53% of the vote and all precincts reporting. In Hazel Crest four candidates faced off for village president. With 9 fo 11 precincts counted, Sandra Alexander of the Rebuild Renew Revive slate led with 31.9% of the vote, followed by Marlon Rias from the Hazel Crest Progressive ticket with 28.5%, Democrat Isaac Wiseman with 27.3% and and Independent Java M. Rogers with 12.5%. In Hometown, with both precincts counted, Mayor Frank Finnegan had 68.6% of the vote over challenger John Forney with 31.4%. In Homewood, incumbent Mayor Richard Hofeld led the Greater Homewood Party slate and had 74.9% of the vote with all but one precinct counted over Independent Bradley Chalmers. In Lockport, Mayor Steven Streit had 79.4% of the vote over challenger Darren Deskin, but only a bit more than a quarter of the precincts had reported. Manhattan Village President Mike Adrieansen had 81% of the vote over David Beemsterboer with just a fifth of the precincts reporting. Matteson Mayor Sheila Chalmers-Curris with the Matteson Moving Forward ticket had 84% of the vote with all precincts in, over Independent Muhaymin Muhammad. With fewer than half the precincts in, George Metanias on the Friends of Mokena ticket had 55% of the vote over Mayor Frank Fleischer who led the Mokena's Future slate. In Monee, Mayor Theresa Bogs had 91% of the vote over challenger Doneshia Codjoe, who was charged with wire fraud during the campaign. Three candidates sought the mayor's office in Oak Forest, with James Hortsman with 45.25% of the vote in the three-way race against Kenneth Wallace Keller with 35.1% and Donald Guisinger at 19.6%. Only one precinct remained out. In Olympia Fields, Mayor Sterling Burke had 56.5% of the vote over Cassandra Matz with all precincts in. In Palos Heights, Mayor Robert Straz led with 72% of the vote over Jeffrey Key with all but two precincts reporting. Palos Hills Mayor Gerald Bennett led with 66.4% of the vote over challenger A.J. Pasek with all precincts in. Phoenix President Terry Wells had more than 90% of the vote over challenger Trustee Benny Williams. In Sauk Village, Marva Campbell-Pruitt led with 46.7% of the vote in her challenge to Mayor Derrick Burgess, who had 38.6% and Arnold Coleman with 14.7%. Steger had three candidates lead slates. William Joyce with ACTIVE led with 80% of the vote with all Cook County precincts in and half the precints in Will County. He was followed by Ernesto Lopez with Better Together for Steger with 36% and Alliance led by Gerald Stewart with just 11%. In Thornton, Trustee Maxine Reynolds had 60% of the vote over incumbent Robert Enright for village president.
CBS News
25-02-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
High early voter turnout for Dolton, Illinois primary with embattled Mayor Tiffany Henyard on ballot
Embattled Dolton, Illinois Mayor Tiffany Henyard is running for reelection, and will face a village trustee in a primary on Tuesday. Dolton is one of many Illinois communities with primary elections on Tuesday. Residents of the south Chicago suburb emphasized the importance of the primary. Along Sibley Boulevard in Dolton, a crew has been trying to convince anyone going grocery shopping to get out and vote. Under the brand "Clean House," Dolton Village Trustee Jason House is running against Henyard. House and Henyard were part of the same ticket in 2021. Now they are rivals. On Monday night, House and his campaign staff were out leafleting and encouraging Food 4 Less customers to vote for him. Meanwhile, one woman took issue in particular with a recent brawl that happened during a meeting of the Thornton Township Board, which is a separate governing body from the Village of Dolton, but of which Henyard is also supervisor. "We need prayer, you all, because Dolton came down," said one woman who already voted early. "I'm just really upset about the fight." The woman is not alone, Dolton has experienced a high early voter turnout. "I think we're up to 1,500 votes — 1,500 people that have early voted," said House. "Last time, there was only 2,800 people that voted." According to election records, only 9.5% of registered voters cast a ballot in 2021 when Henyard won her first term. House said he expects the numbers to be vastly higher this time around. "We're thinking we'll get up to between 4,500 and 5,000 voters," he said. "I think we'll have some record numbers coming in at that, and people will, their voice will be heard." While House and his campaign were out rallying up final supporters even the night before the election, Henyard has been absent from the campaign trail for weeks. "It means she's running from her responsibilities," he said, "and I mean, I figure if you want to pass the buck with the trustees, you can pass the seat with it." On Monday night, Henyard was a no-show to a Thornton Township meeting she herself called. Yet Henyard has made herself seen and heard online making rap videos. Henyard won the Dolton mayoral race in 2021 as a reform candidate. In 2022, Henyard was the subject of a failed recall effort. Voters cast their ballots in favor of recalling Henyard in June of that year, but Henyard fought the referendum in court, and the Illinois Appellate Court threw out the recall votes. This ruling resulted in Henyard breaking into her rendition of the 1979 disco hit "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" by McFadden & Whitehead. This happened at a village board meeting in October 2022. But the trouble has persisted for Henyard. Her village hall has become the focus of an FBI probe. Village trustees also brought in former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who found Henyard mismanaged finances through lavish spending while regularly avoiding questions about it. "There was a concerted, systematic effort on behalf of Mayor Henyard and others in her administration to hide the true financial condition of the Village of Dolton from the trustees and from members of the public," Lightfoot said as she presented the findings of her investigation in January. Controversy has dogged Henyard in her role as Thornton Township supervisor too. When a critic took the mic and used an expletive to describe her last month, fists flew and chaos broke out at the township board meeting — the first she had attended in a while. Meanwhile, will not be on the April 1 ballot for reelection as Thornton Township supervisor, following Democratic Party Caucus for the township in which Illinois state Sen. Napoleon Harris won the ballot spot. Henyard fled a lawsuit over this decision, but the lawsuit was dismissed by a judge. On Tuesday, Dolton voters will decide if they want to stick with Henyard or move forward.
