Latest news with #ReformThorntonTownshipParty
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ballots finalized for Calumet City, Thornton Township April 1 elections
Despite saying in February he was dropping out of the race, Harvey Mayor Christopher Clark is still listed as a candidate for Thornton Township supervisor under the Reform Thornton Township Party, according to final April 1 ballot listing by the Cook County clerk's office. Clark did not respond to numerous requests for comment on his failure to officially withdraw as a candidate for supervisor. Members of his reform party also on the ballot include trustee candidates David Clay, Dominique Randle-El, Jacinta Gholston and Rachel Jones. The county clerk's office also confirmed the preliminary results of tight races in Calumet City and Riverdale, which unseated several incumbents. The clerk's office affirmed Calumet City Mayor Thaddeus Jones' Democratic primary victory over Ald. James Patton, receiving more than 60% of the vote. Results for other members of Jones' Calumet City Democrats United slate were mixed. Ald. Anthony Smith was unseated by Melissa Philips, who received 273 votes to his 272 votes, according to final results. Smith did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday. Challengers Erica Jenkins and Roger Munda lost to incumbents Monet Wilson, of the 2nd ward, and DeJuan Gardner, of the 5th ward, who both ran with Patton. Clerk Nyota Figgs, a staunch opponent of Jones, also held onto her seat, challenged by Cassandra Hobert Elston. First Ward Ald. Michael Navarrette lost his seat to Shalisa Harvey, who gained about 54% of the vote, and Miacole Nelson beat Garnadette Stuckey in the race for Patton's former seat as 6th Ward alderman, according to the Cook County clerk's office. Calumet City Democrats do not face any challengers in the April 1 election. In Riverdale, Mayor Lawrence Jackson, under federal indictment, held onto his seat, receiving 59% of the vote. He was challenged by Michael Airhart, a longtime resident who runs the nonprofit organization Taste for the Homeless and will be the only mayoral candidate on the April 1 ballot. Trustees Gregory Lewis, Erik LeVere and Bradley Smith as well as Village Clerk Karen Holcomb all won their Democratic primaries against challengers. Smith received 428 votes, Lewis received 422 votes and LeVere received 420 votes. The closest behind them was Pamela Henning, with 404 votes, followed by Michael Smith with 353 votes and Rasheena Thomas with 351 votes. Rodrick L. Jefferson is the sole independent candidate running for trustee April 1. State Sen. Napoleon Harris will lead the Democratic ticket in Thornton Township, opposed by Republican Richard Nolan and Independent candidate Nate Fields, according to the Cook County clerk's office. Incumbent Supervisor Tiffany Henyard can only gain votes as a write-in candidate. Henyard was unable to secure a ballot spot after failing to gain the Democratic nomination for supervisor, with her lawsuit contesting the results of a December caucus dismissed by a Cook County judge. In a social media post Monday, Henyard encouraged early voting in the township and asked for support as a write-in candidate. 'I am happy to announce that the township is in a surplus and still growing!!' Henyard wrote. 'Support the leadership you know.' Clark said in a February news release announcing his withdrawal that he would feel wrong taking time from the challenges facing Harvey, including $165 million of debt, 'to engage in the dysfunction that currently plagues Thornton Township — a dysfunction marked by mismanagement and lack of transparency at the leadership level along with a troubling erosion of public civility.' 'I want people in the city of Harvey to know and understand that even in this particular case, I am willing to make that sacrifice for them,' Clark told the Daily Southtown at the time. The township is guaranteed to see an almost entirely new board, with the only incumbent candidate being Trustee Christopher Gonzalez, who is running as part of Harris' slate. Other Democratic trustee candidates on the ballot are community organizers Valeria Stubbs and Mary Avent as well as Cook County employee Byron D. Stanley. Republican candidates are Carl V. Dombrowski, David J. Barnes, Jeffery Coleman and Kesha Richardson. ostevens@
Chicago Tribune
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Ballots finalized for Calumet City, Thornton Township April 1 elections
Despite saying in February he was dropping out of the race, Harvey Mayor Christopher Clark is still listed as a candidate for Thornton Township supervisor under the Reform Thornton Township Party, according to final April 1 ballot listing by the Cook County clerk's office. Clark did not respond to numerous requests for comment on his failure to officially withdraw as a candidate for supervisor. Members of his reform party also on the ballot include trustee candidates David Clay, Dominique Randle-El, Jacinta Gholston and Rachel Jones. The county clerk's office also confirmed the preliminary results of tight races in Calumet City and Riverdale, which unseated several incumbents. Calumet City The clerk's office affirmed Calumet City Mayor Thaddeus Jones' Democratic primary victory over Ald. James Patton, receiving more than 60% of the vote. Results for other members of Jones' Calumet City Democrats United slate were mixed. Ald. Anthony Smith was unseated by Melissa Philips, who received 273 votes to his 272 votes, according to final results. Smith did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday. Challengers Erica Jenkins and Roger Munda lost to incumbents Monet Wilson, of the 2nd ward, and DeJuan Gardner, of the 5th ward, who both ran with Patton. Clerk Nyota Figgs, a staunch opponent of Jones, also held onto her seat, challenged by Cassandra Hobert Elston. First Ward Ald. Michael Navarrette lost his seat to Shalisa Harvey, who gained about 54% of the vote, and Miacole Nelson beat Garnadette Stuckey in the race for Patton's former seat as 6th Ward alderman, according to the Cook County clerk's office. Calumet City Democrats do not face any challengers in the April 1 election. Riverdale In Riverdale, Mayor Lawrence Jackson, under federal indictment, held onto his seat, receiving 59% of the vote. He was challenged by Michael Airhart, a longtime resident who runs the nonprofit organization Taste for the Homeless and will be the only mayoral candidate on the April 1 ballot. Trustees Gregory Lewis, Erik LeVere and Bradley Smith as well as Village Clerk Karen Holcomb all won their Democratic primaries against challengers. Smith received 428 votes, Lewis received 422 votes and LeVere received 420 votes. The closest behind them was Pamela Henning, with 404 votes, followed by Michael Smith with 353 votes and Rasheena Thomas with 351 votes. Rodrick L. Jefferson is the sole independent candidate running for trustee April 1. Thornton Township State Sen. Napoleon Harris will lead the Democratic ticket in Thornton Township, opposed by Republican Richard Nolan and Independent candidate Nate Fields, according to the Cook County clerk's office. Incumbent Supervisor Tiffany Henyard can only gain votes as a write-in candidate. Henyard was unable to secure a ballot spot after failing to gain the Democratic nomination for supervisor, with her lawsuit contesting the results of a December caucus dismissed by a Cook County judge. In a social media post Monday, Henyard encouraged early voting in the township and asked for support as a write-in candidate. 'I am happy to announce that the township is in a surplus and still growing!!' Henyard wrote. 'Support the leadership you know.' Clark said in a February news release announcing his withdrawal that he would feel wrong taking time from the challenges facing Harvey, including $165 million of debt, 'to engage in the dysfunction that currently plagues Thornton Township — a dysfunction marked by mismanagement and lack of transparency at the leadership level along with a troubling erosion of public civility.' 'I want people in the city of Harvey to know and understand that even in this particular case, I am willing to make that sacrifice for them,' Clark told the Daily Southtown at the time. The township is guaranteed to see an almost entirely new board, with the only incumbent candidate being Trustee Christopher Gonzalez, who is running as part of Harris' slate. Other Democratic trustee candidates on the ballot are community organizers Valeria Stubbs and Mary Avent as well as Cook County employee Byron D. Stanley. Republican candidates are Carl V. Dombrowski, David J. Barnes, Jeffery Coleman and Kesha Richardson.
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Harvey Mayor Christopher Clark drops out of race for Thornton Township supervisor
Christopher Clark announced Tuesday he withdrew his candidacy for Thornton Township supervisor to prioritize his current position as mayor of Harvey. 'My unwavering commitment to the city of Harvey and its ongoing recovery demands my full attention, and I believe that prioritizing this effort is in the best interest of our community,' Clark wrote in a news release Tuesday. The decision came a little more than two months after Clark filed to run for the township supervisor seat under the Reform Thornton Township Party, and a day after attempts to remove Democratic nominee Napoleon Harris from the ballot were withdrawn. Napoleon, a state senator, is Thornton Township Democratic committeeman. Clark filed as part of a slate including Rachel Jones, Jacinta Gholston, Harvey 5th Ward Ald. Dominique Randle-El and Harvey City Administrator Corean Davis. Glenn Harston a spokesman for Clark, said Tuesday that he believes the other members of the slate will drop out alongside Clark, but he does not represent them. ostevens@
Chicago Tribune
04-02-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Harvey Mayor Christopher Clark drops out of race for Thornton Township supervisor
Christopher Clark announced Tuesday he withdrew his candidacy for Thornton Township supervisor to prioritize his current position as mayor of Harvey. 'My unwavering commitment to the city of Harvey and its ongoing recovery demands my full attention, and I believe that prioritizing this effort is in the best interest of our community,' Clark wrote in a news release Tuesday. The decision came a little more than two months after Clark filed to run for the township supervisor seat under the Reform Thornton Township Party, and a day after attempts to remove Democratic nominee Napoleon Harris from the ballot were withdrawn. Napoleon, a state senator, is Thornton Township Democratic committeeman. Clark filed as part of a slate including Rachel Jones, Jacinta Gholston, Harvey 5th Ward Ald. Dominique Randle-El and Harvey City Administrator Corean Davis. Glenn Harston a spokesman for Clark, said Tuesday that he believes the other members of the slate will drop out alongside Clark, but he does not represent them.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nate Fields back on ballot as Thornton Township supervisor candidate, judge rules
A Cook County judge ruled Monday Independent supervisor candidate Nate Fields will be on the Thornton Township ballot, reversing a decision made by the township Electoral Board. The board, made up of township Trustees Chris Gonzalez and Darlene Gray Everett as well as Clerk Loretta Wells, voted last month to remove Fields and two other supervisor candidates from the April 1 ballot. Michael Smith and Keith Price, who is food assistance program manager in Supervisor Tiffany Henyard's township administration, brought five challenges against Fields, only one of which stuck. The board voted 2-1 to remove Fields on the basis that he failed to bind his statement of candidacy with his nomination petitions. At the time, Fields expressed frustrations that a filing error could prevent voters from choosing the candidates. 'It's just another obstacle I have to overcome,' Fields said, adding objectors Price and Smith were 'doing their best to kick out any competitors … instead of thinking about who the residents want.' Fields appealed the decision, leading to Judge John Tully's ruling. Tully wrote the Illinois Election Code does not explicitly require statements of candidacy and nomination petitions be bound together, and therefore Fields should not be disqualified from seeking office. The Election Code states that petition sheets 'be neatly fastened together in book form by placing the sheets in a pile and fastening them together at one edge in a secure and suitable manner,' Tully wrote. Fields filed all the necessary documents as a candidate simultaneously, Tully said, so he is an eligible candidate. 'In sustaining the objection in this regard, the Board created one without any valid legal support,' Tully said in his decision. 'Its decision was clear error.' Fields was among the first candidates to file to run for Thornton Township supervisor, and will face Democratic nominee and state Sen. Napoleon Harris, Republican nominee Richard Nolan and Reform Thornton Township Party candidate and Harvey Mayor Christopher Clark. Supervisor Tiffany Henyard also sought a spot on the ballot, but lost the Democratic nomination to Harris during a caucus held last month. Henyard challenged the caucus result in Cook County circuit court, but her objection was thrown out for being filed incorrectly. Fields said before officially filing for office that he worked for the township under former Supervisor Frank Zuccarelli until his position was dissolved under Henyard. He said he wants to lead with transparency and involve the community more in township decision making. 'I'm hoping the community that is outraged about how Tiffany is acting is going to get up now and say, 'OK, choose him now,' because I need to get up and make a difference now,' Fields said. ostevens@
