Trustee Henyard claims victory
Turns back incumbent Rogers, 2 others in Dem mayoral contest
Dolton Village Trustee Tiffany Henyard claimed victory Wednesday in the Democratic primary for mayor of the town, with 34.47% of the unofficial vote in a four-person race.
Incumbent Mayor Riley Rogers had 30.19% of the vote in unofficial results, Andrew Holmes had 29.46% and Robert Shaw 5.87%.
“Thank you Dolton. We WON! the Democratic Primary but our work is not done yet,” Henyard shared on her Facebook page. “Thanks to all of my loyal supporters, volunteers and residents of Dolton for this victory. Let’s come out to vote on April 6th.”
If her lead holds, Henyard, 37, will advance to the April 6 election and face independent candidate Ronnie Burge, the police chief in Dixmoor who was a former chief in Dolton.
All precincts had reported in the Democratic primary Tuesday night, but the unofficial totals do not include mail-in ballots that had not arrived yet and any provisional ballots. Fewer than 150 votes separated the top three candidates.
A spokesman for Rogers said they are waiting for all mail-in ballots to be counted before making a statement on the election.
If Henyard wins both the primary and in April, she would become the first female mayor of the village, which incorporated in 1892.
“I’m so excited about that, actually,” Henyard said. “It’s all about making history for me. Breaking down barriers.”
Henyard included a picture of Vice President Kamala Harris on her campaign website.
The Thornridge High School and Robert Morris University grad’s political aspirations all started out with a tree. Sixteen years ago, when she was 21,
Henyard said she decided to help a neighbor at a town hall meeting.
“I advocated for her and spoke up for her,” Henyard said. “She needed a tree trimmed. I was her voice. And when they did something, I was like ‘What? That’s it? OK!’ That’s how it got started.”
Henyard has been a village trustee since 2013 and her term is up this year. If she loses in April, she will be off the board, but said she would continue to look at other political opportunities. But she wants a shot at being mayor.
“The people are ready for change,” she said. “Right now, people are just sad. They are looking for something to uplift them. That’s what I bring, a passion, transparency, accountability, so I am ready. I’m energetic and you need that right now.”
Rogers, 69, has been mayor since 2013 and is recovering from a stroke suffered Jan. 27. In a letter to residents, he said he was able to communicate with his staff members while rehabbing and perform his duties as mayor.
Through a spokesman, Rogers said he had no statement Tuesday night and is waiting on mail-in ballot returns.
Henyard was running on a ticket that she called the Dream Team.
The team included includes Alison Key for clerk, who had a 53.47% of the unofficial vote Tuesday over incumbent Mary Kay Duggan.
Two of the three members on the slate were in the top three slots for the three trustee positions according to unofficial results, with incumbent Jason House leading with 1,337 votes and Kiana Belcher third at 1,053. Sandwiched in between was Brittney Norwood, who was on Roger’s slate, with 1,119 votes. Kevin Anthony Boens, another member of Henyard’s slate, was fourth at 1,023.
Gail Towers followed with 1,012 votes, Charles Higgins had 903, Valeria Stubbs had 697, Mark A. Wolfe had 358 and Bobbie G. Young had 358.