Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard, who is also the supervisor of Thornton Township, has filed a lawsuit against the Dolton trustees and the township’s Democratic caucus after losing her bid for renomination to her leadership role last week.
The lawsuit names State Senator Napoleon Harris, who was placed on the ballot in place of Henyard, as well as the Democrats of Thornton Township as defendants. The Thornton Township Democratic Party, of which Harris is the committee person, asserts that it followed both state statutes and its own party rules.
According to ABC News, the lawsuit alleges that unfair caucus rules, voter suppression, and manipulation of the venue caused Henyard to be excluded from the Democratic ballot. Additionally, the lawsuit claims that hundreds of her supporters were left outside in cold weather and were unable to access the building where the caucus was held.
During the hearing a few days after the caucus, Henyard expressed confidence that, despite her own challenges, her name would be on the ballot next spring.
“The people will put me on the ballot. So we’re doing the legal routes,” Henyard said.
Earlier in the week, Henyard also filed a lawsuit against some Dolton Trustees and the village administrator, amid a power struggle in the village, accusing them of conspiring to take away her authority by restricting her ability to appoint key positions.
Both trustees and caucus organizers have dismissed Henyard’s claims, calling the lawsuit a distraction from governance and leadership responsibilities.
