Tiffany Henyard, the Democratic mayor of Dolton, Illinois, has been embroiled in scandal due to her alleged misuse of taxpayer funds. Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has previously investigated her extravagant spending habits. Henyard recently made national headlines when she suggested she would seek to arrest political opponents who have questioned her lavish spending on the taxpayers’ dime. She took to Facebook to condemn the media’s coverage of her time in office and dismiss dissenting officials, referring to the allegations against her as distractions.
During a 90-minute Facebook video, Henyard proposed pressing charges against her opponents but did not specify the crimes they may have committed. She also accused the media of perpetuating a one-sided narrative and failing to present her side of the story. Henyard, who refers to herself as “super mayor,” expressed frustration with the cancellation of a Thornton Township meeting due to safety concerns raised by trustees. She has promised proof of her opponents’ misdeeds in the past, including pitching a podcast and media tour, but has failed to deliver on these promises.
Henyard’s landlord has reported that the mayor and her boyfriend have not paid rent since August and are facing eviction. The pair, who receive over $300,000 in taxpayer funds, allegedly changed the locks and garage door code to prevent the landlord from accessing the property. The landlord has filed an eviction lawsuit against Henyard and her boyfriend, but Cook County sheriffs have been unsuccessful in serving the lawsuit. The landlord, who once considered Henyard a friend and supported her campaign, is owed thousands of dollars in unpaid rent.
Despite facing eviction and allegations of financial mismanagement, Henyard has announced her intention to run for a second term as mayor of Dolton. She was elected mayor in 2021 after serving two terms as a trustee on the village board. Residents have dubbed her “the worst mayor in America” due to her controversial tenure, which included financial mismanagement. A preliminary report by Lori Lightfoot revealed that Dolton’s general fund balance went from a surplus to a deficit under Henyard’s leadership, and she made questionable purchases using the village credit card at various retailers.
Henyard’s reelection announcement coincides with a lawsuit she is leading against several village trustees, the Dolton Park District, the village clerk, and the village administrator. The legal dispute stems from a contentious village board meeting that Henyard claims violated procedures. In her previous term, Henyard faced intense scrutiny for her spending habits and alleged misuse of taxpayer funds. Despite these controversies, she won her initial election in a landslide, receiving over 80% of the vote. The scandal-plagued mayor continues to face backlash and legal challenges as she seeks a second term in office.
