History of Tiffany Henyard in Timeline

Tiffany Aiesha Henyard is an American politician serving as the mayor of Dolton, Illinois, and supervisor of Thornton Township. She began her political career on the Dolton Village Board of Trustees, serving two terms from 2013 to 2021 after winning elections in 2013 and 2017. In 2021, she was elected mayor of Dolton. She was then appointed supervisor of Thornton Township in 2022. Henyard's career demonstrates a steady rise in local Illinois politics.

June 1983: Birth of Tiffany Aiesha Henyard

Tiffany Aiesha Henyard was born in June 1983.

2011: Begins Work in Government and Politics

In 2011, Henyard began her career in government and politics by working on Governor Pat Quinn's "Put Illinois to Work" initiative.

2013: First Elected as Dolton Village Trustee

In 2013, Henyard was elected as a Dolton Village Trustee for the first time.

2013: First Term as a Trustee

Tiffany Henyard first won election as a village trustee of Dolton in 2013. Her supporters called her the "People's Trustee".

2017: Re-elected as Dolton Village Trustee

Henyard was re-elected as a Dolton Village Trustee in 2017.

2017: Second Term as a Trustee

Henyard was re-elected as a Dolton village trustee in 2017.

2017: Supervisor Salary Remains Unchanged Since 2017

The annual salary for the township supervisor has remained at $224,000 since 2017.

2018: Critic of Mayor Rogers and Budget Veto

In 2018, Henyard became a critic of Mayor Riley Rogers and voted against overriding his veto on the city budget. The veto was overridden, leading to layoffs.

2018: Legal Challenge to Ballot Measures

In 2018, Henyard joined other trustees in a legal challenge to block ballot measures supported by Mayor Rogers, but the challenge was unsuccessful.

August 2019: Mold Issue in Section 8 Housing

In August 2019, reports emerged about a mold problem in a Section 8 property owned by Henyard.

November 2019: Tenant Forced to Move Out Due to Mold

By November 2019, the mold issue in Henyard's property worsened, forcing the tenant to move out, but Henyard continued to receive Section 8 subsidies.

October 2020: Launches Mayoral Candidacy

Henyard launched her mayoral campaign in October 2020, criticizing incumbent Mayor Riley Rogers.

May 8, 2021: Sworn in as Mayor of Dolton

Henyard was sworn in as the first female and youngest mayor of Dolton on May 8, 2021.

October 2021: Attempt to Recoup Security Detail Costs

In October 2021, the village board attempted to require Mayor Henyard to reimburse the village for the cost of her police protection.

October 2021: Hiring and Firing Restrictions Imposed

In October 2021, the village board voted to require Mayor Henyard to obtain their advice and consent for hiring and firing decisions. Trustees later accused her of ignoring this requirement.

October 2021: Criticism and Lawsuit from Village Board

Within her first year as mayor, Henyard faced criticism from the village board regarding her use of funds and lack of transparency, leading to a lawsuit and censure.

2021: Elected as Mayor of Dolton

In 2021, Henyard was elected as the mayor of Dolton, Illinois.

2021: Civil Unrest and Criticism Following Fatal Shooting

In 2021, a fatal police shooting sparked civil unrest and criticism of Mayor Henyard in Dolton.

March 3, 2022: Appointed Supervisor of Thornton Township

On March 3, 2022, Tiffany Henyard was appointed and sworn in as supervisor of Thornton Township following the death of Frank Zuccarelli.

April 2022: Relationship with "Dream Team" Sours

By April 2022, Henyard's relationship with her "Dream Team" slate deteriorated, leading to legal action against her.

April 2022: Recall Effort Initiated

In April 2022, the Dolton Village Board initiated a recall process against Mayor Henyard, placing two questions on the 2022 Illinois election ballot.

June 2022: Court Ruling on Recall Referenda

In June 2022, Judge Paul Karkula initially ordered the Cook County Clerk to disregard votes on the recall referenda, but the Illinois Appellate Court later partially stayed the ruling, allowing the ballots to be tallied.

October 6, 2022: Recall Referenda Deemed Illegal

On October 6, 2022, the Illinois Appellate Court ruled the recall referenda illegal and issued a permanent injunction against their certification. Despite both questions passing with over 56% of the vote, the results were not certified. Mayor Henyard attributed the results to low voter turnout among her supporters due to the legal complexities surrounding the recall effort.

2022: Allegations of Misspending Village Funds

By 2022, Henyard faced allegations of misusing village funds without proper approval, leading to arguments with trustees.

2022: Appointed Supervisor of Thornton Township

Henyard was appointed supervisor of Thornton Township in 2022.

2022: Alleged Wrongful Termination During Family Leave

In 2022, Samysha Williams alleged she was wrongfully terminated from her village job while on family leave.

2022: Promoting the Foundation

In 2022, Tiffany Henyard actively promoted and raised money for the Let Me Be Me Foundation, demonstrating her close involvement with the organization.

2022: Protest and Township Spending

In 2022, Tiffany Henyard's township spent funds on hotels along the route of a protest from Dolton to Springfield, Illinois. The protest was sponsored by the non-profit organization Let Me Be Me, of which Henyard was a prominent supporter.

April 2023: First Referendum on Mental Health Property Tax Fails

In April 2023, voters rejected a proposed 0.15% property tax increase for mental health services.

May 2023: Allegations of Misconduct

In May 2023, Fox 32 Chicago published an investigative report alleging misconduct related to municipal government interaction with the nonprofit organization, Let Me Be Me. The report questioned the use of taxpayer funds for a bicycle ride to Springfield, Illinois, ostensibly to support a breast cancer bill while the legislature wasn't in session and no bill had been filed.

August 2023: Township Assessor Locked Out of Office

In August 2023, Mayor Henyard was accused of locking a political adversary, the township assessor, out of their office.

September 2023: Investigation into Police Security Detail Costs

In September 2023, Fox 32 Chicago published an investigation into the high cost of Mayor Henyard's police security detail, which was reported to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.

October 2023: Police Chief Collins Fired

In October 2023, Mayor Henyard fired Dolton Police Chief Robert Collins, who she had previously rehired.

December 2023: Future Supervisor Salary Reduction Approved

In December 2023, the township approved a 90% reduction in the supervisor's salary, but this will only apply to future supervisors, not Tiffany Henyard. Similar reductions were approved for future township trustees.

2023: Williams' Candidacy for Village Trustee

In 2023, Samysha Williams ran for village trustee in Dolton.

January 2024: Further Investigation into Misconduct Allegations

A January 2024 investigation by WGN-TV reported that Thornton Township spent $10,248 on hotels along the route of a 2022 protest between Dolton and Springfield, sponsored by the Let Me Be Me nonprofit. The report raised concerns about township trustee approval of large sums directed to the charity.

January 2024: Concerns about Dolton's Debt

In January 2024, concerns were raised about Dolton's increasing debt and potential bankruptcy due to Henyard's spending.

January 2024: Nonprofit Filing Issues and Cease and Desist Order

In January 2024, it was reported that Let Me Be Me had not filed required financial reports. After missing the February 16 deadline, the Illinois Attorney General's Office ordered the organization to cease soliciting donations and threatened action to recover funds paid to its members and staff. The Attorney General also noted the non-profit's lack of proper registration and standing with the state.

February 2024: Security Detail Costs Reach $1 Million

By February 2024, reports emerged that Mayor Henyard's security detail had cost the village approximately $1 million.

February 2024: FBI Interviews and Investigation Confirmed

In February 2024, reports emerged about FBI interviews related to a probe into Henyard's activities as mayor, and the existence of an investigation was confirmed.

February 2024: Budget Veto Overridden, Vehicle Repossession Risk

In February 2024, the Dolton village board overrode Mayor Henyard's budget veto, leading to budget cuts. Henyard warned of potential bankruptcy for Dolton, while the village also faced the risk of police vehicle repossession due to alleged payment delays. There was disagreement between Henyard and Trustee Jason House about who was responsible for the payment delays.

February 2024: $1 Million Earmarked for Rent and Mortgage Assistance

In February 2024, the township board, with Mayor Henyard's support, allocated $1 million for rent and mortgage assistance, offering up to $3,000 per individual. The funding sources were not specified.

February 2024: Call for Investigation and Veto Override

In February 2024, the village board called for an investigation into Henyard, but she vetoed the resolution. Her veto was overridden in April.

February 2024: Reporters Barred from Public Event

In late February 2024, reporters were denied access to a township Black History Month event unless they signed a non-disclosure agreement.

March 2024: Work Records Reveal Extensive Security Detail Hours

In March 2024, Fox 32 Chicago obtained work records showing significant overtime and work hours for Henyard's security detail, including one officer paid for 303 hours in a two-week period.

March 2024: Incomplete Filings and Funding Revelations

In March 2024, a Let Me Be Me representative responded to the Illinois Attorney General's Office with incomplete filings lacking key financial records. These filings indicated that almost all of the nonprofit's funding came from township and village taxpayer money.

March 2024: Investigation by Illinois Department of Human Rights

In March 2024, it was revealed that the Illinois Department of Human Rights was investigating allegations of sexual assault and retaliation against Henyard.

March 2024: Second Referendum on Mental Health Property Tax Fails

In March 2024, voters again rejected the proposed mental health property tax by a wider margin, following opposition from several mayors who cited a lack of detail on how the funds would be used.

April 2024: Numerous Lawsuits Filed

By April 2024, the village government was facing nearly forty lawsuits related to Henyard's conduct.

2024: Distancing from Foundation

As of March 2024, Mayor Henyard distanced herself from the Let Me Be Me Foundation, contrasting with her active promotion and fundraising efforts in 2022, and her close ties to the foundation's leadership.

2024: Controversies and Investigations

During 2024, Henyard faced numerous controversies and investigations related to financial mismanagement, corruption, and other misconduct. The Illinois Attorney General ordered her charity to stop soliciting donations, and the FBI investigated her activities.

2024: Libel and Defamation Lawsuit, Wrongful Termination Allegation

In 2024, Samysha Williams sued Mayor Henyard and her campaign committee for libel and defamation. The lawsuit also alleged Williams' wrongful termination from a village job in 2022 while on family leave.

2024: Lawsuit Alleges Retribution and Wrongful Termination

In 2024, a former township employee sued Mayor Henyard and the township, alleging retribution for refusing to compile negative information on other employees and for taking family leave. The lawsuit also claims wrongful termination after the employee complained about unpaid wages.

2024: Martin Luther King Service Award

In 2024, at a local "Martin Luther King Jr. Business Brunch", Tiffany Henyard received the "Martin Luther King Service Award".

2024: Wrongful Termination Lawsuit Filed

In 2024, former Police Chief Robert Collins filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against Mayor Henyard, alleging his dismissal was without cause, lacked board approval, and was politically motivated.

2024: Lawsuit by Redeemed Christian Church

In early 2024, the Redeemed Christian Church of God filed a lawsuit against Henyard and the Village of Dolton alleging discrimination related to zoning codes.

2024: FBI Subpoenas Records

On April 19, 2024, the FBI served subpoenas at Dolton City Hall for records related to alleged corruption.

February 25, 2025: Democratic Primary for Dolton Mayor

The Democratic primary for Dolton mayor is scheduled for February 25, 2025. Mayor Henyard is seeking reelection.

April 2025: General Election for Dolton Mayor

The general election for Dolton mayor is scheduled for April 2025.

2025: Unsuccessful Township Supervisor Candidacy

In 2025, Tiffany Henyard unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic nomination for Thornton Township supervisor. She was defeated by State Senator Napoleon Harris in a caucus held by the Thornton Township Democrats.