In Dolton, Illinois, sitting Mayor Tiffany Henyard faces eviction alongside her boyfriend, Kamal Woods. Legal documents obtained by NBC Chicago indicate that Henyard and Woods are delinquent in paying rent totaling over $3,300 for their Harvard Street residence. In addition, daily penalties and the start-of-month installment push the debt even higher.
According to the court documents filed on September 18, the couple was given a five-day notice to either vacate or to reconcile the outstanding rent and sign a new lease. Alongside these personal financial troubles, Mayor Henyard is embroiled in a federal investigation relating to the alleged misuse of municipal funds, an inquiry that began in November of the preceding year. Efforts to reach Henyard's landlord for comments were left unanswered, whereas the Mayor has yet to issue a statement regarding the eviction.
Concurrently, FOX 32 reports that the mayor resisted attempts to inspect the property, adding another layer to the unfolding legal narrative. Counter to the claims presented in the court documents, Henyard's attorney responded via text to FOX 32, stating "that the story is false and that no rent payments have been missed."
The mayor's professional conduct, too, is in question as a Cook County judge has ruled that Henyard’s recent appointments of a police chief, village attorney, and village administrator were made in violation of both the Illinois Municipal Code and Dolton Village Code. A temporary restraining order has thus been placed against Mayor Henyard and her appointees, prohibiting them from Village Hall. More details on the dynamics at play within the Dolton Village government, as well as Mayor Henyard’s personal affairs, will be reported as they become available.
