Thornton Township Supervisor Tiffany Henyard's bid to stay in her role has hit a significant obstacle, as the Democratic Party Caucus has denied her a place on the ballot for the upcoming April election. The nomination process, which took place amid a lively atmosphere at the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District, required candidates to present a full slate of eight, including a highway director, clerk, assessor, and four trustees; Henyard fell short by not having a certified assessor. Instead, the caucus nominated Illinois State Sen. Napoleon Harris for the position, marking the first time in three decades that Thornton Township Democrats have employed a caucus to select their ballot contenders, CBS Chicago reported.
Henyard's inability to quickly assemble a complete slate was a critical lapse in an otherwise fiercely contested race. Her failure to meet the caucus requirements was deemed "not valid" for her to continue to be considered for the nomination. Sen. Harris, who also serves as the Thornton Township Democratic committeeman, saw his name advanced as the approved candidate for the supervisor role instead, according to ABC7 Chicago.
Harris defended the use of a caucus which Henyard criticized as unfair. "This is the process that's being going on way before mem and it's just I'm exercising as committeeman to hold a caucus," Harris stated, deflecting claims that the process was obsolete or unjust. Henyard, in response to the caucus's decision and the obstacles faced by her supporters in attendance, expressed her intention to challenge the outcome legally, declaring, "I will be suing everyone tomorrow. This is illegal. Illegal," in a sentiment captured by CBS Chicago.
Attorney and legal expert Burton Odelson, representing Harris, reinforced the democratic nature of the caucus telling CBS Chicago, "This is the process that's being going on way before mem and it's just I'm exercising as committeeman to hold a caucus." Despite this setback, Henyard, who also serves as the mayor of Dolton, has said she will run as a write-in candidate for Thornton Township supervisor. One of her allies, Keith Price, confidently asserted, "I think enough people know her name to write her name in, and I believe we could still win it."
