The bitter battle for control of south suburban Dolton took another turn Wednesday evening when trustees opposed to Mayor Tiffany Henyard said they were granted a key ruling limiting Henyard’s power.
Trustees asked a Cook County judge for a temporary restraining order blocking Henyard’s recent appointments of a new police chief, village manager and village attorney. They argued Henyard can’t unilaterally make appointments without their consent.
“The court’s decision to void Mayor Henyard’s unlawful appointments sends a clear message: We are here to uphold the law and safeguard the trust you placed in us,” wrote senior trustee Jason House, who announced he’ll challenge Henyard for mayor in the spring election.
The power struggle has been on full display during Dolton meetings, which frequently devolve into shouting matches between Henyard and trustees. This follows nearly a year of WGN Investigates reporting on questionable spending, first-class travel, contracts, and other concerns in both of the municipalities Henyard runs.
The personnel shake-ups have come to a boil in recent months after two of Henyard’s allies – acting police chief Lewis Lacey and village manager Keith Freeman – were charged with bankruptcy fraud in unrelated cases.
The trustees voted to fire Lacey after he was charged, but they’ve supported Freeman, who they say is now cooperating with their investigation into Henyard’s administration.
Burt Odelson, a lawyer representing trustees opposed to Henyard, said the temporary restraining order is a first step toward safeguarding Dolton citizens.
Henyard’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
