Thornton Township Supervisor Tiffany Henyard filed a lawsuit Thursday looking for to overturn the outcomes of what she believes was an improperly run Democratic caucus that saved her off the poll.
Henyard, who drew criticism for a scarcity of transparency and extreme spending as each Dolton’s supervisor and mayor, was unable to compete for the supervisor nomination as a result of he didn’t adjust to guidelines set prematurely by the Democratic Party, in response to the lawsuit.
He is suing Thornton Township Democrats, in addition to committeeman and state Sen. Napoleon Harris, who obtained the Democratic nomination for supervisor, for denying voters the total proper to decide on their very own candidates.
Dixmoor Mayor Fitzgerald Roberts was additionally named as a plaintiff, although he launched an announcement Thursday saying his inclusion was a mistake on the a part of Henyard’s legal professional, Max Solomon. Solomon confirmed Friday morning that he was working to take away Roberts from the lawsuit and declined to remark till after doing so.
The lawsuit alleges that the township Democrats and Harris acted improperly by permitting members who had met on the Homewood-Flossmoor Park precinct auditorium for a non-public occasion to stay there for the following caucus, denying entry to others looking for to vote to appoint candidates.
“The auditorium was by no means emptied to start the method of permitting solely certified attendees into the auditorium,” the criticism reads.
“Hundreds of individuals ready outdoors in line within the freezing chilly had been turned away after ready a number of hours,” it mentioned.
Henyard additionally claims the occasion and Harris failed to supply the caucus guidelines to attendees with correct discover. The guidelines required that the individuals nominating candidates be occasion members in good standing and that they nominate a full slate of candidates for all positions up for election.
Henyard tried to nominate herself auditorium supervisor however failed to fulfill the necessities set by the occasion.
Attorney Burt Odelson, who represents Harris and the Thornton Township Democrats, mentioned Friday Henyard’s claims are frivolous and needs to be instantly dismissed in courtroom.
“This is rubbish, that is incompetence,” Odelson mentioned. “It has no bearing on the legislation and will by no means have been filed.”
He mentioned the Democratic Party is a “personal membership” able to setting its personal guidelines of participation and that Solomon should reply for mistakenly including Roberts’ title to the lawsuit.
“It’s so dangerous it may get a few them in hassle,” Odelson mentioned.
Roberts mentioned in an announcement that his title within the lawsuit was the results of “very completely different” interpretations of a dialog he had with Henyard after the caucus.
“I’ve not approved or initiated any authorized motion, nor have I been consulted relating to any such paperwork,” Roberts mentioned. “I respect the work Supervisor Henyard and Senator Harris have performed for Dixmoor. My focus is on the village of Dixmoor and serving to the residents right here. I’ve no need to participate on this lawsuit.
ostevens@chicagotribune.com
