Tiffany Henyard, the embattled mayor of Dolton, Illinois, found herself at the center of a chaotic scene during a recent board meeting that escalated into a brawl. The incident occurred on Tuesday night at a Thornton Township Board of Trustees meeting, following aggressive comments directed at Henyard by activist Jedidiah Brown. Brown critiqued Henyard’s performance, referencing an investigative report by former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, which accused her administration of “deception and mismanagement” relating to village funds.
During the public comment section, Brown expressed frustration over Henyard’s leadership, saying, “You’ve been a half-a– mayor,” and suggested a vote for her removal in favor of new leadership. This ignited tensions in the room, culminating in a physical confrontation involving Henyard’s boyfriend, Kamal Woods, who exchanged blows with Brown. As chaos erupted, Henyard jumped into the fray, prompting mixed reactions from witnesses. Some described her participation as alarming, while others pointed out the potential for injury when she reportedly hit her head on a table.
Henyard’s attorney issued a statement blaming the unrest on a climate fueled by misinformation surrounding her and emphasized that such false narratives could lead to dangerous confrontations. Before the fight, the meeting had already reached a boiling point as the board discussed placing Woods and another individual on unpaid leave amid allegations concerning their management of a youth program.
In light of recent findings by Lightfoot, which revealed disturbing financial discrepancies under Henyard’s administration, including missing funds from federal aid and questionable expenditures on city credit cards, the contentious atmosphere surrounding Henyard’s leadership has only intensified. The report highlighted more than $3 million received from the American Rescue Plan, with substantial amounts reportedly unaccounted for.
As Henyard grapples with these serious allegations and a recent contempt of court ruling related to liquor licenses, the political landscape in Dolton continues to evolve. The recent election of Stephanie Wiedeman to the Thornton Township Board has drawn attention, especially given her role in ending a local government shutdown and pushing forward key legislation.
Although the situation remains tense, it presents an opportunity for the township to seek new leadership and clearer accountability in its operations, ideally leading to a more transparent administration in the future.