Tiffany Henyard denied place on ballot to stay on as Thornton Township, Illinois supervisor
HOMEWOOD, Ill. (CBS) -- Thornton Township Supervisor Tiffany Henyard wanted to run for reelection for that office, but now, her name won't be on the ballot.
Folks lined up early and in the cold for a Democratic Party Caucus for the south suburban township . Everyone outside, and those inside the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District Auditorium, turned out to vote on who will be the Democratic nominees for Thornton Township—including the coveted supervisor position.
When the caucus voted, Henyard had her name denied for the Democratic ballot because she did not have a full slate as required.
All township supervisor hopefuls needed all eight people for their slate—supervisor, highway director, clerk, assessor, and four trustees. Henyard did not have a certified assessor on her ticket, and therefore, was deemed not valid to be considered for nomination.
Nominated instead was Illinois state Sen. Napoleon Harris, who also serves as the Thornton Township Democratic committeeman. His name will be on the ballot as the Democratic candidate for Thornton Township Supervisor, and Henyard's will not.
The caucus and its consequences left Henyard fuming.
"You didn't run none of this the right way," she told Harris. "Illegal, Napoleon."
This was the first time in 30 years that the Thornton Township Democrats have used a caucus to determine who will be on the ballot.
Harris said the use of such a caucus is in no way outdated.
"People in Thornton Township may be new to caucuses because they haven't had them in a while, but this has been the tradition for many other townships around the state," he said.
Before Henyard, Frank Zuccarrelli served as Thornton Township supervisor from 1993 until he died in 2022. He always ran for the seat unopposed.
Henyard was appointed by the Thornton Township Board to finish Zuccarelli's term. Henyard also serves as the mayor of Dolton—an office to which she was elected and is also seeking reelection.
Henyard bused in seniors to participate in the caucus using Thornton Township buses, but many of the buses arrived late. The room where the caucus was held could only hold 600 people, and many of the Henyard supporters who came on the buses did not get in.
Henyard claimed the process was unfair.
"I will be suing everyone tomorrow. This is illegal. Illegal," Henyard said, taking issue with the fact that her supporters didn't get in.
Attorney and legal expert Burton Odelson, who is representing Harris, said the caucus process was legal and democratic in nature—and Henyard would not have a case.
"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," said Harris.
Harvey Mayor Christopher Clark is also running for Thornton Township supervisor. He is running as an independent and thus did not need to participate in the caucus.
As for Henyard, her only option now is to run as a write-in candidate.
"I think enough people know her name to write her name in, and I believe we could still win it," said Henyard ally Keith Price.
Henyard left the auditorium emotional and upset, knowing she's off the April 2025 ballot. Some expressed support for her—and disappointment in the caucus.
"I think it's unfair I don't get a chance to make a decision on who I want where," one woman said. "I wanted to vote for Tiffany."
But others said Henyard's conduct was disrespectful.
"She came late, and then she had an attitude because they couldn't get in," another woman said.
As Henyard walked out of the caucus room, a crowd sang "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye," the late 60s pop classic that is best known locally as a taunt to a losing visiting team during Chicago White Sox games.
The Dolton Mayor's office that Henyard also holds is a separate elected position. At a Dolton Village Board meeting on Monday night, Henyard's opponents said they are counting the days until she is voted out of that office. Yet Henyard insisted she will stay right where she is, and voters will keep her there.