Trustee announces run for Mayor of Dolton

Tiffany Henyard is a senior trustee in the Village of Dolton, who has announced she’s running for mayor of the village. Photos courtesy of Tiffany Henyard
Tiffany Henyard is a senior trustee in the Village of Dolton, who has announced she’s running for mayor of the village. Photos courtesy of Tiffany Henyard

 Trustee announces run for Mayor of Dolton

BY TIA CAROL JONES
     Tiffany Henyard, a senior Village of Dolton Trustee, grew up in the village and has served on the board since 2013. Now, Henyard is running for Mayor of Dolton.
     Henyard announced her run for Mayor on Thursday, Oct. 8. The election is Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021.
     Henyard grew up in Dolton and graduated from Thornridge High School. She has a degree in Business Administration from Robert Morris College.
     Henyard said she decided to get into politics when she attended a block club party and heard residents’ concerns. Those concerns included fixing the streets, fixing potholes in the streets and addressing water bills.
     “I noticed they needed a voice of reason, and I had to be that voice, for my neighborhood, for my block [and] for my family,” Henyard said.
     At 37, Henyard is the youngest trustee on the board. Henyard and the rest of the at-large trustees in Dolton serve more than 23,000 residents in the village. They oversee the budget, water department, police and fire departments.
     Henyard said she is running for mayor because she is tired of her residents not having their complaints answered.
     “I’ve sat on that board for eight years and I feel that I can do more in moving up in a leadership role. Because right now, today, nothing is being answered, nothing is being done,” she said.
     Henyard said she has advocated on behalf of her residents to help keep their water on as well as helping them with issues related to the pandemic.
     “I want to show people that I am their strength and Dolton needs me. I’ve always been there no matter what since day one,” she said.
     Henyard said her experience as a trustee in Dolton has prepared her to become the Mayor of Dolton because it has given her the tools to learn about government: including dealing with the budget, knowing about line items, knowing where to trim and being able to initiate programs.
     “It helped me grow to be the person I am today. So, now I feel that I am able to take the lead instead of being a trustee,” she said. “I was a voice, but now, I want to be the leader of our town, which we so desperately need.”
     Henyard said she is worried about her residents because they are afraid to speak out.
     “I am not afraid to speak out. I am not afraid of the current administration. I’ve always gone to bat for my people and will continue to do so, that’s why I’ve been coined the ‘People’s Trustee,’” she said. “So, if people just took a stand with me, I am the change for Dolton. I am the change Dolton so desperately needs.”
     Henyard said as the trustee, she has stopped water shut-offs during the COVID-19 pandemic and she has advocated to stop the violence, in the form of marches. She led the charge for a forensic audit, because she said there was something going on with the water department.
     Henyard said she wants to fix the crime rate and educate the residents about crime. She said she wants local government to be more transparent. She said when she first became a trustee in 2013, she thought she would gain a wealth of knowledge. She said it was the opposite and she found people who were self-serving and greedy.
     “I represent transparency and accountability as a trustee,” she said. “I post every single thing that relates to our government, whether its an RFP we have, water shut-offs, town hall meetings, anything. I will continue to do the same thing.”
     Henyard said she recognizes the youth are the future. It starts with the youth and they have to be encouraged to take a chance.
“I’m telling anybody, I’m telling any youth, you can do it. Never let anybody stop you from your dreams or goals, ever,” she said.
Henyard said her vision for Dolton is similar to Mayor Don De Graff of South Holland. South Holland is the neighboring village and De Graff has been in office since 1994. She said she admires the way the town is dry, but its business district is still strong and thriving.
     “I would love to incorporate that in Dolton. No, I’m not stating I would cancel liquor licenses. I’m saying I would not allow any more as your mayor,” she said. “And, I would do this as a great team. You need a team. There’s no ‘I’ in team. Unity is where it’s at. If you can unify the people and your teammates, you’ll make a great leader.”

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