Southland races to watch


 Southland races to watch
On Tuesday, April 6, elections will take place in the Southland. 

Here are the races we are endorsing:
Calumet City, Dolton, Robbins, Matteson, Hazel Crest, Thornton Township Bloom Township, Lynwood, Olympia Fields, Prairie State College District 515 and Rich Township.  

Mayor, City of Calumet City
Thaddeus Jones was the first African-American alderman in Calumet City when he was elected in 1996. Now, he is set to become the first African-American mayor of Calumet City. His goal is to ensure residents have a chance for great success and great opportunities. His plan for economic development in Calumet City includes reassuring companies their investment in the city will be returned.
President, Village of Dolton
Tiffany Henyard has been a trustee-at-large of the Village of Dolton since 2013 and is a longtime resident of Dolton. She serves 23,000 residents in the village and is over the budget, water department, police and fire departments. Part of her platform is to make local government more transparent and ensure residents can trust the police again. Her plans for economic development for the village include bringing a grocery store and restaurants there.





President, Village of Matteson
Sheila Chalmers-Currin is the incumbent and throughout her 3 ½ years as president of the Village of Matteson there has been economic growth, with the opening of Pete’s Market and the construction of an Amazon fulfillment center, as well as Sam’s Club coming back with e-commerce. Chalmers-Currin has been a resident of Matteson for more than 30 years and served as a trustee for the village for eight years.
President, Village of Robbins
Tyrone Ward has been the mayor of the Village of Robbins since 2013. During that time, crime has been reduced significantly, with the help of Police Chief Roy Wells. Ward also has provided resources to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Supervisor, Thornton Township
Frank Zuccarelli has been the supervisor of Thornton Township since 1993. A resident of South Holland, Zuccarelli was elected as Democratic Committeeman for Thornton Township in 2001. Zuccarelli started the Zuccarelli Assistance Program in 2004. The program allows teens, 16 and older, to get paid mowing the lawns of seniors who live in the 17 municipalities in the township.


President, Village of Hazel Crest
Vernard L. Alsberry, Jr. is currently the mayor of the Village of Hazel Crest. He is the president of the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association, as well as president of the Southland Regional Mayoral Black Caucus. In 2018, Alsberry was elected Democratic Committeeman for Bremen Township.
Supervisor, Bloom Township
Dr. Octavia Altheimer is a resident of Glenwood and has been a resident of Bloom Township for 20 years. Altheimer served in the United States Armed Forces and has a Ph.D. in Health Administration, as well as runs a company, O’Doal, LLC, which provides COVID-19 testing. Altheimer’s platform includes creating a more transparent local government throughout the Township’s 12 municipalities. She also wants to create plans to provide resources for the township’s aging population. Altheimer is a community activist who has fought to end environmental racism, as evidenced with stopping a power plant from coming to Glenwood.

President, Village of Lynwood
Jada D. Curry has been a resident of Lynwood for 16 years. She served as a trustee in the Village, as well as board president of Sunnybrook School District 171. Part of her platform includes making residents aware of businesses in the village. She said she will open the lines of communication between residents and the village.Curry is working on a strategic plan for the village that will help it to become self-sustaining. Part of that plan includes bringing grocery stores, restaurants and entertainment venues to the village.  
 
President, Village of Olympia Fields
Desireè Watkins has been a resident of the Southland for 20 years. Watkins is a trustee of Olympia Fields. She owns 20/20 Eye Specialists, with her husband Neil Watkins, MD. She has been on the Olympia Fields Park District Board as well as a member of her homeowners association. Watkins said she will use her relationships to bring economic growth, business retention, fiscal management and an improved infrastructure to Olympia Fields. Watkins believes that she is able to connect with voters because she is not a career politician.

Trustee, Prairie State Community College District 515
Monica Gordon is the director of government affairs and community relations at Chicago State University. Gordon believes that Prairie State College is an economic engine for the Southland. Her platform includes a focus on economic development, with an emphasis on workforce development, opportunities in logistics and manufacturing as well as skilled trades opportunities. Gordon wants to bring partnerships and apprenticeships to Prairie State College, as well as strengthen the dual enrollment programs offered to high school students in the Southland.

Supervisor, Rich Township Calvin Jordan has been a resident of Olympia Fields for 27 years and has served in Rich Township government for 20 years. He is currently a Rich Township Democratic Committeeman. His experience also includes working as special assistance to the Cook County Board President John H. Stroger. He said he wants to see good things take place in government, wants to help people and make a difference. Jordan said working with Rich Township, which consists of 10 municipalities, is a passion of his. Part of his platform is to educate and inform residents of the resources available in the Township.

Clerk, Rich Township
Arlene “Sugar” Al-Amin was appointed Commissioner of the Community Relations Commission of The Village of Flossmoor in 2020. Al-Amin has also served as Deputy Registrar under former Illinois State Senator James T. Meeks, who represented the 15th District. She is a registered Youth Mental Health First Aid Counselor, who considers herself a devoted public servant.

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