Thornton Township Swears In New Supervisor

Napoleon Harris III was recently sworn in as Thornton Township Supervisor. Photo provided by Thornton Township.
Napoleon Harris III was recently sworn in as Thornton Township Supervisor. Photo provided by Thornton Township.

Thornton Township Swears In New Supervisor

By Tia Carol Jones

Thornton Township has a new supervisor. Napoleon B. Harris III was sworn into office on Monday, May 19th, at the Thornton Township Hall. Harris, who also serves as an Illinois State Senator, received 73.77% percent of the vote, according to the Cook County Clerk’s Office.

Thornton Township encompasses Blue Island, Burnham, Calumet City, Dixmoor, Dolton, East Hazel Crest, Glenwood, Harvey, Hazel Crest, Homewood, Lansing, Markham, Phoenix, Posen, Riverdale, South Holland and Thornton. According to the 2020 Census, the recorded population of the township is 157,865.

During his speech, Harris talked about growing up in Dixmoor and graduating from Thornton High School. He said that his election as Supervisor meant that every voice on every block in every neighborhood of the township had been heard. He said his election is a celebration and a coming together and that, together, the Thornton Township was moving forward.

“I’m honored beyond words to stand here before you as the newly elected Township Supervisor,” he said. His election was a victory for the residents of Thornton Township, he said.

Harris proudly proclaimed that he is the first African American elected Thornton Township Supervisor. His predecessor was appointed after the death of the previous Thornton Township Supervisor Frank M. Zuccarelli. He said that Thornton Township belongs to the seniors who live in the community, who built the community and deserve to be treated with dignity, and the youth, who are searching for opportunities and direction. He said that the moment belonged to working families in the township, small business owners and neighbors who believe that local government should be about service and not status.

“We come from all different walks of life, we speak in different voices, we live in different parts of the township, whether it is from Dolton or South Holland, Harvey to Lansing, Calumet City to Phoenix, Markham to Dixmoor, make no mistake about it, we are one community,” he said.

 Harris said that being an athlete taught him about working together with others and persevering through adversity. He encouraged people who are facing tough times and adversity to persevere. He said township government was created to be closest to the people and to respond to the needs quickly, to serve the people with compassion and to build stronger communities from the ground up. Harris said that he and the newly elected board would provide the best possible service they can.

 “As your Supervisor, I will lead with open ears, open doors and an open heart. I will work every single day to bring people together to find a common ground, and to listen more than I speak, to build bridges where there were once walls,” he said.

Harris said that he and the board will serve every corner of the township, try to uplift every voice and create programs for every age group and future, doing it side by side, with residents and the community government, to move things forward.

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