At the first Dolton Village Board meeting since Mayor Tiffany Henyard lost the Democratic primary for reelection, a sense of peace washed over many attendees.

Henyard was absent from Monday’s meeting at the Dolton Park District Field House, leaving Trustee Jason House, the Democratic nominee for mayor, to lead. He guided the approval of settlements of several lawsuits brought against Henyard and the village, as well as contract agreements with union workers.

“This board is about making sure that we listen to the residents and we are able to actually take things and put them into action,” House said.

The board members in attendance — Tammie Brown, Stan Brown, Brittney Norwood and Kiana Belcher — expressed their support for House and excitement for the village’s future.

House received 3,896 votes, or 88%, to 536 votes for Henyard, according to unofficial results from the Cook County clerk’s office. The winner of the Democratic primary will face independent candidate Casundra Hopson-Jordan in the April 1 election.

“Eighty-eight percent is an avalanche, not a landslide,” Belcher said, to a chorus of laughter and applause.

Norwood led a field of seven candidates running for three Village Board seats with 3,554 votes, while Belcher had 3,414 and former Trustee Edward “Ed” Steave had 3,335 votes, according to unofficial results. All are members of House’s Clean House 2025 slate.

The trustee candidates running with Henyard were well behind, with Joslyn King at 653 votes, Linda Terrell at 618, and Vanessa R. Wesco with 536 votes, unofficial results show.

Henyard has not spoken publicly since losing the Dolton primary, but in social media posts has written that she is “going to keep winning.”

“Trust the process. Watch my comeback. Stay tuned,” Henyard wrote Thursday on Facebook. “Wait y’all thought I was finish — hell no.”

Henyard has been under federal investigation, with subpoenas delivered to Dolton Village Hall and Thornton Township offices last spring. Henyard is township supervisor but faces a challenge in getting elected to a full term, having been blocked from being part of the Democratic caucus that instead chose state Sen. Napoleon Harris as its candidate.

Henyard did not immediately respond Tuesday to requests for comment from the Daily Southtown.

In unanimous approvals, the board designated certain village property Class 8, intending space for commercial business, as well as approved bargaining agreements with the firefighters’ union and Police Department record technicians.

Dolton firefighters’ Local 3766 has spoken out about working without a contract during Henyard’s tenure, citing a dysfunctional negotiation process. They also filed a lawsuit the board settled Monday to resolve all pending grievances and matters before the Labor Relations Board.

The board agreed to settle two other lawsuits that together will cost the village close to $100,000. In a Freedom of Information Act case brought by Nexstar Media, the village agreed to pay a judgment of about $52,000. In another case brought by Karen Johnson, the village settled for $35,000.

The board also overrode a veto from Henyard that prevented it from issuing a liquor license to Pablo’s Cafe and Bar on Sibley Boulevard. Village attorney Michael McGrath said House was given court approval to issue the license due to Henyard’s unwillingness to comply with court orders.

“Unfortunately, the next board … (is) going to be faced with cleaning up a number of matters that were inherited from the current administration,” McGrath said.

House agreed with this sentiment and encouraged Dolton residents to remain engaged in government affairs beyond Henyard’s controversial tenure. He said he was encouraged by voter turnout in the Feb. 25 primary, which saw about 4,500 votes compared with about 2,900 in 2021.

“A more engaged community brings more dollars, and Lord knows we’re going to need some of those,” House said.

An array of speakers congratulated House and his slate during public comment, and expressed hope for a clean slate in Dolton village government.

Resident Elaine Wheatley called House a “man of character” and encouraged the community to rally behind him while “throwing away all unforgiveness, bitterness and resentment” toward Henyard’s administration and its supporters.

“Let us not esteem past discrepancies, unlawful actions and unwise leadership,” Wheatley said. “Let us believe that the atmosphere has shifted and the light is shining brightly over Dolton.”

ostevens@chicagotribune .com