Election results

For election results online, go to www.chicagotribune.com /daily-southtown/. Full coverage in Thursday’s Daily Southtown.

Voters in Calumet City, Dolton, Lynwood and Riverdale went to the polls Tuesday, casting votes that will help determine who sits in the mayor’s seat in those communities.

Democratic primaries will also narrow the field for municipal clerk, village trustees and city council members.

Dolton

In Dolton, Mayor Tiffany Henyard is challenged for a second term by Trustee Jason House.

Outside Diekman School, voters such as Loretta Barnes said they had gone sour on Henyard after supporting her when she first ran.

A 30-year resident, Barnes said she was supporting House this time around.

“When she first came around I voted for Tiffany because I thought she would be a good change after (former Mayor Riley Rogers),” Barnes said.

But she said her opinion of Henyard has shifted.

“She’s been bad news and I think we are in a real mess right now,” Barnes said.

Benjamin Willis, a 22-year Dolton resident, said he wasn’t convinced whether Henyard or House would be the best to run the village, but said a change is needed.

“I just think that the town has really gone downhill, a lot of businesses have closed up,” Willis said. “I don’t know if that’s all on the mayor or not.”

He said he’s tired of seeing the state of his town portrayed in media reports.

“I just hear so much bad news about her so maybe there’s something to it,” he said. “I voted for these other guys (House’s slate) mainly because of what I’ve heard.”

Outside the Dolton Park District’s Lester Long Fieldhouse, Janell Tracy said she was sticking by Henyard.

“Tiffany has done a lot of good things but nobody focusing on that,” she said.

Tracy said she’s seen streets and alleys improved under Henyard’s watch.

“The alley behind my house was a real mess, all broken up and stuff and you didn’t want to go down it, but it got fixed,” Tracy said.

Tracy said she’s aware of news reports about Dolton that give a dismal picture of the village’s financial condition and allegations of financial mismanagement by Henyard’s administration.

“I know there’s been a lot of bad stories about her but I don’t think it’s all her fault,” she said.

Calumet City

Calumet City voters are choosing between Thaddeus Jones, who was first elected in 2021, and challenger and Ald. James Patton for nomination for the mayor’s seat. Several people voting at Thornton Fractional North High School, the Calumet City Public Library and Everett Dirksen Middle School said they want change, but are uncertain about a change in leadership.

Some said they felt discouraged by political division in Calumet City and nearby municipalities including Dolton, making them more cautious about their ballots. Voters were quick to express frustrations about public spending and potential government corruption.

Peden Adeyemi said he typically doesn’t vote in local elections but was motivated to replace his 2nd Ward alderwoman, Monet Wilson, with a new face. Wilson is facing Erica France Jenkins, who is part of Jones’ slate, in the Democratic primary.

“It’s just a little corruption that I’ve been reading about,” Adeyemi said. “Just want to make a change — see if we can do something different.

Adeyemi said he voted to reelect Jones.

“I’m happy with the mayor,” he said.

Christiana Olagoke, at Caroline Sibley Elementary School, said she also voted for Jones but hopes in his second term to see improvements in public safety and a decrease in water bills.

“He’s a good guy,” Olagoke said, addressing the mayor directly as she added “if you can just do the right thing, we can make sure we did the right thing by voting for you again.”

Lynwood

In Lynwood, voters were a mixed bag when choosing between incumbent Jada Curry, the village’s first African American female mayor elected in 2021, and Detonya Armstrong, a registered nurse who has lived in the village for 10 years.

Supporters of Curry expressed satisfaction with the changes they’ve seen in the village over the past four years and want to see more progress under her leadership.

“I think she’s done an excellent job,” said Mike Ward, a 20-year resident. “She did a much better job than the last mayor that was here, and I think we need to keep voting for her.”

Armstrong’s supporters are calling for change.

Camillia Anderson voiced frustration over the sudden closure of the Southland Center, owned by the Ho-Chunk Nation, on Jan. 20, and she wished there had been better communication prior to the closure.

Riverdale

In Riverdale, outside Village Hall, there was a lively scene Tuesday afternoon as members of Michael Airhart’s mayoral campaign were ordered to remove their campaign signs from a median. After some shouting, the signs were taken down, only for Airhart’s team to put them back up shortly after.

Airhart expressed his desire for a clear ordinance on whether signs can be placed there, noting he had never faced issues in the past eight years.

“This is where everybody puts their stuff,” he said.

Airhart is challenging incumbent Lawrence Jackson, who was indicted in 2023 on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice in U.S. District Court. Jackson allegedly lied during a civil deposition about receiving secret funding for his trucking business from a powerful waste-hauling firm, according to federal prosecutors.

At the Riverdale Park District office, supporters of Jackson raised concerns about connections between Airhart’s campaign and Henyard in Dolton.

Saadia Williams, who voted for Airhart, said she believes Riverdale needs change and that Airhart is the right candidate.

“I want a mayor who will do more than just look out for those he has contracts with,” Williams said, referencing Jackson’s indictment.

Williams also emphasized the need for more community youth services and improved safety in the village.