A Dolton trustee officially launched his campaign for mayor on Sunday.
Dolton Senior Village Trustee Jason House's candidacy is part of a team effort of former and current trustees all running in opposition to incumbent Mayor Tiffany Henyard.
Former and current elected leaders are hoping to change the tide of Dolton politics by launching a joint effort against current Henyard under the slogan, "Clean House 2025."
"We need a clean house in 2025, not a hen yard," said Dolton Village Clerk Alison Key.
House is leading the team, kicking off his campaign on Sunday.
"Today, I'm here to proudly announce my candidacy for mayor of Dolton," House said. "We have to change the narrative around Dolton, and that begins today. We're going to have balance budgets, and those balanced budgets will account for all the mismanagement we've seen over the last years. No more first-class trips. No more security detail. We're going to save this town $1 million a year with one fatal swoop."
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The lifelong Dolton resident was recently named mayor pro tempore amid the turmoil surrounding Henyard, who has been accused of misusing public funds. Henyard is currently the focus of a federal investigation.
On Sunday, House was joined by a slate of other candidates running to "changing the narrative" from Henyard's administration that they say has cast a dark shadow on the village.
"We've been locked out. We've been lied to. We've been stolen from as a community by the current mayor and administration, and this must stop," said Dolton Trustee Kiana Belcher.
The five candidates all spoke at the Free-N-Deed Market food pantry in Dolton, campaigning on the platform of transparency and community with the hope of reinvigorating the local economy.
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"Together with my colleagues on the board, we have been steadfast in our efforts to stop the gross mismanagement and abuse of power that people have seen in the village today," House said. "We have a winning team. Our team will be changing the narrative around the village of Dolton, and we will be restoring order, decency and dignity to this community."
Dolton residents that attended Sunday's campaign event feel more hopeful under the potential of a House administration.
"I'm very excited to hear that we're trying to bring ourselves back to that form of community where everybody is included, everybody feels heard and people feel safe," said Dolton resident Kimberly Haynes.
ABC7 reached out to Henyard multiple times, but has not yet heard back.
The next Dolton mayoral election is set for April 2025 after the February 2025 primary.
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