Former mayor of Dalton, Illinois, Tiffany Henyard, is reported to have been living in Georgia while serving in her role in 2025.
After losing her re-election bid, Henyard began campaigning as a Republican for the South Fulton County District 5 seat on the Fulton County Commission.
Recently, she attended a special meeting of the Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections to discuss her eligibility ahead of the May 19 primary election.
According to county regulations, candidates need to reside in the area for at least 12 months prior to running for office.
During the meeting, Henyard asserted that she became a legal resident of Fulton County on May 1, 2025.
However, Commissioner Julie Adams pointed out that Henyard was still mayor until May 4, 2025, when she officially resigned.
“Do you realize you need to be a resident of Cook County to hold office there?” Adams asked. “You were mayor until May 4, but you became a Georgia resident on May 1.”
“Okay,” Henyard replied.
She described her situation as a “lame duck” after losing the February primary to Dalton City Trustee Jason House and having to move out of state.
“But you were still the mayor, correct?” Adams reiterated.
“Yes, my title was mayor,” Henyard said.
Another board member, Douglas Selby, noted that Henyard seems to still be registered to vote in Illinois.
The Board of Elections then voted 3-1 to approve her residency claims for running in the Fulton County Commission race.
Henyard did not address inquiries about whether she continued to receive payments from Dalton while serving as mayor and Thornton County Trustee.
Illinois law mandates that mayors live within their municipality during their term.
Public records indicate that Henyard received $12,007 from Thornton Township while holding the mayoral position from March 7 to May 2, 2025, and about $8,600 in the first two weeks of May while she was meant to be relocating to Georgia.
She has faced criticism, with some dubbing her “America’s worst mayor,” due to allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement of village funds.
A financial review reportedly showed Dalton Village’s bank account dwindled from $5.6 million to a $3.6 million deficit.
Amid accusations of corruption, residents claimed she used village funds for personal expenses, including thousands for hair and makeup, as well as luxury trips to Las Vegas.
