Former Dalton Mayor Faces Legal Issues Following Controversial Tenure
The ex-mayor of Dalton, Tiffany Henyard, who once referred to herself as the “super mayor,” is now embroiled in legal troubles after a series of scandals. Following her recent electoral defeat, she’s been summoned to appear in court for a hearing related to her failure to provide official records from her time in office.
Earlier this year, the Edgar County Watchdogs filed a lawsuit against both Henyard and the village of Dalton. They claim the administration neglected to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests and didn’t prepare necessary financial records.
Henyard has faced scrutiny for her handling of records during her administration and has previously been brought before the court concerning transparency laws governing elected officials. In a statement, the lawyer for the Edgar County Watchdogs expressed concern about the implications of Henyard’s actions, saying that significant revelations regarding corruption in Illinois need to be addressed to protect the state’s reputation.
At a recent hearing, Henyard reportedly stated that while she was the public face of the village, she was not responsible for maintaining the records. The lawyer for both Henyard and the village of Dalton didn’t provide immediate comments when requested.
Last month marked the end of Henyard’s controversial term with the swearing in of Jason House as the new mayor. It’s worth noting that Henyard also lost her bid for reelection as the Thornton Township supervisor to Illinois Senator Napoleon Harris.
In April 2024, Henyard was highlighted in the news when the FBI issued a subpoena at Dalton Village Hall, a move linked to corruption allegations against local officials. While she hasn’t been charged, the village trustee decided to hire former Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot to investigate her administration. Lightfoot’s findings indicated a significant decrease in the village’s general fund, dropping from a $5.6 million balance to a $3.6 million deficit.
A federal subpoena was also issued in February, coinciding with the day Henyard lost the mayoral primary, related to a development project involving land owned by her boyfriend. Henyard is expected to appear in court again soon.
