Former Dalton Mayor Launches Autobiography Amid Legal Troubles

The ex-mayor of Dalton, Tiffany Henyard, who gained notoriety as a “super mayor,” has just announced her new business initiative, even as her legal challenges from her time in office continue to escalate.

Henyard, a former Democratic leader, revealed she’s working on an autobiography titled “Standing on Business.” In a post on Facebook, she hinted that “The Real Story Is Coming,” while providing a link for pre-orders of her book.

She mentioned the journey from her mother’s activism to her experiences with history-making events: “It’s not just showing up; she’s in business.” However, reactions from her constituents have been mixed, showing signs of skepticism toward her newest endeavor.

One commenter on the Dolton Politics Facebook Page expressed frustration, saying, “We’re still fussing money!” Another chimed in that “Michelle Obama’s bestseller was cheaper than this mess.” There were more comments questioning her credibility, with one person noting, “A gal who hasn’t been exonerated!”

While Henyard’s attorney didn’t immediately provide a comment, her announcement comes at a time when she faces several legal worries related to her role as mayor and her subsequent attempts to secure reelection.

Earlier this month, she filed her fifth complaint at a court hearing addressing alleged misconduct linked to her tenure. Her lawyer, Beau Bridley, remarked that a smear campaign against Henyard was ongoing, even after her departure from office.

Henyard had a previous run-in with the law for not providing public documents requested in a lawsuit. Her attorney acknowledged that they did not have the requested documents, leading an Illinois judge to involve Henyard’s legal team in submitting affidavits instead.

Bridley explained, “The mayor has no documents sought by the plaintiff. This issue will be resolved in a simple affidavit. The hearing didn’t reveal much.”

The lawsuit stems from a complaint by the Edgar County Watch Office, claiming Henyard failed to produce financial records for Dalton after the documents were requested under federal law.

Edward “Coach” Winehouse, the attorney for the watchdog, commented on the situation, noting that invoking the Fifth Amendment during criminal investigations complicates matters. He stated the organization would continue to seek documents, even as they suspect that vital records might have been discarded by the mayor.

Henyard initially made headlines in April 2024 when her administration was subpoenaed by the FBI amid a corruption investigation. Still, she has not faced any charges related to the inquiry.

In light of the FBI investigation, village council members opted to have Chicago Mayor Lori oversee an investigation into Henyard’s spending. Financial reports suggested that the village had faced a significant drop in its bank accounts, plunging from $5.6 million to a deficit of $3.6 million.

Earlier this year, Henyard lost the mayoral primary to Jason House, who officially took office in May. Coinciding with her election defeat, federal authorities issued a summons for records connected to a development project involving her boyfriend.