Five of Calumet City’s seven City Council seats are contested in February’s Democratic main, and officers will now think about challenges to the submitting of petitions, together with one for Mayor Thaddeus Jones.
City Clerk Nyota Figgs claims the mayor is ineligible to run for re-election on account of a referendum handed in 2021 to forestall municipal workplace holders from additionally serving as a state legislator and claims Jones’ main residence just isn’t in Calumet City . Jones has been a state consultant since 2011.
Figgs, who’s working for re-election as clerk, stated he believes Jones’ position in state authorities has created limitations to holding him accountable on the municipal degree since he was elected mayor in 2021. The referendum introduced related challenges to the candidacy of Jones throughout that first bid, however the Illinois Supreme Court dominated that Jones’ place on the poll was safe.
“There are very dishonest and unethical issues occurring,” Figgs stated Wednesday.
The worker stated she has repeatedly reported what she considers unlawful actions taken by Jones to varied state departments, however believes they have been blocked due to the state consultant’s connections in Springfield.
Figgs stated he believes earlier challenges to Jones’ candidacy have failed for causes that will not apply this yr, significantly the truth that the referendum barring a candidate for mayor if he holds statewide workplace was licensed after Jones had filed an software to run for mayor.
Jones tried to overturn the ordinance put in place by referendum final month, however the measure didn’t obtain sufficient approval from the council, Figgs stated.
Jones rejected the problem, Figgs stated, submitting a problem of his personal via City Auditor Alyssia Benford in opposition to the clerk’s eligibility to run. The problem states that Figgs doesn’t reside in Calumet City, however at an tackle in North Chicago.
Figgs stated she has by no means been to the tackle, a lot much less lived there, and stated it exhibits Jones is “simply making an attempt to throw filth any method he can.”
Jones didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark. The metropolis’s election committee met for the primary time Sunday and started discussing the petitions, however took no motion.
Sixth Ward Ald. James Patton, an outspoken critic of the Jones administration, is the one candidate difficult Jones within the Democratic main for mayor, in response to courtroom filings. Those exterior the most important events have till Monday to petition for April’s normal election.
Alds. Michael Navarrete, Monet Wilson, Dejuan Gardner and Anthony Smith are preventing to maintain their seats. Navarrete faces a problem from Shalisa Haervey, Wilson faces a problem from Erica Jenkins, Gardner from Roger Munda and Smith from Melissa Phillips.
Alds. Deandre Tillman and Ramonde Williams additionally filed for re-election, however confronted no opposition within the Democratic primaries of their wards.
With Patton vacating his seat within the sixth Ward, these vying for that seat are Miacole Nelson and Garnadette Stuckey. Figgs’ challenger for City Clerk is Cassandra Holbert Elston and incumbent Treasurer Gerald Tarka’s challenger is Aradia Clark.
ostevens@chicagotribune.com
