South Holland, Ill. (ECWd) –
Thornton Township Supervisor Tiffany Henyard streamed a live video this evening from the comfort of her soon-to-be-former office at Thornton Township.
Henyard’s video from today was nothing but unlawful electioneering by urging people to vote for her as the village of Dolton Mayor, her slate, and candidates from other local races, while sitting behind her desk in Thornton Township’s building.
Watch the video clips below.
This isn’t the first time, and probably won’t be the last, but it needs to stop.
She has previously used the township BINGO games to electioneer, used a food give-a-way paid for by the township for campaign purposes, used the Township’s Facebook page for electioneering, electioneered with Cook County Judge Renee Jackson at a township event, cut an electioneering video from inside the Mayor’s office, and frequently urges people to vote for her while chairing public meetings.
We urge any resident voter to file a complaint with the Thornton Township Ethics Commission or Officer and demand an immediate public hearing on this unlawful electioneering. The law requires it.
Electioneering is frowned upon, and there are even laws designed to prevent it, such as the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act which also applies to local governments.
The Ethics Act defines “prohibited political activities” prohibits their activities in Section 5-15, which local governments are required to adopt:
- State employees shall not intentionally misappropriate any State property or resources by engaging in any prohibited political activity for the benefit of any campaign for elective office or any political organization
- At no time shall any executive or legislative branch constitutional officer or any official, director, supervisor, or State employee intentionally misappropriate the services of any State employee by requiring that State employee to perform any prohibited political activity (i) as part of that employee’s State duties, (ii) as a condition of State employment, or (iii) during any time off that is compensated by the State (such as vacation, personal, or compensatory time off)
Using the physical office to urge people to vote for her and others for the upcoming elections should be considered electioneering and misappropriation of public property.
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