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OPINION: New mayors in Dolton, Robbins enlist Cook County political veterans Todd Stroger, Dorothy Brown

The SouthtownStar - 5/7/2021

May 6—A couple of newly elected south suburban mayors have tabbed well-known Cook County political operatives to help run their administrations.

Robbins Mayor-elect Darren E. Bryant intends to hire former Cook County Board President Todd Stroger to serve as village manager, while incoming Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard said former Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown is heading her transition team.

Henyard, 37, said she is the first woman and youngest person elected mayor of Dolton, a town of about 23,000 residents that was incorporated in 1893.

"I have to show I can lead," Henyard said Thursday. "With a woman it's a little different because we show love through our actions. My community needs that right now, especially coming out of the pandemic."

Henyard showed compassion during the campaign when she publicly extended get-well wishes to Mayor Riley Rogers when he had a stroke in February. Henyard defeated Rogers in the Feb. 23 Democratic primary and coasted with 82% of the vote over Dixmoor police Chief Ronald Burge in the April 6 election.

Henyard said she wants Dolton police officers to go door-to-door to conduct well-being checks at every residence in the village.

"We'll be putting foot patrols out in the community," she said.

Robert Collins Jr. will continue as police chief and Steven McCain will remain fire chief while Stacey Carrell will head the public works department, she said. She is reviewing applications and interview candidates for village manager, she said.

"I want to make sure I pick the right person," Henyard said.

Financial disclosures filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections showed Henyard's campaign paid Brown $5,000 between January and March for consulting services. Brown was Cook County Circuit Court clerk from 2000 to 2020.

"She's my transition manager, for a maximum of three to six months," Henyard said. "She's not going to work there, she's just going to help me get things in order."

Another top administrative hire will be choosing someone to run Dolton's water department, Henyard said. The new mayor said she intends to reach out to local legislators, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle to address Dolton's$8 million water debt to Chicago.

"We need to navigate the water crisis in Dolton," she said.

Chicago sued Dolton and Robbins in 2018 over unpaid water bills. The lawsuit alleged the villages diverted funds designated to pay water debt and used the money for other purposes.

"I'm going to go in Monday and take care of that by putting someone new in at the water department and formulate a plan for that department," she said.

Henyard and other newly elected village officials will be sworn in during a ceremony at 4 p.m. Saturday at Dolton Park, 721 Engle St.

Henyard said she looks forward to delivering residents better services and addressing infrastructure needs.

"We're going to show transparency and accountability," she said.

Henyard founded Good Burger, a restaurant company that has closed its Calumet City location after many years but will soon open a new location at South Suburban College in South Holland, she said.

Henyard is a lifelong Dolton resident, and Bryant is a lifelong Robbins resident, except for while he earned a bachelor's degree in physical education and health teaching from Kentucky State University, he said.

Bryant, 29, also earned a master's degree in educational administration at Governors State University in University Park, he said. He teaches physical education at Eisenhower High School in Blue Island, his alma mater.

"I think this election makes me the second-youngest mayor elected in Illinois and the youngest African American mayor elected in the state of Illinois," he said during a phone interview.

Bryant said his Google research is the basis for his claim. Matt Bogusz was 26 in 2013 when he was elected mayor of Des Plaines. A representative of the Illinois Municipal League said the organization does not track such information.

Bryant has been a trustee on the Robbins Village Board for the past four years and previously served two years on the town's park board, he said. Bryant said his vision is to unify the community of about 5,000 residents.

"Our greatest strength is our people and our history," Bryant said. "We are one of the most historic African American communities, not just in the state but the nation."

Robbins incorporated in 1917. Census figures showed 96% of the town's population is Black.

Bryant said he wants to encourage new commercial and residential developments in the village.

"We have a 41% non-homeownership rate in the village," he said. "We want to combat that by offering affordable housing."

Bryant said 38% of Robbins residents live in poverty.

"We have to offer resources to our citizens resources so they can attain a better life," he said.

Bryant wants to pursue county, state and federal grant funds to repair streets, replace water mains and make other infrastructure improvements. Stroger's connections with Cook County will help in those efforts, Bryant said.

"Todd brings expertise, knowledge and a level of professionalism needed to move this village forward," Bryant said. "He also possesses a network base that we can tap into to make sure we can secure those funds we need for infrastructure and things of that nature."

Under Preckwinkle, Cook County has sought to address systemic inequality by devoting greater attention to economic development programs and funding for infrastructure in the south suburbs.

"I think the first step to leverage county resources was to hire Todd," Bryant said. "Bringing him in will automatically connect us with people at the county level that he still has connections with to secure those funds."

Stroger, 58, told the Chicago Tribune he looks forward to starting in the $74,000-a-year village manager position after Bryant is sworn in May 11.

"The city needs a face-lift, it needs some tender loving care and I think we'll be able to help facilitate that by working with the county and state by getting some grant money, some organizations and the unions to help build the village up. And it does help to know people," Stroger told the Tribune.

Stroger was Cook County Board president from 2006 to 2010. He succeeded his late father, John Stroger, and preceded Preckwinkle. He co-hosted a radio show on WVON-AM and collected signatures to run for a seat on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Board in 2019 but withdrew from the race.

Ted Slowik is a columnist with the Daily Southtown.

tslowik@tribpub.com

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