Five of the seven City Council seats in Calumet City are contested in the February Democratic primary, and officials will now consider challenges to petition filings including for Mayor Thaddeus Jones.
City Clerk Nyota Figgs alleges the mayor is ineligible to run for reelection due to a 2021 referendum passed to prevent municipal office holders from also serving as a state legislator, and claiming Jones’ primary residence is not in Calumet City. Jones has been state representative since 2011.
Figgs, who is running for reelection as clerk, said she believes Jones’ role in state government has created barriers to holding him accountable at the municipal level since his elected as mayor in 2021. The referendum brought similar challenges to Jones’ candidacy during that first bid, but the Illinois Supreme Court ruled Jones’ spot on the ballot was secure.
“Very dishonest and unethical things are happening,” Figgs said Wednesday.
The clerk said she has repeatedly reported what she sees as illegal actions taken by Jones to various state departments but believes they have been blocked due to the state representative’s connections in Springfield.
Figgs said she believes previous challenges to Jones’ filing failed for reasons that will not apply this year, notably that the referedum barring a candidate for mayor if they hold state office was certified after Jones had filed to run for mayor.
Jones attempted to overturn the ordinance put in place by the referendum last month, but the measure did not receive enough council approval, Figgs said.
Jones has pushed back against the challenge, Figgs said, by filing a challenge of his own via city auditor Alyssia Benford against the clerk’s eligibility to run. The challenge claims Figgs does not reside in Calumet City, but at an address in North Chicago.
Figgs said she has never been to the address, much less lived there, and said it show Jones is “just trying to throw dirt any way that he can.”
Jones did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The city’s electoral board met for the first time Sunday and began discussion of petitions, but did not take action.
Sixth Ward Ald. James Patton, an outspoken critic of Jones’ administration, is the only candidate challenging Jones in the Democratic primary for mayor, according to filings. Those outside of the major parties have until Monday to file petitions for the April general election.
Alds. Michael Navarrete, Monet Wilson, Dejuan Gardner and Anthony Smith are fighting to keep their seats. Navarrete faces a challenge from Shalisa Haervey, Wilson faces a challenge from Erica Jenkins, Gardner from Roger Munda and Smith from Melissa Phillips.
Alds. Deandre Tillman and Ramonde Williams also filed for reelection but are unopposed in the Democratic primary in their wards.
With Patton vacating his 6th Ward seat, those contending that post are Miacole Nelson and Garnadette Stuckey. Challenging Figgs for city clerk is Cassandra Holbert Elston and challenging incumbent treasurer Gerald Tarka is Aradia Clark.
ostevens@chicagotribune.com