As Ford Heights works to recover from its previous mayor’s embezzlement conviction and resignation, five candidates are working to become the impoverished village’s next elected leader.
They include interim Mayor Freddie Wilson, who was appointed after Charles Griffin was forced to step down from his post in September, and Annie Coulter, who was mayor from 2017 to 2021, in between Griffin’s two terms. Longtime Trustee Antonia McMichaels and former Trustees LaDell Jones and Scottie Hatten are also running.
Jones and Coulter told the Daily Southtown they hope to address high water bills, property tax woes and lack of economic opportunities in the village of fewer than 2,000 people. Wilson declined to be interviewed about his campaign and goals for a full term, and Hatten and McMichaels could not be reached.
Village attorney Mike Stuttley said when Wilson first took office, residents were paying about $60 per month for their water.
The village owes about $2 million to Chicago Heights, which supplies Ford Heights’ water. Chicago Heights has tried to collect the money owed for about a decade, including suing Ford Heights. Stuttley said at Wednesday’s meeting a circuit court dismissed the most recent lawsuit, and the village settled a lawsuit brought by Ford Heights Elementary District 169 also related to water issues.
Stuttley said the village has since been sued by two other entities.
Wilson has blamed Coulter for failing to pay money owed to Chicago Heights during her administration. Coulter pushed back against the claim, saying Wednesday that when she entered office, she inherited debt leftover from Griffin’s administration as well as a $30,000 settlement from an earlier Chicago Heights lawsuit.
“I was paying the water bill up until COVID hit,” Coulter said.
Another $250,000 of Cook County COVID-19 relief funding went to Chicago Heights as well, she said.
Coulter said Wilson “doesn’t know beans from soup.” She said absolving the village’s debts would be a top priority, along with recruiting lobbyists to advocate for state support to the community.
“I have a lot to do, and at least this time I know more about where I’m going, what I’ve got to do,” Coulter said.
Jones said his approach would be to “clean up” Ford Heights, beautifying the village while also putting a stop to corrupt practices on the board.
Both Coulter and Jones brought up Wilson and other board members’ ties to Griffin, and at Wednesday’s meeting a member of the public called out the board for failing to remove Griffin from the village bank account in the months following his conviction and resignation. The Village Board agreed to draft a resolution to remove Griffin from the account next month.
Jones said he suspected incumbent board members have used their positions to take advantage of a village housing rehabilitation program that kicked off during Griffin’s first term, which he would put an end to as mayor. The program aims to renovate vacant properties and offer them as affordable housing to residents.
Jones said he would work to lower property taxes for homeowners by ensuring businesses are paying their fair share and working to make the community a more desirable place for people to move. He and Coulter both said they would prioritize bringing back a village police department, which was dissolved more than a decade ago.
“We must take care of our own,” Jones said. “We must try to get our own police department. I know they say we can’t afford to, but I’m saying we can’t afford not to.”
Cook County patrols the community, which Jones and Coulter said suffers from high crime rates that prevent economic development.
In addition to a crowded mayoral race, six candidates are seeking three 4-year trustee positions. Tyrese Andrews is seeking reelection, and new candidates are James E. Morgan, Tiffany Larue, Lorenzo Nichols, Stacey Perry and Tracy C. McDowell.
Jones said members of his slate include Larue, Morgan and Nichols. Germaine Hooks is running unopposed for a 2-year stint as trustee, and Clerk Nyree Ford is seeking reelection without a challenger.
Four candidates are seeking two 4-year park board seats: James Coleman, Leland Hooks, Anthony Cunnigan and Joseph J. Tooks. Tooks is part of Jones’ slate. Kimberly Griffin and Patrice Eason are facing off for the 6-year term.
ostevens@chicagotribune.com
