Thornton Township Trustee Appointment Sparks Controversy Amid Supervisor’s Absence

SOUTH HOLLAND, Ill. — Thornton Township Supervisor Tiffany Henyard expressed disappointment Wednesday after the board appointed Stephanie Wiedeman as interim trustee during a contentious special meeting Tuesday night. Henyard, who was absent from the meeting, criticized the process, claiming it violated township code.

Wiedeman, who previously served under the late Supervisor Frank Zuccarelli, was fired by Henyard three years ago. She received the majority vote to fill the vacancy left by Jerry Jones, who resigned in October. Wiedeman will serve until May 2025, when new trustees are sworn in following the April 1 election.

“You don’t pour your entire adult life into 17 communities for somebody else to come in, and watch it fall apart,” Wiedeman said after her appointment. She emphasized her commitment to representing residents, stating, “I am going to be the voice of the residents. That means I’m on the side of what I think is best for the collective.”

The appointment process has been fraught with tension. Trustees Chris Gonzalez and Carmen Carlisle boycotted meetings for months, preventing Henyard from appointing a trustee within the required 60-day window. This stalemate disrupted township operations, including bus services, building access, and insurance payments.

Gonzalez defended the board’s actions, stating, “We weren’t going backwards. There’s no way we were stepping back.” He added that the trustees consulted with attorneys to ensure the process was legal.

Henyard, who lost a recent Democratic Party caucus to Illinois state Sen. Napoleon Harris, has faced ongoing criticism over her spending and leadership. Her absence from the special election further fueled tensions within the community.

Despite the controversy, residents expressed optimism about Wiedeman’s appointment. “She was one of the ones that worked under Frank Zuccarelli, and we were great under Frank,” said Thornton Township elector Randy Smith.

Wiedeman has stated she does not plan to run in the upcoming election, leaving the future of the trustee position uncertain as the township works to resolve its ongoing challenges.