Dismissals and rulings keep Napoleon Harris and Thaddeus Jones on ballots

Thornton Township has settled which candidates for supervisor will appear on the April 1 ballot, as objectors to Democratic nominee and state Sen. Napoleon Harris dropped their challenge Monday.

Michael Smith and Keith Price, who is food assistance program manager in Supervisor Tiffany Henyard’s township administration, objected to nominating petitions of numerous candidates running for supervisor or trustee in April.

Supervisor candidates knocked off the ballot include Sidney Moore and Stafford Owens. Nate Fields also was removed by the township electoral board, but its decision was overturned by a Cook County Judge John Tully. Others on the ballot for supervisor are Harvey Mayor Christopher Clark, as a Reform Thornton Township Party candidate, and Republican Richard Nolan.

Smith and Price filed their challenge to Harris’ candidacy after Harris won the party seat for supervisor during a caucus he presided over in his role as Thornton Township Democratic committeeman. He beat out Henyard, prompting her to file a lawsuit, dismissed last month, seeking another caucus.

During a township electoral board hearing Friday, Smith and Price, through their attorneys, argued Harris is not a Thornton Township resident, as is required to serve on the township board, but rather lives in the Flossmoor in Bloom Township. Harris’ defense was expected to continue next week, until the objectors withdrew their challenges Monday morning.

Burt Odelson, one of the attorneys representing Harris, said the withdrawal affirms that Harris belongs on the ballot.

“The election will now take place where is should be, at the polls, and by the people,” Odelson said in a written statement.

Keri-Lyn Krafthefer, an attorney representing Smith and Price in their objection to Harris, said they withdrew the challenge due to the short timeframe they had to make their case and their inability to receive testimony from Harris.

Krafthefer said objectors stand by their argument that Harris lives in Flossmoor, not in Harvey.

“We believe the constituents know where he lives, so they’re going to have to determine whether they want somebody who doesn’t live in Thornton Township as Thornton Township supervisor,” Krafthefer said.

Within the township, Calumet City Mayor Thaddeus Jones, who is challenged in the Democratic primary Feb. 25, recently won his case against an objector claiming he is unable to serve both in the Illinois House of Representatives and as mayor.

Calumet City Clerk Nyota Figgs, running on a slate with Jones’ challenger for the mayor’s seat, 6th WardAld. James Patton, filed the objection that was first dismissed by the city’s electoral board and on Thursday dismissed by Cook County Judge Araceli R. De La Cruz.

Figgs claimed an Illinois Supreme Court ruling on Jones’ eligibility to run in 2021, a referendum not certified until after the election, would disqualify Jones from serving as mayor once he sought reelection. However, the General Assembly, aided by Jones in his role as state representative, passed a law nullifying the referendum.

Figgs did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday. Jones called the ruling “good news for the residents,” and said efforts to undermine his right to seek reelection amounted to “a smoke screen.”

“We’re running a strong campaign, and I know we’re going to have a strong showing,” Jones said. “I’m confident that my team is going to win. We’re making sure we move Calumet City in the right direction.”

ostevens@chicagotribune.com