December 31st 2024.
Calumet City is facing a legal battle as the city moves forward with its plan to sue their elected clerk, despite efforts from council members to dismiss the case. The council members, including James Patton, Monet Wilson, DeJuan Gardner, and Michael Navarrete, voted to override Mayor Thaddeus Jones' veto of their previous decision to dismiss the case during a special meeting on Monday. However, their override needed the support of at least five members, and they were unable to garner the support of DeAndre Tillman, Anthony Smith, and Ramonde Williams.
Tensions have been rising between Mayor Jones and City Clerk Nyota Figgs for some time now, with Figgs recently opposing Jones' reelection in 2025. Figgs had also filed a claim stating that Jones was not eligible to serve as mayor due to a city referendum passed in 2021. However, the city's electoral board dismissed this claim, and Figgs has now appealed to Cook County circuit court.
During a hearing on Monday, Figgs dropped a residency challenge against Jones. The case against Figgs alleges that she got rid of city records without proper authorization shortly after Jones was elected as mayor in 2021. "Figgs surreptitiously and without approval from the mayor or city council disposed of and destroyed approximately two truckloads of the city's records without any legal authority to do so whatsoever," the lawsuit claims.
Figgs' lawyer, Jim Kelley, has stated that Figgs had received approval to dispose of the documents in question. He also mentioned that Jones had filed the lawsuit against Figgs without proper council approval, which is a crucial step despite the mayor's position as the lead decision maker in legal matters for the city. Furthermore, Figgs believes that Jones is filing this lawsuit in retaliation to a lawsuit she had previously filed against him. She also claims that city officials have stated they would drop their case if she dropped hers. "If I make that go away, then he'll make this go away - because it was done in retaliation," Figgs explained.
Patton, who is challenging Jones in the 2025 Democratic Primary for mayor, was leading the aldermen who called for a special meeting on December 4th to dismiss the lawsuit against Figgs. However, they were unable to hold the meeting in the council chambers as the mayor had sent a notice earlier that day stating that the meeting had to be canceled due to emergency pest control and water piping issues within the building. Patton had anticipated interference from the mayor and had informed his office that the council would hold the meeting outside if he refused to cooperate.
Jones denied any involvement in the barricading of the building or the cancellation of the meeting, and he claimed that the council did not have the authority to dismiss cases brought by the city. "Only the mayor can direct legal work on behalf of the city, OK, not City Council," Jones clarified.
Despite his veto, the council members proceeded with their decision to dismiss the case, leading to Monday's vote to override the veto. Figgs was not surprised that the three aldermen who voted against the dismissal were closely aligned with Jones and his administration.
The case was initially set for trial in early December but was postponed after Cook County Judge Alison Conlon recused herself due to a potential conflict of interest. She had previously distributed literature for Jones when he was running as a state representative in 2016. The case is now scheduled to return to court on February 20th, according to court records.
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