Will County Gazette

The Chicago Tribune Editorial Board has lambasted state Rep. Thaddeus Jones (D-South Holland) for holding too much power and being under criminal investigation.

"We have two problems with the Democratic incumbent, Thaddeus Jones of Calumet City," the Board said. "First, he’s under criminal investigation for tax issues involving his campaign funds, the Tribune reported earlier this year. No charges have been filed yet. Second, he’s a double-dipper - along with receiving a paycheck as a state legislator, he’s also on the municipal payroll as mayor of Calumet City.”

Jones was issued a grand jury subpoena by a U.S. attorney’s office in January seeking records on three campaign funds controlled by him.

Republican Jeff Coleman, who is facing Jones in the general election, has been campaigning in Will County "knocking on some doors out in Beecher and have had some meet and greets with board member Judy Ogalla in Peotone and Manteno," Coleman said.

 According to his campaign webste, for over 20 years, Coleman has worked with minority groups and has connected with many people during the campaign because he believes "you have to go and do a lot of listening and less talking." Coleman is also part of an initiative called the Black Voters Project, which seeks to inform Black voters about the issues and have them focus on candidates instead of parties.

Calumet City Alderman Monet Wilson unsuccessfully challenged Jones in the 29th district in the Democratic primary in June. She noted her family's history in the Civil Rights movement and said she was running "as an advocate for good government." Noting Jones's multiple roles, Wilson said, "He cannot have complete power. He doesn't know what to do with it. He's the state rep. He's the mayor and now he's running for committeeman at Thornton Township." 

Jones has been accused of misappropriating campaign funds. He was chastised over his handling of allegations of embezzlement at the library, and Jones locked a city employee out of the building after having a feud with him. Wilson added that she doesn't "want to see someone just holding their seat and not doing anything with it."

Wilson expressed her election integrity concerns in the 29th House district. "[Jones'] wife is a consultant for the library .... And now he has appointed state Rep. Rita Mayfield to be library director right before early voting and it’s just suspect to us. We want to make sure that this election is not stolen. Everything should go to our city clerk and not a state representative who appears on the ballot ... Because Rita Mayfield is the library director she holds the keys to the doors of the library opening and closing ... where (balloting) will take place." 

An anonymous whistle-blower from the library said that five staffers from the Calumet City Public Library have quit since Mayfield became director, that much of the budget does not go toward books and DVDs, and that Mayfield frequently leaves early.