People over politics: How Kiana Belcher is fighting the Southland political machine

Kiana Belcher prefers to rip the band-aid off and get to work. 

In her hometown Dolton, the trustee, elected in 2021 and re-elected in 2025, gained attention during a tumultuous tenure under former mayor Tiffany Henyard. It was marked by complaints over questionable spending, unethical practices, and a lack of accountability. 

The debacle catapulted the village — and Belcher — into the national spotlight; the years-long back-and-forth was all over the television news. Nearly a year after Henyard’s exit, Belcher’s impact still resonates across the region. “They’re like, ‘You’re the trustee from Dolton!” when she knocks on doors, she said.

Currently finishing her PhD in public policy and administration, Belcher’s campaigning again. This time, she’s running for the Cook County board’s 5th district in a race that eerily echoes the battles Belcher waged with Henyard.

“[…] it’s nothing that Kisha McCaskill’s got that I would want to mimic.” 

McCaskill’s family runs both the Harvey library and park districts. In 2018, Bellwood School District 88 terminated her after a report revealed McCaskill double-dipped, holding a full-time human resources job while Harvey Park District executive director. In that role, she is named in a lawsuit alleging McCaskill has blocked commissioners from serving.and her family as plaintiffs. In 2025, McCaskill was reported to county and state officials, accused of ghost payroll at Harvey library.

McCaskill, who’s backed by Henyard, did not respond to requests for comment.

“We pay for corruption. We don’t pay for services,” said Belcher, a numbers whiz who serves as finance chair in Dolton, where she draws upon her financial expertise working in the private sector. Belcher’s firebrand personality is politically anomalous. In the Southland, unethical behavior and corruption abound. While flagrant, electeds don’t typically lament it publicly. But “I don’t go along to get along,” she said. 

Her humility is just as uncommon for the region. During her first year in office, Belcher donated half of her village salary to locals to pay their water bills. You would never know unless you asked around. Bruce Martin has lived in Dolton for three years, having relocated from Homewood. Rising rents forced him out. Belcher, he said, helped him find rental housing in Dolton.

Make no mistake, Belcher doesn’t want to be a “thorn” in anyone’s side, she said. “I’m there to make sure good government is represented.” Now, she’s leveraging her reputation as a change agent to build a movement that rejects egoism, embraces unity, and brings critical county resources “back to the Southland.”

‘Not a self servant’

Belcher’s fervor for civic engagement and anti-corruption isn’t newfound or contrived. In 2007, she interned at the Dolton Police Department. “Nothing in here was based on merit,” she complained. “Everything was who you know. Everything was political.” So, she became engaged, going to board meetings. Bringing her story full circle, Belcher now chairs Dolton’s police and fire committee.

Friend and Dolton Mayor Jason House remembers Belcher’s early days. She’s always been blunt, House said. “I think she handles [conflict] with passion” and “with truth.” House added: “If you get her on your side, you’re lucky to have someone that will advocate for you with that level of intensity.”

She’s endorsed by Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-02) “because she’s a true progressive fighting for working families and will make life better and more affordable for Cook County residents,” Kelly said in a statement.

“I am a public servant — not a self servant,” Belcher said.

Property taxes are high. The return on investment is exorbitantly low: political representation isn’t responsive to community needs, Belcher said. While doorknocking, she’s discovered many residents don’t know what a county commissioner does — let alone knows the board exists. She wants to change that. 

“How do we look to make sure that our community gets these resources? And it shouldn’t only be at election time,” Belcher said.

Bucking politics as usual

In April 2025, Belcher exited the executive board of the Democrats of Thornton Township, the influential political fundraising organization that makes endorsements, shaping government life. She found herself disgusted with an environment that prioritizes friendships over helping others, according to Belcher. 

Dolton’s been awarded grant dollars, for instance, but “because I’m running for this seat, it has been mentioned several times that the money won’t be released from the current senator,” Belcher alleged, a jab at Sen. Napoleon Harris (15th), also the Thornton Township Supervisor and Democratic Committeemen. Local electeds are afraid to go against Harris’ wishes in fear his office will threaten to withhold funding, Belcher continued.

In a statement, Harris denied Belcher’s allegations, calling them “completely false and politically motivated.” Harris has endorsed McCaskill, and was part of the selection committee that appointed her to the seat she’s defending. 

“Harris maintains that his focus remains on serving the 15th District and ensuring communities receive the resources they need, regardless of local political dynamics,” the statement continued.

Belcher’s both audacious and pragmatic. “I’ll work with the sitting commissioner,” she said, referencing McCaskill. “I think she blocked me, so the time I did call for something, I didn’t get it […],” Belcher said. And the need for collaboration — regardless of political ties — is evidenced across the region.

Laura Matthews is a part-time crossing guard. Cane in hand, the Dolton native helps tweens from Lincoln Elementary School cross the street on bustling King Drive. “Hold on, kid! I’m coming for ya!” she yells. Matthews once broke her ankle at that very intersection because of a gaping hole. It was repaired, but a decade later, “it just sank,” Matthews said.

Two Pace bus routes — the 352 and 353 — run from the Southland to Chicago’s 95th St. Red Line train station. The 352 is the only bus route that runs 24 hours in the entire Pace system. The $5 billion extension of the Red Line to 130th St. in the 5th district, Belcher said, could present transit, housing, and jobs opportunities. And the region needs solid leadership to ensure the county is a bridge to that growth, she said.

The mother of four also advocates for youth engagement to deter crime. Three of the top five municipalities for homicides in Cook County are all in the 5th district, county data show: Dolton, Harvey, and Chicago Heights. The county’s anti-violence investments have been great, but Belcher believes greater engagement with outreach workers and better data-driven decision making can ensure investments drive crime reduction.

Major differences

The Belcher and McCaskill campaigns are greatly divergent.

Alongside her multiracial, multigenerational street team, Belcher trades high-heel boots for sweats and gym shoes when she’s “knocking on doors,” she said. “I’m engaging with people that I want to represent.” In an era of new media, her outreach includes video podcasts, urban radio, and popular Instagram influencers to engage young voters. Aside from the $10,000 Belcher has self-financed, most of her funding comes from unions, local businesses, and community donors, state campaign finance records show. 

@shanikkyworld

Progressive Brunching in the 5th District #Chicago #ChicagoRestaurants #Dolton #KianaBelcher #GoodLifeSoulFood

♬ original sound – Shanikky

McCaskill, on the other hand, is backed by the establishment. Her family alone has pumped $26,500 — on top of $20,000 of her own money — into Kisha’s campaign war chest, state campaign finance records show. Politicos, real estate, and attorneys round out her coffers. 

As incumbent, McCaskill has invested time seeking political endorsements and is heavily leaning on her relationship with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle to garner re-election support, with Preckwinkle accompanying McCaskill to several events over the past six months. On social media, McCaskill’s publicist Sean Howard heralded efforts in securing over 100 endorsements. McCaskill’s team hasn’t, however, acknowledged Henyard’s endorsement.

Henyard did not respond to requests for comment.

The people’s champ

Belcher has her own gravitational pull. A 15-minute photoshoot for this story turns into 35 minutes, frequently interrupted by people swarming Belcher outside of campaign headquarters. 

“She’s gonna make a great commissioner,” a man driving past yells from his car. A local barber practically sprints from the shop to make small talk with her. A bilingual Glenwood resident helping Belcher reach Spanish speakers drove 10 miles to Belcher’s office, picking up more campaign signs to place in Chicago Heights. 

In Cook County, if locals don’t like you, they won’t mince words. “Tiffany was nuts,” said Angel, the owner of Angel’s Bar and Grill in Dolton. Referring to a picture of McCaskill, Angel gestures toward her head in a circular motion with one hand, drink in the other: “She’s crazy.”

For what Belcher believes it’s worth, political turmoil can bring people together. That’s what happened during the Henyard tenure, she said. Now, residents show up to public meetings — just as she did after finishing her police internship.

“After March 17th, I’m still an elected official, if I win or don’t win,” Belcher said. “We still have to work together, if you’re doing what’s right.”

“You can never succeed without working with everybody, because somebody is gonna lose,” Belcher pleaded. “Somebody’s gonna hurt — a constituent, a resident, a community will hurt.” As an elected official, “our job is not to hurt anybody.”