Alderman Marshun Tolbert announces 2023 mayoral run
“Our city has some serious challenges: crime, disinvestment, a need for jobs paying a live-able wage as inflation continues to rise,” said the 2nd Ward alderman, who is the first to formally announce a run to unseat Mayor Chris Clark.
One alderman is throwing his hat in the race to unseat Mayor Chris Clark.
Alderman Marshun Tolbert (2nd) officially announced his run for Harvey mayor in 2023 this week.
“Our city has some serious challenges: crime, disinvestment, a need for jobs paying a live-able wage as inflation continues to rise,” said Tolbert in a somber video reel announcing his candidacy.
Tolbert was elected in 2019 as the youngest alderperson in Harvey’s history after a previously unsuccessfully bout for Harvey Public Library Board trustee in 2017.
For some, this is old news, as talk swirled for months that the freshman alderman would toss his hat into the mayoral race.
Dixmoor treasurer and former Harvey Park District president Anthony McCaskill revealed he would run in December. McCaskill unsuccessfully ran against Clark in the 2019 race.
While Clark has not announced a re-election bid, he is expected to run for a second term.
As alderman of the 2nd Ward—home to the city’s major institutions like City Hall, Harvey Public Library, Park District headquarters, Post Office, 154th Street Metra Station, and Harvey Pace Bus Terminal—he has occasionally found himself in snappy exchanges with Mayor Chris Clark.
Most infamously, Ald. Tolbert, Tracy Key (4th), Dominique Randle-El (5th), and Tyrone Rogers (6th) sparred with Clark in June of 2019 over liquor establishment closures. The mayor introduced a measure, known as “the liquor ordinance,” that would require Harvey’s liquor-selling establishments, including strip clubs, to close at midnight.
Clark argued the measure appealed to complaints of violence associated with Harvey’s liquor stores and strip clubs. Community leaders hung signs in support of “the liquor ordinance” around the downtown area, still visible today.
The four aldermen contested the move would appear hostile to the businesses, noting their strong revenue-generating presence in the city’s business sector.
Months later, they attempted to put forth an ordinance that would allow liquor-selling businesses to operate after midnight, but were late submitting the proposed law to be considered as an agenda item. With an upcoming vote on infrastructure upgrades to street lights and pothole repairs, they used a procedural move to remove the items from the agenda, delaying that vote.
In the time since, Tolbert has voted in favor of ordinances that advance the Clark administration’s economic agenda, including infrastructure and transit-oriented development.
Tolbert voted against the controversial $17 million Harvey Lofts housing development, coming to Broadway Avenue, which was met with pushback from some residents who favor more businesses in the downtown area. Some even warned the development could attract more crime in the city’s once-flourishing business core. The City Council approved the development to move forward, expected to break ground later this year.
But, the young, charismatic alderman—who also holds employment at the Thornton Township at the food pantry on 153rd Street and Page Avenue and a campaign manager around Illinois filling judicial seats—has also faced criticism alongside other alderpersons that they are not active enough in Harvey.
While alderpersons throw block parties and backpack giveaways, those critical want to see aldermen do more to introduce legislation and move policy on City Council.
Tolbert has occasionally echoed residents' criticisms of both Clark and the Harvey Police Department over a revolving door of police leadership and lack of transparency and accountability.
“Our police department is in turmoil, and I think that's an issue,” Tolbert told CBS2 Chicago after so many officers called out sick that only one showed up for their shift last June.
He added that residents “deserve answers because they're paying really high property taxes, and the police protection they think is there is really not there.”
Sign up for The Renaissance Letter, our free email newsletter
Get the latest headlines from the Harvey World Herald right in your inbox.
More in Politics from The Harvey World Herald
The Harvey 2023 general election results
Catch the latest results on the results of the city's municipal races as we get them.
Harvey elections 2023: Mayoral candidate guide
The polls are still open. Read up on the mayoral candidates before you cast your ballots.
Harvey elections 2023: 3rd Ward candidate guide
The 3rd Ward includes powerful institutions like the UChicago Ingalls Memorial Hospital and Harvey Police Department headquarters. Read up on the two candidates running to fill that seat.
Harvey elections 2023: City Clerk candidate guide
Read up on the City Clerk candidates before heading to the ballot.
Harvey elections 2023: Treasurer candidate guide
Research in the Treasurer candidates. Take a look then cast your ballot.
Harvey elections 2023: 2nd Ward primary candidate guide
Research into 2nd Ward runoff candidates.
The 2023 Treasurer race: the stakes and the players
The need for monthly financial reports are driving the Harvey Treasurer's race.
Could Colby Chapman finally build Harvey's rainbow coalition?
"I don't think that there's ever been an opportunity to create conversation." Harvey's a largely Black and Brown community getting younger by the day. In her quest to become the first Black 2nd Ward alderwoman and first Japanese alderperson ever, Chapman could usher in the greatest political shift in Harvey politics since the David Johnson era.
City government hopefuls, struggling to raise own campaign funds, bankroll one another
As some municipal candidates have struggled to build their campaign war chest, some have turned toward clout-driven political coalitions, state finance records reveal. But that support hasn't been mutually beneficial.
Who's funding the Harvey Clerk and Treasurer races? A glimpse at state records.
What state campaign finance data say about these often overlooked races.
The money driving Harvey's mayoral race
Mayor Chris Clark leads in cash currently on hand. Anthony McCaskill bets on himself. Alderman Marshun Tolbert (2nd) gets a late boost. Here's what you need to know about campaign spending in the 2023 mayoral race.
Public safety. Open government: The issues driving the 2023 mayoral race
The 2019 election marked a new chapter in Harvey's political sphere. Four years after the ousting of former corrupt Mayor Eric J. Kellogg, mayoral candidates tussle over the progress—or lack thereof, some charge—made in the time since.
Mannan Vohra: 4th Ward candidate questionnaire
An independent oversight board to investigate officers and make policy recommendations. A civilian review board to ensure hiring and firing of police. Here's how 4th Ward candidate Mannan Vohra sounded off on structural police reform, affirming reproductive rights, and more.
Alderpersons haven't called public works, public safety, and legislative committee meetings in years, city records suggest
In 2019, aldermen ran promising responsive government. But with one week from election day, city records reveal alderman haven't convened many of the city's committees like public safety in nearly four years.
Monique Williams: City Clerk candidate questionnaire
The Office of the City Clerk is one of the more transactional, community-facing offices in the city's government. They're also a major agent of democracy. We asked candidates about that, public meeting accessibility, and more.
David Clay II: City Treasurer candidate questionnaire
The general election is weeks away. We asked city treasurer candidates how they'll make the office—often opaque—more transparent and responsive to residents' concerns about the city's finances. Here's how they answered.
Aisha Pickett: City Treasurer candidate questionnaire
The general election is weeks away. We asked city treasurer candidates how they'll make the office—often opaque—more transparent and responsive to residents' concerns about the city's finances. Here's how they answered.
The 2023 Harvey municipal primary election results
The city's 2nd and 3rd Ward primary results are in with all of the city's precincts reporting. Here's who made the April 4 runoff.
The primary election is today. Here's what you need to know.
Only 2nd and 3rd Ward residents will head to the polls today. If no candidate gets 50% of the vote share, the top two vote-getters will proceed to an April 4 runoff.
Yarif Vhora: 2nd Ward Primary Candidate questionnaire responses
Ahead of the February 28 primary, we asked 2nd Ward candidates about climate change, housing, ethics reform, public safety, infrastructure, youth engagement, and more. Here's how Yarif Vhora responded.
Colby Chapman: 2nd Ward Primary Candidate questionnaire responses
Ahead of the February 28 primary, we asked 2nd Ward candidates about climate change, housing, ethics reform, public safety, infrastructure, youth engagement, and more. Here's how Colby Chapman responded.
The 2023 Harvey municipal election center
Your central location to get your digital voter guides, polling place information, and registration needs ahead of city's primary and general elections—updated throughout the April 4 election day.
Meeting recap: City Council approves purchase of vacant Ascension-St. Susanna Catholic Church facility
While it wasn't specified what "government purposes" the facility is to be used under the resolution, City Council approved a similar acquisition of a vacant downtown bank last year. The Harvey Police Department now uses the former First Merchants Bank, although it's not accessible to the public.
Meeting recap: With most aldermen a no-show, City Council's first meeting of 2023 is a no-go
Alderman Marshun Tolbert (2nd), Alderman Tracy Key (4th), Alderman Dominique Randle-El (5th), and Alderman Tyrone Rogers (6th) were absent from the meeting, where the Council was to discuss several development-related items.
Public now allowed to attend City Council meetings in-person as election season heats up
Monday's City Council meeting was the first time in over two years the public could attend in-person. The move came as political hopefuls also filed petitions ahead of the November 28 deadline.
Home rule, the most important ballot measure for Harvey voters in 2022
Voters must decide if the city should maintain its own authority. Here's what that means in practice.
Cook County is ran by Democrats. In the south suburbs, one man is trying to change that.
Jason Ross Decker is running for Cook County Board of Commissioners 5th District seat as a Libertarian. He says citizens have had enough with partisan politics. “It’s a breath of fresh air” for those who learn he’s not running as a Republican or Democrat here in Cook County, he said.
#CheckYourJudges before heading to the ballot box
Pick up a free print voter guide to research Cook County judicial candidates before you cast a vote.
Mayoral security detail intervened in attempted gunpoint robbery of elderly man in Chicago
The officer with the mayor's security detail drew their weapon in response to an individual attempting to rob an 86-year-old man at gunpoint.
[BREAKING]: Mayor Chris Clark's security detail exchanges gunfire with attempted robbery in Chicago
News choppers hovered over the scene on North Avenue and Halsted Street, with a notable heavy police presence in Chicago's Lincoln Park area Wednesday afternoon.
Director of communications resigns from Clark administration after nine months
He is the second person to exit from the role, tasked with handling media requests on behalf of the mayor's office, police, and other city departments, within the last year.
Parades and fireworks return for fourth of July weekend, but arrest drama looms
Harvey police arrested Dixmoor treasurer and likely 2023 mayoral challenger Anthony McCaskill last weekend after responding to a report of illegal fireworks.
Former Obama aide Jaylin D. McClinton seeking south suburban 5th District Commissioner seat
The fresh face to south suburban politics previously served as an aide to the Obama administration and fought against state budget cuts to make college more affordable.
Here's where you can pick up a judicial voter guide across the south suburbs
The HWH is distributing 4,000 copies of a nonpartisan judicial voter guide produced by Injustice Watch ahead of the June 28 primary.
Missed a City Council meeting? Head over to our new YouTube Channel
Catch up on the latest news from City Hall no matter where you are.
Clock now ticking to fill vacant third ward seat after Crudup resignation
The mayor’s office now has 60 days to make a nomination to the seat, setting off an appointment process — dead smack in the middle of election season.
'More than a part-time position': Alderman Quinton Crudup (3rd) announces plans to resign
The exit will set off a nomination process for the next third ward alderman as election season gets underway.
The 2023 election season is upon us. What issues matter to you?
With campaign season underway, the Harvey World Herald wants the community to sound off on the issues that matter most to you.