Following Mayor Clark’s death, Harvey City Council deadlocked on vote to select successor

The Harvey City Council failed to appoint an acting mayor following the sudden death of mayor Christopher J. Clark, leaving the city without a permanent executive leader as officials mourned a polarizing figure whose tenure reshaped City Hall and deepened political divisions.

Clark died unexpectedly in the early morning of Jan. 30. His cause of death has not been released. Clark’s sudden death earlier this month, following what city officials described as an unexpected illness, triggered a legally required process for the City Council to appoint an acting mayor from among its six aldermen.

Alds. Shirley Drewenski (1st), who currently serves as mayor pro temp, and Dominique Randle-El (5th) both nominated themselves. Each received three votes. Municipal code requires a majority vote, four of six aldermen, to appoint an acting mayor. With the final tally tied, Drewenski will continue serving as mayor pro temp until the council reaches a majority decision.

The acting mayor will oversee an unprecedented financial crisis, even if for little over a year. The city has furloughed roughly 40 percent and laid off 10 percent of its workforce — cuts felt across most departments. The state garnishes 35 percent of the city’s revenue to ensure payments to the fire and police pension fund. 

With changes to funding at the federal level, the state budget is tight. And while Harvey seeks $30 million from Springfield to cover basic expenses, it’s unlikely that will materialize.

Alds. Colby Chapman (2nd) and Tracy Key (4th) voted for Randle-El, who also voted for himself. Alds. Telanee Smith (3rd) and Tyrone Rogers (6th) voted for Drewenski, who also voted for herself.

While she is running for mayor in 2027, Chapman notably did not nominate herself. She told the Daily Southtown she preferred to be selected by voters not her peers. But even if she had, it is unlikely that she would have been appointed. 

Chapman has often found herself on the losing end of council votes. Even simple motions to move development items to committee for further discussion were often subverted by Clark’s council allies: Rogers, Drewenski, Randle-El, and Smith. Those four even moved to censure her.

Supporters credit Clark with relentless advocacy of the Harvey community, beginning with his election to 3rd Ward alderman in 2015. Clark also ran a law firm downtown Harvey on 154th St. In 2019, he was elected mayor, and was re-elected in 2023.

At the same time, Clark’s tenure drew sharp criticism from some residents and activists who objected to his remarks and leadership style, lack of transparency across government, delinquent audits, ordering police to terrorize critics, and at one point banning multiple forms of nonverbal expression in backlash to public critique.

Ald. Tyrone Rogers (6th) wasn’t always in agreement with the mayor early on, but later started to share his vision, he told the HWH.

“Our city council for the past six years always had a winning vote because the mayor’s vision was to move this city forward,” Rogers said. “We began to spiral upward, and we had so many new initiatives coming into this year and it came in such a tragedy and such a shock to everybody to lose our beloved mayor. ”

“This is an unusual time for all of us,” Drewinski said as she presided over the meeting. 

The council moved swiftly to make a selection, with Clark passing only 72 hours prior. “This is a decision of this magnitude I think needs a little bit more time,” Key said.

The council is also tasked with appointing an acting clerk but tabled that item. It is immediately unclear why City Clerk Rosa Arambula is no longer able to serve. She was elected in 2019 and re-elected in 2023.