Kisha McCaskill filed for library board seat where husband is president

The wife of Harvey Public Library District board president Anthony McCaskill filed election paperwork to run for a two-year trustee seat on the board. She eventually withdrew from the race, but not before their daughter filed a write-in candidacy for that very seat.

Kisha McCaskill sought election to Harvey’s library board in the 2025 consolidated elections. At the time, she was — and still is — working as a paid library consultant, earning $2,000 per month. She was the only individual who filed petitions for that seat, according to county records, running unopposed. 

But then the Harvey Park District executive director and event organizer was appointed to fill a vacant seat on the Cook County Board of Commissioners in mid-January 2025. Two weeks later, on Jan. 29, 2025, Amari McCaskill, her daughter, filed a write-in statement — the only notarized write-in declaration received by the Cook County Board of Elections for the two-year term.

Kisha McCaskill notarized her daughter’s declaration of intent then filed her own withdrawal of candidacy form the next day. Kisha McCaskill, who is seeking re-election to the county board in March, did not respond to requests for comment. 

Amari McCaskill, who did not respond to requests for comment, is also a park district commissioner, along with her brother Aaron McCaskill.

The switch shows how the McCaskill family has seized power and influence over the library in the last three years. The family has run the local park district, where Anthony McCaskill was once himself a commissioner, for nearly a decade.

‘Back doored’

Everything came as a surprise to then-secretary Chapelle Hooks. As the designated local election official, she was assigned to oversee election duties for the library. But library trustee Felicia Powell-Johnson prepared the library election paperwork, instead. 

Powell-Johnson, a McCaskill ally who works as secretary at the Harvey Park District, was also assisting Kisha McCaskill in her consultant work at the library and seeking re-election to the library board.

Powell-Johnson requested Hooks to come to the park district headquarters on Broadway Ave. to place her official seal on the documents that would be sent to the Cook County Board of Elections. Hooks arrived at headquarters, but not without bewilderment.

“I knew we were being back doored,” said Hooks, who did not learn Kisha McCaskill was campaigning until she arrived at the office. “You’re already contracted to be a consultant, so why wasn’t it discussed that you were trying to run?”

For Hooks, who had been a vocal and public supporter of the McCaskills, that wasn’t the only oddity: the email address listed on the certificate of ballot was that of Kisha McCaskill, typed in and unable to edit. That would mean all email communications from the county election agency would be directed to Kisha McCaskill — not Hooks.

“I thought it was strange to go to the park district to sign it and put the seal on there. And to see Dr. McCaskill on there and on top of the paper — the contact, it had her email address and not mine,” Hooks said. “You would think that it would be me because I was the secretary at the time.”

Powell-Johnson, who notarized Kisha McCaskill’s withdrawal of candidacy form, did not respond to requests for comment.

On Feb. 17, 2025, a candidate services manager from the county emailed Hooks and then-information technology director Sam Hentz directly. Specifically, they were confirming ballot information, including candidates, candidate order, term length, and pending objections.

According to Hentz, the county had been attempting to reach Kisha McCaskill to confirm whether she had withdrawn, but struggled to do so, he told the HWH. On Feb. 21, 2025, that same candidate services manager emailed Hooks and Hentz once more to confirm Kisha McCaskill’s withdrawal paperwork, along with the official certificate of ballot. Hentz signed and returned paperwork the next day, confirming the withdrawal.

Help from Hooks

In Illinois, library trustee seats are nonpartisan, meaning candidates do not run based on political party affiliation. Angelette Taylor, however, who was appointed the same evening as Powell-Johnson and seeking a full-term, was listed as a Democratic candidate.

“Everybody on there listed was nonpartisan, except for Angelette Taylor,” Hooks said. “And I thought that was kind of strange.” Hooks contacted the county election board, alerting them of the error. A candidate services manager later called to confirm a correction would be made.

The Harvey library board reorganized roles in February 2025, where Hooks was made treasurer. Three months later, Hooks was ousted after she began requesting invoices from leadership in an effort to deliver her monthly report to the public.

Taylor initially rejected an effort to oust Hooks. Two days later, she changed her mind, making the decisive vote that booted Hooks from the role. Taylor voted in favor of naming Powell-Johnson board treasurer. That same meeting, Taylor was made board vice president and Amari McCaskill board secretary.