A special City Council meeting called following the death Friday of Harvey Mayor Christopher Clark ended without an acting mayor being appointed after no alderperson was able to secure support from a majority of the council.
Both 1st Ward Ald. Shirley Drewenski and 5th Ward Ald. Dominique Randle-El were nominated for acting mayor, but the City Council split down the middle.
Drewenski was supported by 6th Ward Ald. Tyrone Rogers and 3rd Ward Ald. Telanee Smith, while Randle-El was supported by 2nd Ward Ald. Colby Chapman and 4th Ward Ald. Tracy Key. Neither had the four votes necessary for majority approval of the six-member council.
Drewenski is serving as mayor pro tempore, and will continue in that position until an acting mayor is selected. The acting mayor will then serve out the remainder of Clark’s term, which is set to expire in April 2027.
Chapman, who has previously stated her intent to run for mayor in 2027, did not put herself forward for acting mayor.
“I want to be elected by the people, not selected by my peers,” Chapman said.
Chapman also supported a motion brought by Key at the start of the meeting to delay the selection of an acting mayor until Feb. 9.
“Give us a little bit more time to make sure we get this right,” Key said. “Everybody’s grieving right now, and this is too sudden. A decision of this magnitude, I think, needs a little bit more time.”
Key’s motion was voted down by the other four members of the council. However, as the meeting ended without an acting mayor being chosen, the issue is likely to come up again at the next regular council meeting, 7 p.m. on Feb. 9, at Harvey City Hall, 15320 Broadway Ave.
Tributes to Clark
Rogers said Monday that Clark died following an unexpected illness.
“Mayor Clark was a visionary, a leader, believed in the promise of this city and worked tirelessly to ensure a better future for all residents,” Rogers said. “He was a man of great integrity.”
Drewenski offered condolences on behalf of the City Council and city staff to Clark’s mother, who was in attendance, prompting a standing ovation from the audience.
“Mayor Clark was deeply committed to the city of Harvey, and the people. His leadership, and his dedication, and his love for our community will not be forgotten,” Drewenski said while asking for a moment of silence. “God bless you, Chris.”
Clark was first elected as mayor in 2019, and reelected in 2023.
A City Council meeting scheduled for Jan. 26 was canceled only hours before it was set to begin, with no explanation given. Clark had been absent from the previous meeting, on Jan. 12, which was instead chaired by Randle-El.
Randle-El said that he hoped the city would be able to come together following Clark’s passing.
“Are we a community, or are we just a city? Are we a community, or are we just an incorporation, as you see on the wall, where it says we were incorporated in 1891?” Randle-El said. “We’re more than that. We’re more than yesterday, and what we are is what we make.”
Clark’s death comes in the midst of a difficult time for Harvey, which is in a state of financial crisis and appealed to the state for fiscal aid last October. Following that declaration, more than 40% of the city’s workforce was laid off.
Smith suggested that public criticism of Clark had played a role in hastening his death.
“Three consistent years of deliberate attacks, of false accusations, social media bullying,” Smith said. “All of this based on personal vendetta.”
