Overview
- The council voted unanimously to appoint 1st Ward Ald. Shirley Drewenski as acting mayor, and she was sworn in to serve through spring 2027.
- The decision followed a Feb. 2 stalemate in which neither Drewenski nor Ald. Dominique Randle-El secured the four votes required for the post.
- Shortly after being sworn in, Drewenski named Janet Rogers as acting city clerk, and the council confirmed her 3-1 with two abstentions amid public criticism over favoritism.
- Rogers, the wife of 6th Ward Ald. Tyrone Rogers, previously had a felony fraud conviction that was pardoned in 2013, a history Drewenski said did not bar her from serving.
- Harvey faces roughly $150 million in debt and deep police and fire layoffs, and officials are awaiting an Illinois General Assembly decision on a financially distressed designation as Drewenski weighs whether to vacate her 1st Ward seat.