Thornton Township Selects Temporary Township Supervisor Replacement for Zuccarelli
Thornton Township Selects Temporary Township Supervisor Replacement for Zuccarelli (South, Holland, IL) – Thornton Township Board of Trustees has selected Joyce M. Washington as the township deputy supervisor. Washington is the longest serving trustee, elected in 1997.
Pursuant to Illinois Compiled Statute 1/60-5(B-5); it is the duty of the deputy supervisor to perform the ministerial functions of the office of Supervisor until the vacancy is filled. Under law, the deputy supervisor was required to be someone who was already on the board.
The countdown begins to fill the vacancy of Thornton Township Supervisor. According to Matt Dietrich, public information officer for the Illinois State Board of Elections, the township board of trustees has 60 days from the time of vacancy to call a meeting and appoint a permanent supervisor which would be by March 3. The board can appoint any qualified candidate that does not have a felony. They do not have to call a special election. However the statute also states “if a vacancy exists in any township office and the vacancy is not filled within 60 days, the electors at a special township meeting may select a qualified person to fill the vacancy and to serve until the expiration of that term.”
Washington’s Background
Washington is also the chairperson of the Human Relations Commission, appointed by former Supervisor Frank M. Zuccarelli. The commission brings community volunteers from different ages and cultural backgrounds together to address diversity issues. They come up with a variety of activities and events that bring unity, build pride, diversity and inclusive initiatives. She helped oversee various events such as the Martin Luther King event every January– hosted at South Suburban College–, Black History Month, Women of Honor, Hispanic Heritage, Veterans Day and the Spirit of Thornton Township.
Washington was sworn in for her latest term in May. The other Thornton Township Trustees include; Gerald “Jerry” Jones who has served since 2013, as well as two new trustees Darlene Gray Everett and Christopher D. Gonzalez, who replaced Norbert Cipowski and Stafford Owens.
Frank Zucarelli
Zuccarelli, 70, Thornton Township Supervisor, passed away at his home January 3 at 1:18 p.m. South Holland paramedics responded and he was pronounced dead. He celebrated his 70th birthday in October. Elected Thornton Township Supervisor in April 1993 and awarded Township Officials of Illnois Supervisor of the Year 1996, 2007 and 2012, Zuccarelli became a political titan and mainstay in the south suburbs. Thornton Township was selected Township of the Year in 2004, 2008 and 2016.
Visitation for Zuccarelli will be held on Friday, January 14, 2022 from 3:00 – 8:00 P.M. with a time of memorial remembrances to be held between 5:00 – 6:00 P.M. at the South Suburban College Fieldhouse, 15800 S. State St., South Holland, IL 60473. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 15, 2022 at 10:00 A.M. at the South Suburban College Fieldhouse. Following the funeral service, the family will leave for a private burial service. Memorial contributions may be given to Donate Life. Arrangements are entrusted to Smits Funeral Home – South Holland, IL.
Thornton Township Selects Temporary Township Supervisor Replacement for Zuccarelli
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