Calumet City Mayor Thaddeus Jones casts tie-breaking vote to approve disputed credit card charges
Two Calumet City aldermen opposed paying some credit card charges by Mayor Thaddeus Jones, saying they were not for city business.
Past disputed charges from Calumet City Mayor Thaddeus Jones’ municipal credit card in addition to new line items received narrow approval Thursday from the City Council, despite continued concerns from some aldermen.
Jones last month promised to repay the city for some of the $13,000 in scrutinized expenses aldermen questioned, though he did not specify which expenses or explain the hotel stays, Uber rides and meals.
Ald. James Patton and Ald. Michael Navarrete said some of the disputed expenses remained on an omnibus $1.2 million bill approved Thursday.
“I think it’s shameful,” Patton said after the vote, declining additional comment. Patton has announced he is running for mayor in 2025.
Line items approved, according to the city’s agenda packet, include three payments to the Sheraton Hotel in New Orleans of $930 each made last November that Patton said should not have been paid by the city. He also questioned numerous smaller charges, such as $410 spent at Chicago Cut Steakhouse and $200 spent at Hooters within a four-day period in January.
Also approved were more recent charges of $7,300 to Foot Locker and $5,200 to Spencer Leak and Sons Funeral Homes that Patton said warranted more explanation from the mayor’s office.
Patton and Navarrete voted against the payments, and Ald. Anthony Smith and Ald. Ramonde Williams voted in favor. Ald. DeAndre Tillman voted present and Ald. DeJuan Gardner and Ald. Monet Wilson left the meeting before the vote occurred. With a 2-2 tie, Jones cast the tie-breaking vote.
Sean Howard, a spokesman for Jones, said the mayor was not involved in determining which charges were laid out in the final bill list that was up for vote.
“He was just as oblivious as anyone else,” Howard said.
The confusion came because items remained in the omnibus bill despite not being recommended by the council’s Finance Committee. Patton pointed out the added expenses, which he said were included because of “human error” on the part of the treasurer’s office, but the bill was quickly moved to a vote by Smith and Williams.
“I think once the mayor saw it added back on, he saw an opportunity to get it passed,” said Patton.
Due to aldermen’s concerns over the mayor’s spending, the City Council plans to vote on an ordinance later this month that aldermen said will protect city dollars from being used for public officials’ personal expenses. Patton and Navarrete said they both support that ordinance.
“I think it’s something that’s needed,” Patton said. “It’s unfortunate that it’s needed, really tired of us having to take time to pass all this legislation to safeguard against things that are common sense, but it’s where we’re at.”
ostevens@chicagotribune.com