Hanover Park deputy mayor blasts mayor, resigns post

For two years, Hanover Park Mayor Rod Craig struggled to get anyone besides Trustee Toni Carter in his corner. Today, he enjoys support from three new board members, but may have lost that of his longtime ally.

Citing Craig's "arrogance, pride and conceit," Trustee Toni Carter announced her resignation as deputy mayor.

"I don't trust him anymore and I hate that," Carter said. "His ego is 10,000 miles long right now with this new power he has."

Carter, who also said she doesn't plan on running for re-election, informed Craig of her decision last Friday, one day after the pair argued over the pay and appointment of Clerk Eira Corral as collector. Carter accused the mayor of going around the board to set a higher salary than trustees previously approved. The board voted 4-3 to approve Craig's recommendations, with Craig breaking a tie.

She said resigning will allow her to maintain her independence and send a signal that Craig shouldn't expect allegiance from her.

Craig said Carter hasn't responded to his request they meet.

"I really think we need to sit down and talk about what's bugging her," Craig said. "We're not always going to agree on the issues. She contributes a lot and I don't want to lose her over this."

Carter said she won't be talked out of resigning and called the move a sacrifice on her part because with the title came a certain amount of clout. As second-in-command, she would take over in Craig's absence. Carter has been working with Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez's office to organize a domestic violence forum and felt the deputy mayor title carried more weight in talks than trustee.

Craig said he believes the storm over the election and four recent homicides has quelled. He hopes to turn his attention to helping members of the new board work together, in contrast to the divisiveness that plagued his freshman term as mayor. He declined to speculate about tapping a new deputy mayor until speaking with Carter.