Harvey Mayor Shirley Drewenski, who was elected in an interim capacity by the City Council following the January death of Mayor Christopher Clark, announced Friday she intends to retire rather than run for a full term in the April 2027 municipal election.
“Serving the residents of Harvey has been an incredible honor and a responsibility I have never taken lightly,” Drewenski said in a statement. “As Harvey prepares for its next chapter, I believe it is important that we continue moving forward with leadership that is committed to our residents and the future of our community.”
Prior to being elected mayor, Drewenski had represented Harvey’s 1st Ward on the City Council since 2011.
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Clark, who was first elected as mayor of Harvey in 2019 and reelected in 2023, died Jan. 30. Drewenski was elected unanimously to serve out the remainder of Clark’s term at a special City Council meeting in late February.
“I didn’t wake up and say that I wanted to be mayor. Sixteen years ago, people asked me, would I run for mayor. That was not my goal,” Drewenski said after being elected. “Sometimes God has different plans.”
A first attempt to elect an interim mayor had stalled when the City Council deadlocked between Drewenski and another candidate, 5th Ward Ald. Dominique Randle-El.
In her announcement, Drewenski endorsed Marshun Tolbert, one of two candidates who ran against Clark in the 2023 mayoral election, for mayor.
Multiple candidates have already announced their intention to run for Harvey mayor next year, including 2nd Ward Ald. Colby Chapman, a vocal Clark critic. Randle-El previously told the Daily Southtown that he would consider running, depending on who the other candidates were.