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* This is definitely not a good look and will undoubtedly generate a kabillion clicks and hot takes…
But some might be surprised at how much the mayor spends on personal grooming, for which he pays with money contributed by political supporters to his Friends of Brandon Johnson campaign fund: More than $30,000 in the past year, according to elections board records.
Nearly all the money went to makeup artist and self-described “skincare enthusiast” Denise Milloy’s Makeup Majic, which is based in a home on the South Side. More than 30 payments were reported going to her in 2023 and 2024, records show.
The payments prior to Johnson’s 2023 election listed various descriptions including:
• “Candidate makeup for TV.”
• “Candidate makeup for debate.”
• “Candidate makeup.”
• “Makeup retainer.”After Johnson took office last year, the payments to Makeup Majic have been explained only as “event expenses.”
* This allegation, however, could very well turn out to be illegal, even though it was buried at the end of an NBC5 story…
Questions are also being raised about [Thornton Township Supervisor Tiffany Henyard] using taxpayer dollars for personal expenses, including her personal make-up artist.
An itemized payroll sheet for the township sent to NBC Chicago from May of last year lists Brandon Momon as an administrative assistant, but when we reached out to him, he told us he’s Henyard’s make-up artist.
“It is just once again a long series of things done incorrectly – or possibly illegally,” said Chris Gonzalez, a Thornton Township trustee.
NBC Chicago reached out to Henyard’s administration for comment but did not hear back.
Wow.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 9:49 am
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Make up before a debate, maybe. For a particular event, I suppose. But for haircuts, hell no. Nothing annoys fundraisers more than seeing personal expenses like that paid for with campaign funds.
Comment by Former Downstater Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 9:59 am
“This is definitely not a good look”
No pun intended.
Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 10:00 am
On the idea of legality, I suppose misrepresenting what the public funds were being used for is illegal (see: Trump v. NY).
On the other hand, if a politician is using funds set aside for discretionary use, then the best cure is sunlight. Now it is up to the people of Chicago to decide whether they want their taxes paying for haircuts and make up, and whether or not $577 a week is a bit excessive.
As to Henyard, misrepresenting her makeup artist as an administrative assistance would seem to cross the line of honesty.
Comment by H-W Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 10:13 am
===whether they want their taxes paying===
Johnson used his campaign fund, not taxpayer dollars. That was Henyard.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 10:14 am
Imagine the ‘hot takes’ if CTU had gotten hold of a factoid like this about Lightfoot during the election.
I’m starting to enjoy the Johnson administration if only for how unintentionally hilarious it is.
Comment by Larry Bowa Jr. Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 10:16 am
with memories of the John Edwards $400 haircut
Comment by Amalia Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 10:16 am
If the revolution is going to be televised, you have to look good on TV.
Comment by Unwatchable content Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 10:20 am
Yeah, MBJ’s spending does not seems illegal like Tiffany Henyard’s. It is pretty suspicious when you consider no other comparable elected official spends as much as he does. Maybe MBJ is just more media savvy than everyone else.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 10:27 am
Perhaps the “appearence/event” staff needs to add a “dumbness coordinator” chareged with purging dopey ideas from clients BEFORE utterances.
Actually given the harsh view provided by high def cameras the expenses are legit.
Comment by Annonin' Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 10:29 am
If he’d only gone on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, that $4,000 could have bought 333 haircuts.
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/aj-styles-barber-and-beauty-salon-chicago?select=tguztaDinMHFPVcKBbSG-A
Comment by Phineas Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 10:37 am
Most folks get haircuts on a regular basis, mores so men than women. So why does becoming mayor now entitle you to use campaign funds for that when it should be a personal expense? I get a clean up for a debate but come on.
Comment by Chicago Voter Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 10:38 am
But we “have not had a mayor like him”!
Comment by NIU Grad Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 10:49 am
Blago’s football is rolling over in his grave.
Comment by Baloneymous Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 10:51 am
Wow is right. That is way more than he paid on his water bill. No wonder politicians never retire there are so many perks
Comment by DuPage Saint Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 10:53 am
I’m no Johnson fan, but using campaign dollars for this is fine. It’s not better or worse than typical campaign spending, which is mostly generating pieces of paper for voters to throw out. Maybe he’s a little vain, but we’re never driving that particular vice out of politics.
Heynard, on the other hand, is on something like a crime spree. I hope those investigations wrap up before she’s able to completely drain those governments.
Comment by vern Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 10:55 am
I’m here for the comments and they do not disappoint.
Comment by Marine Life Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 11:02 am
Johnson’s expenditures come from private funds, so I’ll leave it up to MBJ’s donors to judge whether those funds are being well-spent and adjust accordingly.
I am completely fascinated by Tiffany Henyard and what is going on in Dolton, however. She’s got the spending habits of John Sununu combined with the self-awareness of Lauren Bobert. Just a complete and utter trainwreck, there.
Comment by sulla Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 11:17 am
The Henyard administration is ongoing, unanticipated comedy gold on the nightly news.
GofM, I suspect the pun was intended.
Comment by Original Rambler Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 11:23 am
You cannot make this makeup stuff up.
Comment by Bold Crow Medicine Show Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 11:39 am
Johnson and Henyard are tone-deaf for different reasons as explained by previous comments. But somebody needs to file some sort of lawsuit to have Dolton and Thornton Township put under an emergency manager or conservatorship-type arrangement to get Henyard and her cronies out of the public purse ASAP.
Comment by thisjustinagain Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 11:47 am
In contrast, Pat Quinn once used $7.48 in campaign funds to buy a used Flowbee off Ebay.
https://youtu.be/AioVDsXidh0?si=ThwGXP652tR2Gzz4
Comment by Unwatchable content Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 11:52 am
== Maybe MBJ is just more media savvy than everyone else.==
Maybe. Did he have peak hair before he ran for mayor?
Comment by Responsa Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 11:52 am
Wonder how much MLL paid for a beautician during covid as ” the face of Chicago”.
Comment by just here for the fun Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 11:55 am
This tidbit from the SunTimes article Isabel linked may warrant further scrutiny:
“Mayor Brandon Johnson’s latest campaign finance report lists a $4,000 payment from his political fund to a Palatine beauty salon, a March 27 expenditure that it shows was for “event expenses.”
Hearing that came as a surprise to Anthony Jones, who owns Anthony Jones Salon in the northwest suburb. He says he never got that money, nor has he ever done any work for Johnson or his campaign.
Comment by Responsa Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 12:31 pm
Responsa, not to defend the Mayor, but that issue appears to be resolved in the article itself. (Also not sure what you mean by “you’re hearing”, because again, the issue is raised in the article itself.)
That being said, I don’t know if there is an issue with haircuts being expensed to the campaign, but it could become a tax issue if folks aren’t careful.
Comment by Juice Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 12:50 pm
MY HAIR! - Ulysses Everett
Comment by Dotnonymous x Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 2:05 pm
I wonder how SEIU and CTU employees feel about their donated member dues helping to cover hair and make up?
Comment by Shytown Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 4:09 pm