For years, twin brothers William "Bill" Shaw and Robert "Bob" Shaw controlled much of the political landscape in the south suburbs and the city's South Side.

But with the tides shifting over the last decade from Shaw-backed candidates to those endorsed by Democratic U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., they were left with just the village of Dolton, where Bill Shaw serves as mayor.

Rumors of Bill Shaw's failing health have been swirling in political circles for months, but no formal announcement has been made about the severity of the condition. Shaw is a cancer survivor and has spoken publicly of his battles with the disease in the past.

He began his current term in office on Election Day 2005 on an operating table, undergoing emergency colon surgery.

With his health and ability to serve in question, some are wondering whether the end of the Shaw regime is imminent. But election petitions circulating in Dolton show Shaw does intend to seek re-election.

The mayor has attended the last two Village Board meetings by phone due to illness, according to Village Clerk Judy Evans. Evans said Shaw still maintains regular office hours, both at Village Hall and from home.

A woman who answered the phone Thursday morning at Shaw's Village Hall office said he was not available. Messages left for Shaw seeking comment on his condition and intentions for the April election were not returned.

The answering machine at Shaw's Blackstone Avenue home was not accepting messages this week. Another number listed for his Dolton home has a Central Florida area code. Repeated calls to that line also were not answered.

Evans said that as of Wednesday morning, she had not received a resignation letter from Shaw.

Jackson this week put the political battles he has had with the Shaws aside to focus on the ailing mayor's health.

"For as long as I can remember, Bill Shaw and I have had profound political disagreements about the direction of the South Side and the south suburbs," Jackson said. "For me, it's never been personal. It's always been the process for agreement and disagreement. I sincerely wish Bill Shaw, given that he has been ill for some time, the very best and his family the very best as he continues to struggle with these profound health issues."

Shaw's absence from recent meetings raises questions about his ability to serve his constituents, now and if he is elected for another term in April.

The Illinois Municipal Code states, "a vacancy occurs in an office by permanent physical or mental disability rendering the person incapable of performing the duties of the office. The corporate authorities have the authority to make the determination whether an officer is incapable of performing the duties of the office because of a permanent physical or mental disability."

No such action has taken place by the Dolton Village Board.

Two sets of petitions are being circulated for candidates seeking village seats in the April elections, a Democratic ticket with Shaw in the mayor's spot and a Concerned Party ticket with current Trustee Ronnie Lewis as the mayoral candidate.

Shaw is also a member of the Concerned Party and has run on that slate with Ronnie Lewis, a political ally, in the past.

Some are speculating the dual petitions are intended to give Shaw an out if his health renders him unable to serve or seek re-election.

Riley Rogers, the uncle of 3rd District Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Larry Rogers Jr., also is circulating petitions for the mayor's race. The younger Rogers, backed by Jackson, was successful in unseating Robert Shaw in 2004 from the position he held for six years. His uncle is being supported in his mayoral bid by Thornton Township Supervisor and Democratic Committeeman Frank Zuccarelli.

Questions about Shaw's ability to serve are not new for Dolton. The late Mayor Donald Hart was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease shortly after taking office in 1993, missing many meetings and attending several by phone with no indication of the reason.

He eventually revealed the nature of his illness publicly and spent much of his four-year term confined to his home in a state of near total paralysis dependent upon a breathing machine. Hart had the mayor's office phone line from Village Hall transferred to his home and often conducted public meetings lying in a recliner in his living room.

Hart chose not to seek re-election in 1997 and was succeeded by Shaw.

Hart passed away the following year.