By Illinois Review
Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau – known for publicly harassing and intimidating constituents, lost his re-election by a landslide as voters sent a clear message – electing former trustee Jim Dodge by a 15-point margin, 57-42.
In a statement released on the Orland Park for All facebook page, Dodge declared victory, but kept to a non-partisan tone.
“This is the first day, or the onset, to a return to dignity where we will bring back respect, transparency, and civility to Orland Park. Together, we will breathe new life into our community, ensuring that every voice is heard and valued.”
Dodge’s slate, Orland Park for All swept election night, as voters resoundingly rejected Pekau’s People Over Politics slate. Mary Ruan Norwell was elected Clerk, while Dina M. Lawrence, Joanna M. Liotine Leafblad and John Lawler easily won their trustee races.
Pekau’s entire slate of trustee candidates were all defeated, including incumbents Brian Riordan and Sean Kampas. Carol McGury also lost by six points.
Kampas became infamous after this publication revealed in March 2023 that he was heckling and following a group of Orland Fire Protection District candidates in a vehicle as a form of harassment and intimidation while they knocked on doors.
The driver of the vehicle harassing the off-duty firefighters and volunteers? Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau.
Joining Pekau in his gray Dodge Durango, and riding shotgun was Kampas – an ally and close confidante who’s known for rubber stamping anything Pekau presented during Village board meetings.
And during community events, Kampas, an IT consultant, was often seen wearing an official Orland Park Police Emergency Services polo with an official police badge attached to his belt – giving the impression that he is a member of law enforcement. In Illinois, it is unlawful to impersonate a police officer, and a Class 4 Felony, punishable by up to three years in jail and $25,000 in fines.
In February, the Illinois State Board of Elections ruled unanimously 6-0 in favor of Illinois Review after allies of Mayor Pekau filed a frivolous case in 2023 meant to intimidate and silence the state’s largest conservative news publication.
During a hearing in downtown Chicago this past winter, ISBE general counsel Marni Malowitz characterized the complaint against IR as “impinging on First Amendment rights.”
On August 1, 2023, Illinois Review broke news that Pekau and his village trustees were using taxpayer-funded village resources to run his failed congressional campaign against incumbent U.S. Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL).
Days later, William Healy, an Orland Park village trustee, filed a complaint against Illinois Review General Counsel Scott Kaspar. Healy, a CPA, remains under investigation by the Federal Election Commission for allegedly comingling state and federal campaign contributions relating to Mayor Pekau’s failed congressional bid, where he served as treasurer.
At a preliminary hearing in October 2023, the ISBE hearing officer found that Kaspar and IR editor-in-chief Mark Vargas had done nothing wrong – and that Illinois Review was an independent and long-standing news organization not under the purview of the Board’s election authority.
For the last several years, IR has published dozens of articles highlighting and exposing Peaku’s attempts at a power grab, how he favored big donors and city contractors over residents, his bullying tactics and how he used fake news websites to control the narrative and ensure favorable news coverage.
Speaking to a small group of supporters on Tuesday evening, Peakau conceded.
“I got shellacked.”
The defeated mayor continued,
“I did what I could. Obviously, the people spoke.”
Beth Damas and her Orland Park Fire Protection District Board of Trustee candidates including Donald Jeffers and Bridget Tolan had a big night as well. For the last several weeks, Pekau and his allies, including Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison viciously attacked the candidates and their families on social media.
The Illinois Republican Party even paid for a mailer supporting Pekau’s slate of candidates running against Damas’ slate. But even that fell short on election night.
In a big way.
