There is little common ground when it comes to Orland Park mayoral candidates Keith Pekau and Jim Dodge.
But they are both similar in one respect — their fierce admiration and respect for the slates they are leading in the April 1 election.
Early voting has started, and the main event will take place April 1. Aside from the Pekau/Dodge showdown, up for grabs are three trustee seats and the clerk position. The two mayoral candidates took time out to brag about the players on their slate.
Orland Park for All
Dodge, the challenger, said he was careful in selecting his team.
“Teams are made up of great individual players which is what I exactly built for the slate,” Dodge said. “I’m very proud of the team and very proud of the individuals. I’m glad they stepped up to, as we like to say, breed the future that Orland Park deserves.
For clerk, Mary Ryan Norwell is Dodge’s choice.
“She’s a dear heart, and has deep and long experience in serving government,” Dodge said. “She’s a former state’s attorney and when she started her career, she was an undercover investigator. Her specialty is FOIA and FOIA compliance. I’m thrilled about that because we’re going to take transparency to a whole other level.”
For trustee, business owner John Lawler has economic chops that will be of great value for Dodge.
“He has a lot of creative ideas about economic development and how the village works. He can see things actually happen. He brings in a wealth of experience in the private sector and commercial. He cares very much about Orland Park.”
Trustee candidate Dina M. Lawrence has a background in environment and business.
“She’s an absolute dynamo when it comes to meeting and engaging with people and she really cares about Orland Park,” Dodge said. “I’m thrilled to have someone with her background in environmental and she really gets the details and the big picture on financial and economic structures.”
Also running for trustee is attorney Joanna M. Liotine Leafblad who once worked with former Cook County State’s Attorney and Judge Jack O’Malley.
“She does great work and has been prosecuting human trafficking cases for a while,” Dodge said. “She has a great background in law enforcement and the criminal justice system. And on the side, if you will, she’s a mom who is involved in things like theater and music and has a wealth of giving back to the community on multiple spheres of her life.”
People Over Politics
Pekau, the incumbent, boasts that one of the best things he has done in office is surround himself with quality teammates on the board and shares the same sentiment about the people on his slate.
“They are not political, and they don’t play political games,” Pekau said. “They do what’s best for the people of Orland Park. And I only ask them to be honest with me and to vote their conscience.”
Accountant Brian Gaspardo is running for clerk. He was appointed in 2024 after Patrick O’Sullivan left the post because he moved out of the village.
“Hands down, he’s a fantastic business guy,” Pekau said of Gaspardo. “He’s been president of the OYA and has been a coach. He has a firm which is sizable and he sits on a bunch of different boards and he has really done a great job as clerk and provides a lot of insight to us as well.”
Sean Kampas is an incumbent candidate for trustee who has gained Pekau’s admiration over the years.
“He’s a fantastic trustee,” Pekau said. “He works his tail off. He’s super smart. We have a lot of smart people on the board, and he might be the smartest one of them all. He understands technology and is a dedicated hard worker.”
Likewise, attorney Brian Riordan is an incumbent looking for a return trip to the board in the next four years.
“Brian works for a very large firm that does a lot of corporate law,” Pekau said. “He’s super smart and brings a lot to the table especially when we deal with a lot of legal issues. When he makes comments, they are very insightful. He really pays attention to what’s going on. He’s fantastic.”
Newcomer Carol McGury, who is on the technology commission, is also on the slate seeking one of the trustee chairs on the docket.
“She has a wealth of business knowledge and has lived here for a couple of decades,” Pekau said. “She has done a great job with technology, and she will be a great addition to our board.”
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