Skip to content
  • Subscribe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Features
  • Subscribe FREE to Ray Hanania’s Columns
  • Advertise
Suburban Chicagoland

Suburban Chicagoland

Original News, Features & Opinion

  • About
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Our Writers
      • Ray Hanania
      • Bill Lipinski
      • Aaron Hanania
      • Steve Metsch
      • Steve Neuhaus
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Reach Out
    • Submit a Press Release
  • Sections
    • Events
    • Opinion
    • News
    • Features
    • Seniors
    • Comic Strip
  • Library
    • “MIdnight Flight” Online Book
      • Midnight Flight Book Overview
      • Midnight Flight Introduction
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 1
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 2
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 3
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 4
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 5
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 6
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 7
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 8
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 9
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 10
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 11
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 12
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 13
    • Villages, Cities & Towns
    • Federal Office Holders
    • County Officials
    • Legislators
  • Seniors
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Comment
  • Podcast
    • Ray Hanania on Politics
    • Two Guys on Politics
  • Hanania on Tiktok
  • EVENTS
  • Toggle search form
  • Vehicle crashes into Orland Park Post Office on 114th Place.
    Car crashes into Orland Park post Office accident
  • Dads' Rights Attorney Jeffery M. Leving
    CLE at Leving firm to focus on conflicts of interest in family law cases Jeffery Leving
  • State Senator Michael Hastings introduces law to revive long dormant and degraded Tinley Park Mental Health Center into a Sports Park for the community. Photo courtesy of the State Senate President Don Harmon
    Hastings urges residents to apply for energy bill assistance program Frankfort
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas
    Pappas’ office helps Chicago couple get $2,447 property tax refund Blogger
  • The Orland Fire Protection District hosted its 22nd annual commemoration to honor and remember the victims of the terrorist attacks that took place on Sept. 11, 2001 during a ceremony at the Fire District
    Orland Firefighters host commemoration to remember victims of Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks Events
  • State Senator Michael Hastings introduces law to revive long dormant and degraded Tinley Park Mental Health Center into a Sports Park for the community. Photo courtesy of the State Senate President Don Harmon
    Hastings pleased to see more than $700,000 in grants awarded to local hotels Business
  • Cicero celebrates Mexican Independence with festivities and parade
    Cicero celebrates Mexican Independence with festivities and parade Culture
  • Chicago Alderman Raymond Lopez, 15th Ward, champions rights of Chicago residents
    Ray Lopez leads and champions rights of Chicago residents Chicago
  • Illinois Senator Michael Hastings, 19th Senate District
    Hastings reminds residents to make a plan during National Preparedness Month Features
  • Photo courtesy of PRIMETIME Sports and SeatGeek Stadium
    SeatGeek features competition between Club Deportivo Guadalajara and Club Leon on Saturday Sept. 9 News
  • Veteran Diana Howard addresses a disrespectful Village of Orland Park Village Board meeting on August 21, 2023. She was viciously attacked in Mayor Pekau's eNewsletter
    Veteran Diana Howard courageously confronts abusive Orland Park Mayor Blogger
  • Fathers Rights Attorney Jeffery M. Leving
    Dads’ Rights Victory: In battle of aunts, our client gains time with orphaned niece Blogger
  • Village representatives, led by Mayor Chris Getty, met at 7905 Ogden Avenue on Friday Sept. 1 for the grand opening of Strive Fitness. Pictured is owner Shawn Groll and Village President Christopher Getty
    Mayor Chris Getty and Village officials celebrate opening of Strive Fitness Business
  • OFPD receive International Accredited Agency status. Photo courtesy of the Orland Fire Protection District OFPD
    Orland Fire Protection District receives the nation’s highest accreditation honor Fire
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas
    Taxpayers get help finding refunds for overpayments, missed exemptions Blogger

Pekau defeats McLaughlin in Orland Park mayoral race

Posted on April 5, 2017 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Pekau defeats McLaughlin in Orland Park mayoral race
SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  

Loading

Pekau defeats McLaughlin in Orland Park mayoral race

Republican challenger Keith Pekau easily unseated 23 year incumbent Dan McLaughlin as Mayor of Orland Park in a contest that focused on the mayor’s bid to boost his salary by more than 375 percent and to spike his pension from $30,000 a year to $110,000.

By Ray Hanania

(Updated with unofficial final vote totals) Keith Pekau threw his hat in the race for Orland Park mayor at the last minute but easily claimed victory Tuesday night defeating 23 year incumbent Mayor Dan McLaughlin.

Pekau decided to run for mayor in late November after McLaughlin pushed the Orland Park Village Board to give him a massive pay hike that would give him a huge pension of more than $110,000 a year.

On Tuesday, as the vote tally showed him holding on to a strong lead through the evening Tuesday, Pekau said that clearly the voters were upset with the mayor’s salary hike and the pension grab.

“It wasn’t just me,” Pekau said Tuesday night after McLaughlin conceded the race.

“Clearly, I think the issue of the pension and the mayor’s salary were the key issues. The people of Orland Park tonight said they are fed up with politics as usual and with the way things were going. The pension issue and the salary increase were definitely key factors.”

An early analysis of the election showed that with 44 of 50 precincts reporting by 9 pm had Pekau leading McLaughlin by 835 votes, or 5,786 votes to 4,951 votes (53.89 percent to 46.11 percent). The remaining six precincts were estimated to have about 900 remaining votes making it all but impossible for McLaughlin to overcome Pekau’s significant lead.

But by 10:30 pm, unofficial election results from the Cook County Clerk’s Office Board of Elections showed that Pekau’s commanding lead held through until all the precincts were counted.

UPDATED VOTE RESULTS: Keith Pekau 6,870 votes (54.42 percent), Dan McLaughlin 5,754 votes (45.58 percent).

Orland Park Mayor-elect Keith Pekau

An analysis of the unofficial vote tabulation of the Cook County Election office showed that this election attracted more than 4,000 more voters than the last contested election in 2009 when McLaughlin easily defeated challenger Gerald F. Maher. At that time, the total votes cast in 2009 were 8,539.

This time, the total vote is estimated at this writing to be 10,737 votes cast with about 900 more remaining in the 6 uncounted precincts.

The unofficial total vote count by the end of the evening was 12,624, or more than 4,085 more votes cast in this election than in the last contested Orland Park mayoral election in 2009.

Pekau thanked all of the volunteers and people who “came out of the woodwork” to support his last minute candidacy.

“This win is not about what I did but it is about what my entire team did and all the volunteers and all the voters in Orland Park did,” Pekau said in an interview Tuesday night.

Mayor Dan McLaughlin

“This was a fact-based campaign. It was all the volunteers who stepped up, and people who wanted to help me who I had never met before. It was amazing.”

McLaughlin’s troubles began last November when the Village Board voted unanimously to increase his salary from $40,000 a year to $150,000 a year. The 375 percent increased salary would result in giving McLaughlin a pension of more than $110,000 a year.

McLaughlin had told the board at the time that he did not have a pension from the village because he was working part-time at the village during the past 23 years, although he did have a full-time job with a Chicago union.

Pekau also received support from popular radio talkshow host Dan Proft whose Liberty Principles PAC donated more than $150,000 to Pekau’s campaign. The money allowed Pekau to respond to an avalanche of campaign mailers sent out by McLaughlin, whose campaign was heavily financed by major contributions collected over the past four years.

About 100 Residents of Orland Park filled the board meeting room Monday Oct. 17, 2016 to protest increasing Mayor Dan McLaughlin
About 100 Residents of Orland Park filled the board meeting room Monday Oct. 17, 2016 to protest increasing Mayor Dan McLaughlin’s salary 375 percent from $40,000 to $150,000 a year. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania.

While McLaughlin focused on direct mail to voters, much of the PAC money spent independently of Pekau went to purchase TV commercials that aired during the past two weeks.

Pekau ran on his own without a sate of candidates for the village trustee positions.

Incumbent Orland Trustees Jame Dodge, Daniel Calandriello and Kathleen Fenton, who were a part of McLaughlin’s Orland First Party, were uncontested and won office with votes of 7,026 for Dodge, 6,970 votes for Calandriello and 6,960 votes for Fenton.

In analyzing the election, it was clear that the salary and pension issue caused him to lose 25 percent of his base, compared to his running mates, and to produce an additional 3,500 voters who mostly voted only in the mayoral race.

In other races, David Shalabi who was appointed to the District 135 School board, lost his bid to remain on the board. Shalabi was one of five candidates running for four seats and a part of the slate backed by McLaughlin.

Shalabi ran 5th place with only 4,628 votes cast in 39 of 43 precincts counted by 9 pm. Laura Berry received 6,030 votes, Mike Maratea received 5,315 votes, and Devin Hodge received 5,225 votes. Sandra Kulak, who ran as an independent, won with 5,713 votes.

Pundits said that Shalabi lost because he was touted as a candidate of the Orland Prayer Center Mosque and because he is Muslim.

A letter signed by officials of the Orland Prayer Center (Orland Mosque) and by Dave Shalabi under the Arabic name Dahoud Shalabi, was sent to voters in Orland Park clearly identifying Shalabi as a “Muslim.” The letter was distributed online and circulated at polling places

(Ray Hanania is an award winning columnist, author and former Chicago City Hall reporter. Email him at rghanania@gmail.com.)

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.  

Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

Email Ray Hanania at rghanania@gmail.com.

Follow RayHanania on Gettr.com, the uncensored Twitter Ray Hanania on Gettr, the new Twitter
Ray Hanania
Latest posts by Ray Hanania (see all)
  • Car crashes into Orland Park post Office - September 22, 2023
  • Hastings urges residents to apply for energy bill assistance program - September 18, 2023
  • Pappas’ office helps Chicago couple get $2,447 property tax refund - September 15, 2023
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  
 
 
 
           
elections, News, Orland Park, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland Tags:Dan McLaughlin, Dave Shalabi, election, Keith Pekau, Mayor, mayoral contest, Muslim voters, Orland Mosque, Orland Park, voters, voting

Post navigation

Previous Post: Pekau says he won’t take pension benefit
Next Post: Muslims lose in backlash in Suburban Chicago elections

Related Posts

  • Congressman Sean Casten
    Sean Casten launches new TV Ad slamming extremists in 6th District race Civil Rights
  • District 230 School Board President Rick Nogal receiving the Outstanding School Board President. Photo courtesy of District 230
    D230’s Rick Nogal named Illinois’ Outstanding School Board President Editors Pick
  • Photography by Anna Gelman, Danztheatre "Getting Old Sucks"
    Danztheatre Ensemble presents “Getting Old Sucks” Entertainment
  • 87th and Roberts Road construction closures for I-294 improvements. Sept. 2022
    Overnight closures planned for Roberts Road and 87th Street for Tri-State Tollway (I294) construction work construction
  • CERT trainees take instruction from Lt. Bill Leddin and Engineer Tom Rafferty on how to properly apply a tourniquet to an injured limb in a 2016 training. Photo courtesy of the Orland Fire Protection District
    OFPD program June 28: Improving brain functions for seniors News
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas has hosted a display of Christmas Trees from around the world each year since 2003. Photo courtesy of Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas
    Pappas displays Christmas trees from around the world Editors Pick

More Related Articles

Gas n Wash will open a second Mokena location with a Hog Wild restaurant Friday morning at 19990 S. LaGrange Road. (Photo by Bob Bong) Bob Bong on Business: Gas N Wash to open second Mokena location Business
Chicago Wolves courtesy of the Chicago Wolves Ross, Chicago Wolves earn rollercoaster win in Rockford Chicago
Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas with elected officials and Arab community leaders at the Arab American Heritage celebration at Oozi Restaurant April 10, 2019. Photo courtesy of Anthony Caciopo Pappas: Which properties have the biggest property tax increases since 2000? If you didn’t vote … Don’t complain Chicago
Fathers Rights Attorney Jeffery M. Leving After mother’s death, girls find home with dad Chicago
ILL-INI in World Series News
Bond set for Chicago man charged with Attempting to carjack a woman at gunpoint in Downers Grove Chicago

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with your Social ID
  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas
    Pappas’ office helps Chicago couple get $2,447 property tax refund
    September 15, 2023
  • Veteran Diana Howard addresses a disrespectful Village of Orland Park Village Board meeting on August 21, 2023. She was viciously attacked in Mayor Pekau's eNewsletter
    Veteran Diana Howard courageously confronts abusive Orland Park Mayor
    September 6, 2023
  • Fathers Rights Attorney Jeffery M. Leving
    Dads’ Rights Victory: In battle of aunts, our client gains time with orphaned niece
    September 3, 2023
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas
    Taxpayers get help finding refunds for overpayments, missed exemptions
    August 31, 2023
  • Statue of Liberty. Photo courtesy of Fabian Fauth on Unsplash
    America weakened by bullying, hatred and media hypocrisy
    August 24, 2023
  • Tinley Park Mental Health Center, Park District, Senator Michael Hastings. State Reps. Robert Rita, Debbie Meyers-Martin, and Justin Slaughter, as well as representatives of the Cook County Building Trades Council, Chicago Southland Convention and Visitors Bureau, Sierra Club, Illinois Environmental Council, South Suburban Special Recreation Association, Lincolnway Special Recreation Association, Tinley Park Bulldogs, Moraine Valley Community College
    Pritzker makes right choice on abandoned Tinley Mental Health center
    August 18, 2023

Subscribe

  • Ray-Hanania-Newsletter-300-wide-Banner.jpg

Trending

  • Veteran Diana Howard addresses a disrespectful Village of Orland Park Village Board meeting on August 21, 2023. She was viciously attacked in Mayor Pekau's eNewsletter Veteran Diana Howard cour... Veteran Diana Howard courageously confronts abusive Orland Park Mayor By Ra... posted on September 6, 2023
  • State Senator Michael Hastings introduces law to revive long dormant and degraded Tinley Park Mental Health Center into a Sports Park for the community. Photo courtesy of the State Senate President Don Harmon Hastings urges residents... Hastings urges residents to apply for energy bill assistance program State... posted on September 18, 2023
  • Cook County Commissioner Monica Gordon Commissioner Monica Gordo... Commissioner Monica Gordon Announces Advisory Council to Address Violence P... posted on August 27, 2023
  • Chicago Alderman Raymond Lopez courtesy of Twitter Chicago Aldermen set to r... Chicago Aldermen set to reestablish limits to Welcoming City Ordinance  Fol... posted on August 28, 2023
  • Cicero celebrates Mexican Independence with festivities and parade Cicero celebrates Mexican... Cicero celebrates Mexican Independence with festivities and parade Cicero... posted on September 13, 2023
  • NEWS
  • Vehicle crashes into Orland Park Post Office on 114th Place.
    Car crashes into Orland Park post Office
    September 22, 2023
  • Dads' Rights Attorney Jeffery M. Leving
    CLE at Leving firm to focus on conflicts of interest in family law cases
    September 19, 2023
  • State Senator Michael Hastings introduces law to revive long dormant and degraded Tinley Park Mental Health Center into a Sports Park for the community. Photo courtesy of the State Senate President Don Harmon
    Hastings urges residents to apply for energy bill assistance program
    September 18, 2023
  • The Orland Fire Protection District hosted its 22nd annual commemoration to honor and remember the victims of the terrorist attacks that took place on Sept. 11, 2001 during a ceremony at the Fire District
    Orland Firefighters host commemoration to remember victims of Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks
    September 13, 2023
  • State Senator Michael Hastings introduces law to revive long dormant and degraded Tinley Park Mental Health Center into a Sports Park for the community. Photo courtesy of the State Senate President Don Harmon
    Hastings pleased to see more than $700,000 in grants awarded to local hotels
    September 13, 2023
  • Cicero celebrates Mexican Independence with festivities and parade
    Cicero celebrates Mexican Independence with festivities and parade
    September 13, 2023
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png

The Political Pundit

Political Pundit Aug. 24, 2021. Taliban thanks president for boxes of MAGA hats
  • WORD PRESS REVIEWS
  • MyCloud by Western Digital, a hard drive that doesn't last. Don't purchase Western Digital.
    Western Digital tubes its loyal customers for profit
    October 17, 2021
  • Macho Themes website front page. Don't buy their themes. They don't work
    Difficulties with Macho Themes for WordPress
    August 21, 2021
  • TECHNOLOGY REVIEWS
  • Orland Fire Protection District acquires 6 Stryker Xpedition Powered Stair Chairs to more easily and safely rescue victims in emergencies
    Orland Fire District utilizes new technology to increase emergency victim safety
    August 20, 2023
  • Suspect Alisa Velcu charged in Verion Store theft July 26, 2023 in Bloomington, Illinois. Mugshot supplied by the DuPage County State's Attorney
    Bond Set for Two Women Charged with Robbing Bloomingdale Verizon Wireless Store
    July 26, 2023
  • The Village of Orland Hills, Mayor Kyle Hastings State Senator Michael Hastings and Orland Township Highway Commissioner Antonio Rubino are partnering to host a Free "Shred and E-Recycling" day for families to be held Saturday August 26, 2023.
    Orland Hills to host “Shred and E-Recycling Day” Saturday August 26, 2023
    July 18, 2023

Follow Ray Hanania at
Gab.com, MeWe.com
IDobbinate.com,
Twitter, Facebook

Creative Commons License
All works on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

Ziyad Brothers Ad Taste of Middle East

Events

  • State Rep. Cyril Nichols hosts Open House Sept. 30, 2023
    State Rep. Cyril Nichols hosts Open House Sept. 30, 2023
    30 Sep 23
    Ford City Shopping Mall, Chicago
  • Rubino and Hastings host Hazardous Waste Recycling Event Oct. 14
    Rubino and Hastings host Hazardous Waste Recycling Event Oct. 14
    14 Oct 23
    Orland Park
  • United Citizens Party hosts annual Fundraiser Oct. 21, 2023
    United Citizens Party hosts annual Fundraiser Oct. 21, 2023
    21 Oct 23
    Countryside

What We’re Reading

Arab News Newspaper Leading English Language Publication in the GulfArab News Newspaper

Ray Hanania on Politics
SW News Newspaper Group

  • SPORTS
  • Photo courtesy of PRIMETIME Sports and SeatGeek Stadium
    SeatGeek features competition between Club Deportivo Guadalajara and Club Leon on Saturday Sept. 9
    September 8, 2023
  • State Senator Michael Hastings introduces law to revive long dormant and degraded Tinley Park Mental Health Center into a Sports Park for the community. Photo courtesy of the State Senate President Don Harmon
    Senator Michael Hasting ensures degraded former Tinley Park Mental Health Center to be revitalized into a sports park in new law
    May 24, 2023
  • Michael Schofield III Sports Complex, Orland Park. Scoreboard
    Kendall and Michael Schofield Family Foundation Sponsor Park Redevelopment
    May 23, 2023
  • Chicago Hounds rugby at Seat Geek Stadium July 8, 2023
    Chicago Hounds rugby announce plans for Dawg Town block party
    May 11, 2023
  • NEWS RELEASES
  • Dads' Rights Attorney Jeffery M. Leving
    CLE at Leving firm to focus on conflicts of interest in family law cases
    September 19, 2023
  • State Senator Michael Hastings introduces law to revive long dormant and degraded Tinley Park Mental Health Center into a Sports Park for the community. Photo courtesy of the State Senate President Don Harmon
    Hastings urges residents to apply for energy bill assistance program
    September 18, 2023
  • State Senator Michael Hastings introduces law to revive long dormant and degraded Tinley Park Mental Health Center into a Sports Park for the community. Photo courtesy of the State Senate President Don Harmon
    Hastings pleased to see more than $700,000 in grants awarded to local hotels
    September 13, 2023
  • Cicero celebrates Mexican Independence with festivities and parade
    Cicero celebrates Mexican Independence with festivities and parade
    September 13, 2023
  • Illinois Senator Michael Hastings, 19th Senate District
    Hastings reminds residents to make a plan during National Preparedness Month
    September 11, 2023
John Kass Columns

Order the book PoweR PR; Ethnic Activists Guide to Strategic Communications

  • BUSINESS NEWS
  • State Senator Michael Hastings introduces law to revive long dormant and degraded Tinley Park Mental Health Center into a Sports Park for the community. Photo courtesy of the State Senate President Don Harmon
    Hastings pleased to see more than $700,000 in grants awarded to local hotels
    September 13, 2023
  • Village representatives, led by Mayor Chris Getty, met at 7905 Ogden Avenue on Friday Sept. 1 for the grand opening of Strive Fitness. Pictured is owner Shawn Groll and Village President Christopher Getty
    Mayor Chris Getty and Village officials celebrate opening of Strive Fitness
    September 1, 2023
  • money $20 dollar bill, dollars, cash
    Financial ratings agency raises rating for Lyons Township Government
    August 25, 2023
  • State Senator Michael Hastings introduces law to revive long dormant and degraded Tinley Park Mental Health Center into a Sports Park for the community. Photo courtesy of the State Senate President Don Harmon
    Measure by State Senator Michael Hastings to secure the South Suburban Airport now law
    July 28, 2023

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

Click this link to watch or use the widget below:

Click here to view the video on YouTube or use the widget below.
Email Ray Hanania for more information about performing at your event at rghanania@gmail.com.

Categories

Copyright © 2022 Suburban Chicagoland & Urban Strategies Group

Powered by PressBook Premium theme