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
  • Sections
    • Opinion
    • News
    • Features
    • Seniors
    • Comic Strip
  • Library
    • Midnight Flight Book
      • 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
    • Two Guys on Politics Podcast: A Centrist View on Politics
    • Two Guys on Politics
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
    • The Arab street Podcast
  • Submit a Press Release
  • Toggle search form
  • President George W. Bush walks across the tarmac with NFO Lt. Ryan Phillips to Navy One, an S-3B Viking jet, at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego Thursday, May 1, 2003. Flying to the USS Abraham Lincoln, the President addressed the nation and declared "Mission accomplished" in Iraq to justify diverting forces from Afghanistan. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Right from the Middle: Can we win the war in Ukraine? Bill Lipinski
  • Congresswoman Marie Newman, 3rd District Illinois
    Kelly, Foster, Newman among those voting to pass Assault Weapons Ban Act Crime
  • Hanania newspaper column on Pritzker pushing for Democratic National COnvention
    Pritzker push for Democratic National Convention could backfire Blogger
  • Fire Truck, Fire District. Photo courtesy of the Orland Fire Protection District
    Orland Fire District will maintain “all services” despite delayed county tax collections Cook County
  • Mike Porfirio, Democrat endorsed candidate for 11th Senate District
    Porfirio urges “full investigation” into reported racist rant of local official Cook County
  • New Lenox offers Free CERT training
    New Lenox offers free Disaster Preparedness Training to residents Government
  • Patricia Joan Murphy Worth Township Supervisor
    Partnership Will Offer Economic Development and Employment Support in South Suburbs  Business
  • USO barbecue for the troops 2022
    USO hosts Barbecue for the Troops July 23, 2022 Cook County
  • TikTok Screen shot
    TikTok generates nearly $4 billion in consumer spending Business
  • Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash
    Tough punishment needed in wake of Danny Golden shooting Blogger
  • US Declaration of Independence, courtesy of the US Government. Archives.gov
    Right from the Middle: Extremist political views challenge the religious freedoms of Americans Bill Lipinski
  • Congressman Sean Casten
    Congressman Casten brings home $14 million to help district on climate change, hunger, transportation and domestic abuse survivor Baby Boomers
  • Kam Buckner, candidate for Chicago Mayor 2023
    Buckner calls out Chicago Mayor’s “Game of Chicken” with HUD that threatens to create a public housing crisis Chicago
  • Congressman Sean Casten
    Rep. Casten Votes to Protect Marriage Equality Amid Right-Wing Threats  Federal
  • Orland Township Food Pantry seeking "Back Pack" donations for ‘Pack-A-Backpack’ program to provide low-income Orland Township resident children with much needed school supplies.
    Support The Orland Township Food Pantry With ‘Pack-A-Backpack’ Education

Orland Park Mayor disappointed in Trustees’ rejection of concert series plan

Posted on May 10, 2018May 10, 2018 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Orland Park Mayor disappointed in Trustees’ rejection of concert series plan
SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  

Orland Park Mayor disappointed in Trustees’ rejection of concert series plan

The Orland Park Village board, still angry over the voter’s rejection of Dan McLaughlin as Mayor and the election of Keith Pekau, continue to block Pekau’s ideas and proposals. Critics have accused the new board of continuing to put politics over the best interests of the village residents

By a vote of 4-3, Orland Park Village Trustee’s Monday (May 7, 2018) rejected a proposal to approve funds for a new concert series at Centennial Park West introduced by the Village’s new mayor Keith Pekau.

A virtual unknown, Pekau ended McLaughlin’s 24-year reign in a landslide victory of 6,983 to 5,863 votes, a margin of more than 1,100 votes. Nearly 13,000 voters cast ballots in the 2017 elections, setting a new record, compared to only 5,562 total votes cast in 2013 and 8,359 cast in 2009.

McLaughlin was close to Trustee Michael Carroll, who also serves as the Democratic Committeeman of Orland Township. Carroll has been outspoken in attacking critics of McLaughlin and has voted to block the new mayor at nearly every turn at the board meetings.

Orland Park Village Trustees Dan Calandriello, Carroll, Kathy Fenton and Patricia Gira voted against the Pekau proposal, while Trustees Jim Dodge, Carole Ruzich and Mayor Pekau voted in favor of it.

April 4, 2017 elections results for the Orland Park mayoral contest between incumbent Dan McLaughlin and challenger Keith Pekau
April 4, 2017 elections results for the Orland Park mayoral contest between incumbent Dan McLaughlin and challenger Keith Pekau

“I am extremely disappointed that the board voted this down,” Mayor Pekau said in a press release Thursday

“When land was purchased for what is now Centennial Park West, it was generally understood that the venue would be used for concerts and other significant events. The first concert in the series could have happened this year but the board pushed it off into the future.”

Mayor Pekau began vetting the idea of an August concert with trustees and staff on February 5th. At that time, every board member agreed that this was a board goal for the year.

Pekau talks to reporters following board meeting. Photo courtesy of Steve Neuhaus
Pekau talks to reporters following board meeting. Photo courtesy of Steve Neuhaus

“It is budget neutral and would be a great event for the people of Orland Park.  Now, the event is being blocked by four board members,” Pekau said.

“It’s past time to put people before politics and work together to promote positive activities that benefit our residents.”

Pekau said he had hoped to bring in popular bands such as Blue Oyster Cult and Grand Funk Railroad and predicted that the concert would have easily covered the costs. When McLaughlin was mayor, the village trustees never dared to challenge his proposals for expansion and extravagant outdoor concerts which he often personally kicked-off with speeches and remarks.

Prior to Monday’s vote, virtually all of the trustees stated that they were “supportive of the concept,” Pekau said, but wanted to wait until next year. To which Mayor Pekau responded, “I’m letting the board know that I will be bringing forth a proposal to add this to our next budget. As they are all on record saying they support it, I hope their word is good when it comes time for a vote.”

Former Orland Park Mayor Dan McLaughlin

Prior to the vote, Carroll justified his opposition to many of the new mayor’s ideas, asserting, “There are some things that he has tried to advance, without checking with us, and we have disagreed. We all took an oath to represent the people of Orland Park to the best of our ability, and take that oath seriously.”

Carroll added that the issue is that the mayor, despite winning a majority of the vote in the Village, is no more important than he is as a trustee.

“The mayor is no more important than any of the six trustees in a council-manager form of government,” Carroll wrote on the Orland Parker Facebook Page on Saturday, May 5, before the Village Board meeting.

“We all seven set policy, and the village manager implements that policy. We’ve always done that. If someone thinks they can be king, and rule without the majority of the board, he or she will be blocked by the Board.”

Many people believe the board’s 4-vote majority was shocked and surprised by McLaughlin’s loss. It is also believed that McLaughlin is planning a comeback remaining active in the village’s activities and continuing discussions with some board officials.

McLaughlin was ousted after he pushed through a measure backed by Carroll that would have raised his salary from $40,000 a year to $150,000 a year, including a comparable increase in McLaughlin’s pension. The increase was the single most important issue in McLaughlin’s defeat in the mayoral contest on April 4, 2017. The sponsors of the bill never expected McLaughlin to lose and had believed that the salary and pension increase would apply to him directly.

Under the trustees plan for McLaughlin, McLaughlin’s pension benefit would have jumped from $25,000 to $100,000 had he been re-elected to the four year term. Trustees have said they play to rollback the wage and pension hikes and are discussing a plan to “review” Pekau. During his 24 years in office, McLaughlin’s performance was never given a “review” by the trustees.

Since his upset election victory, Pekau has said he will not take the pension. But several trustees who backed McLaughlin are angry that he, not McLaughlin, is benefiting from the pay hike and new status as a “full-time” mayor.

(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)
  • Right from the Middle: Can we win the war in Ukraine? - August 3, 2022
  • Arabs and Muslims wrongly rush to judgment in Oak Lawn police beating of teenager - August 3, 2022
  • Winning complex trials to be subject of CLE at Jeffery Leving law firm - August 1, 2022
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  
 
 
 
           
Government, News, Orland Park, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland Tags:board obstruction, Carole Ruzich, concerts, Dan Calandriello, divisiveness, entertainment, Michael Carroll, Orland Park

Post navigation

Previous Post: Illinois ranks as 7th best state for Police Officers
Next Post: Stage 773 hosts 6th Annual Chicago Nerd Comedy Festival May 17-20

Related Posts

  • Fizzled Fourth News
  • Miracle in Lyons News
  • Electrical power lines. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    ComEd offers contact info in event of wind damage News
  • Congressman Sean Casten criticizes U.S. Postal Service for unexplained and continued delays
    Casten Endorsed by League of Conservation Voters in Re-Election Campaign elections
  • Congresswoman Marie Newman, 3rd District Illinois
    Newman receives BMWED Teamsters endorsement for re-election in new 6th District Chicago
  • Stop Partisan tyranny logo
    Change.org plays politics with truth and censors GOP censorship

More Related Articles

3rd Congressional District Congresswoman Marie Newman Congresswoman Newman announces $70 million in grants to seven Health Centers Chicago
Bridgeview to rededicate park News
Common Core and our failing high schools Education
David Orr and Making Voting Just So ‘Easy’ elections
Daylight savings time promotion. A 2001 US public service advertisement reminded people to adjust clocks. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia State Fire Marshal Reminds Illinoisans to “Change Your Clock, Change Your Batteries” Government
“No regrets” News

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with your Social ID
  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • President George W. Bush walks across the tarmac with NFO Lt. Ryan Phillips to Navy One, an S-3B Viking jet, at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego Thursday, May 1, 2003. Flying to the USS Abraham Lincoln, the President addressed the nation and declared "Mission accomplished" in Iraq to justify diverting forces from Afghanistan. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Right from the Middle: Can we win the war in Ukraine?
    August 3, 2022
  • 17t year old Hadi Abuatelah runs after Oak Lawn police stopped the vehicle he was in asking him to leave a suspicious looking bag in the back seat. Instead, Abuatelah took the bag and tried to run but was caught and beaten to force him to let go of the bag
    Arabs and Muslims wrongly rush to judgment in Oak Lawn police beating of teenager
    August 3, 2022
  • Hanania newspaper column on Pritzker pushing for Democratic National COnvention
    Pritzker push for Democratic National Convention could backfire
    July 29, 2022
  • Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash
    Tough punishment needed in wake of Danny Golden shooting
    July 20, 2022
  • US Declaration of Independence, courtesy of the US Government. Archives.gov
    Right from the Middle: Extremist political views challenge the religious freedoms of Americans
    July 20, 2022
  • Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash
    Differences in how people react to homicides in Chicago vs a wealthy suburb
    July 16, 2022

Subscribe

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

Trending

  • Police Squad Car, courtesy of Wikipedia Two passengers killed in... Two passengers killed in car-semi collision in Bridgeview Bridgeview Polic... posted on July 16, 2022
  • car crashed through the front window of CosmoProf at 9109 W. 151st Street in Orland Park on Tuesday, July 19, 2022 11:45 AM. Vehicle crashes into Orla... Vehicle crashes into Orland Park cosmetic store front A car crashed throug... posted on July 19, 2022
  • Stolen vehicle recovered... Stolen vehicle recovered, offender arrested in Orland Park car theft On Fr... posted on July 18, 2022
  • Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash Tough punishment needed i... Tough punishment needed in wake of Danny Golden shooting Society must dema... posted on July 20, 2022
  • Felon Donzel Jenkins charged with armed weapons possession in Orland Park July 22, 2022 Orland Park Police arrest... Orland Park Police arrest armed felon charged with weapons possession and v... posted on July 23, 2022
  • NEWS
  • Fathers Rights Attorney Jeffery M. Leving
    Winning complex trials to be subject of CLE at Jeffery Leving law firm
    August 1, 2022
  • Row House fire July 30, 2022 146th Street and Morningside Road in Orland Park
    Fire damages Orland Park Row House at 146th and Morningside Road
    August 1, 2022
  • Congresswoman Marie Newman, 3rd District Illinois
    Kelly, Foster, Newman among those voting to pass Assault Weapons Ban Act
    July 31, 2022
  • Jeffery M. Leving fights for your rights
    Leving to discuss how he restored parental rights to divorced father on Radio Saturday August 6
    July 31, 2022
  • Fire Truck, Fire District. Photo courtesy of the Orland Fire Protection District
    Orland Fire District will maintain “all services” despite delayed county tax collections
    July 28, 2022
  • Reese Hamsmith, Reese's Law
    Bipartisan Bill sponsored by Congresswoman Kelly, Reese’s Law, passes in the House
    July 28, 2022
  • 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
  • TikTok Screen shot
    TikTok generates nearly $4 billion in consumer spending
    July 21, 2022
  • Netflix is the best streaming service, despite drop in stock price
    April 20, 2022
  • Book Cover "Laptop from Hell" by Miranda Devince
    Questions remain unanswered about Hunter Biden’s ties to Ukraine
    February 20, 2022

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.

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
  • Stefan Noesen, Chicago Wolves
    Chicago Wolves Noesen wins President’s Award
    July 22, 2022
  • SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview
    Chicago Fire sets dates for “home games” at SeatGeek Stadium because of date conflicts with Soldier Field and Bears
    July 22, 2022
  • Chicago Wolves celebrate Calder Cup Championship 2022. Photo courtesy of the Chicago Wolves
    Calder Cup Champions Chicago Wolves sign two veterans forwards
    July 18, 2022
  • Illinois Senator Michael Hastings, 19th Senate District
    Senator Hastings Golf Classic Monday July 18
    July 12, 2022
  • NEWS RELEASES
  • Senior Care Home, eberhard 🖐 grossgasteiger on social or copy the text below to attribute.
    Nursing Home Violations for First Quarter of 2022
    June 7, 2022
  • John B. Schulz, 36, of the 7400 block of Brookside Drive in Hanover Park
    Hanover Park Man Charged with Multiple Felonies After Attempt to Meet Minor for Sex
    May 27, 2022
  • State Rep Fran Hurley 35th district
    Hurley-led Measure to Support Families of Fallen First Responders Signed by Governor
    May 24, 2022
  • Orland Township hosts Job Fair
    Orland Township events: Walk & Talk program, and Summer Job Fair
    May 17, 2022
  • Liz Gorman hosts Forum for Republican Candidates May 20. Former Congressman Barry Goldwater Jr., the son of the former presidential candidate and conscience of the Republican Conservative movement, will be a keynote speaker
    Barry Goldwater Jr., son of former GOP Presidential icon, headlines Gorman Republican Forum
    May 16, 2022
Two Guys on PoliticsTwo Guys on Politics

John Kass Columns

Order the book PoweR PR; Ethnic Activists Guide to Strategic Communications
  • BUSINESS NEWS
  • Patricia Joan Murphy Worth Township Supervisor
    Partnership Will Offer Economic Development and Employment Support in South Suburbs 
    July 25, 2022
  • TikTok Screen shot
    TikTok generates nearly $4 billion in consumer spending
    July 21, 2022
  • Agave Cocina and Tequila Bar at 6050 W. 159th Street on Oak Forest, Illinois
    Restaurant Review: Agave Cocina in Oak Forest
    July 10, 2022
  • Congresswoman Marie Newman, 3rd District Illinois
    House passes two bills sponsored by Congresswoman Newman to support small businesses and strengthen trade
    June 9, 2022
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.

Copyright © 2022 Suburban Chicagoland & Urban Strategies Group

Powered by PressBook Premium theme