How do you not remember a DUI-drug court date?
Just what the people of Orland Township need, right? An official whose only response to not showing up for a court appearance that prompts an active arrest warrant, is Lora Kreczmer a candidate for Orland Township Trustee, forgot. She only turned herself in because it became public, and she is running for office.
By Ray Hanania
Last week I broke a story about a young woman who is running for Trustee in Orland Township.
Like all big stories, someone tipped me off that there was an active warrant out for her arrest. As it turned out, the tip was accurate. It took a few weeks to track it down.
The arrest warrant was for Lora M. Kreczmer, 43, a candidate on the “Orland Residents for Responsible Government” (ORRG) slate in Orland Township. She was arrested by the Chicago Ridge Police August 1, 2017 when her car struck another car at 101st and Harlem Avenue.
The police officer noticed she looked “delayed.” Kreczmer said she was taking some prescription drugs. Her driver’s license was also revoked, and she had no insurance. There were two children in the car, too, police said.
Kreczmer was ordered to appear at Bridgeview Court three weeks later on Sept. 26, 2017. She didn’t show up. An arrest warrant was issued by the Chicago Ridge Police, according to the Cook County Sheriff’s office, six months later on March 21, 2018.
What’s really shocking is someone can run for public office with an outstanding arrest warrant on her record.
I went to the Chicago Ridge Police Department Monday after the Police Chief there Robert Pyznarski didn’t return my calls or emails. I spoke with the CRPD FOIA officer who gave me copies of the redacted case report. (I redacted more details, too.)
That morning I tried to reach Kreczmer to get her side of the story, I Called a phone number listed in the arrest warrant and case report, but she didn’t answer. I did an online search for her personal information. I called and texted her cell number several times. No answer. I reached out to the ORRG slate and they forwarded my two queries to Kreczmer. She refused to respond.
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The Kreczmer arrest warrant controversy is the fault of Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau who backed her candidacy against the slate headed by Orland Township Trustee Paul O’Grady. Pekau is a far right-wing extremist who is trying to usurp the Republican Party with his fanatic views. Paid a mayoral salary of more than $150,000 ($600,000 in the past four years), Pekau is trying to build a new Political Machine to takeover the Southwest suburbs
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I published the story and public records on my website. The next morning, I learned Kreczmer surrendered to Chicago Ridge Police. A source claimed Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau, who is backing Kreczmer’s candidacy, personally called Chicago Ridge on her behalf.
I called Chicago Ridge Mayor Chuck Tokar and he asked Pyznarksi to return my call. A deputy later called to confirm that Kreczmer was released after posting bond.
Kreczmer has a new court date, April 27, 21 days after her election contest on April 6 for Orland Township Trustee challenging incumbent Supervisor Paul O’Grady of the Orland Township Together (OTT) slate. O’Grady is one of the best public officials in Illinois.
Instead of responding to me with her side of the story – I gave her a list of basic questions and promised to run them as a Q&A — she issued a press release using Mayor Pekau’s media consultants to attack me personally.
She said I targeted her because she is a woman. Monday was “International Woman’s Day.” She called my story political and me “vicious.” Go to my website at SuburbanChicagoland.com and read the stories for yourself. Straight news.
Her excuse? She forgot, saying she didn’t pay close attention, despite the serious charges including a car accident, DUI-Drugs and driving on a revoked license. Basically, she tried to make it seem like it was a parking ticket.
Just what the people of Orland Township need, right? An official whose only response to not showing up for a court appearance that prompts an active arrest warrant, is she forgot. She only turned herself in because it became public, and she is running for office.
I might feel sorry for her except that she is part of Pekau’s world of extremist personal politics. Pekau claims to be a “Republican,” but in reality, he is a far rightwing extremist.
The truth is there is no difference between Republicans or Democrats in local politics. The only difference is between moderates and extremists (on both sides), and in egos. Good, moderate elected local officials look at issues not partisan politics. The extremists lie.
I’m a Reagan Democrat, which is basically a centrist Republican. I avoid petty extremists like Pekau, who is trying to build his own Political Machine after stumbling into office four years ago.
You have to wonder. In slating Kreczmer, did anyone think to do their homework or check her background to save her from all this justified public scrutiny? I blame Pekau for that!
(Originally published March 17, 2021 in the Southwest News Newspaper Group including the Des Plaines Valley News, SW News-Herald, The Reporter and The Regional News.)
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.
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