Streit Era Ends In Oak Lawn After 28 Years As Trustee

OAK LAWN, IL -- The 28-year reign of Bob Streit came to an end Tuesday, who fell short in his bid for an eighth term on the Oak Lawn Village Board. Streit was toppled by political novice Paul Mallo, who captured 53% of the third district vote to Streit’s 46%. With all 13 precincts in village’s third district counted, unofficial vote tallies put Mallo ahead by 843 votes to Streit’s 727.

The election season was relatively antic-free, compared to past years in Oak Lawn. Also up for renewal on the Oak Lawn Village Board were Tim Desmond in Dist. 1 and Bud Stalker in Dist. 5. Desmond and Stalker ran unopposed.

Streit ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2017 in a contentious campaign, where he defeated by incumbent Sandra Bury, who sailed to her second term capturing 60% of the vote. The normally contrarian Streit has been quiet on the dais during village board meetings since his mayoral defeat. Streit also ran for village president and lost in 1993. In 2011, Streit came close being unseated by a write-in candidate Dan Sodaro, winning by a wafer-thin 11 votes.

"It was a great run," Streit said in an email. "I was honored and humbled to serve the residents of Oak Lawn for 28 years. I love the people and the community. In the short run, I plan to focus on catching up on my personal life."

Mallo entered the third district race with some apprehension, knowing Streit’s reputation as a tough campaigner. The vice-president of a small company in Chicago, Mallo ran a new blood campaign in an effort to reach families new to Oak Lawn, as well as young adults moving back to the village to raise families.

The trustee-elect credited his team of volunteers with his victory, who he said understood that change needed to happen. Mallo and his team hit as many doors as possible in the third district, keeping their message "factual and positive."

"I visited several hundred homes over the past few months, and the consensus was that residents wanted to go in a new direction in the 3rd District," Mallo said. "There was not a lot of push back from nearly all the residents I talked to. We ran a positive campaign, and ultimately the 3rd District stepped up and voted for change. I would also like to thank Bob Streit for his service to the 3rd district over so many years."

Mallo is well-known around the community through his involvement in Oak Lawn Baseball, Oak Lawn Sharks training camp and the park district's special recreation department. Many of his family members live in the Oak Lawn area. His brother, Todd Mallo, is director of special recreation programs for the Oak Lawn Park District.

He’ll spend the next month preparing for his new roll before he takes the oath of office next month.

“I’m a novice. I need to get in there nad figure out how the whole thing rolls,” Mallo said. “How can I go about helping the residents of Dist. 3 and start fixing the areas that need help.”