ORLAND PARK, IL — Orland Park for All has announced three candidates for village trustee in the upcoming April 6, 2027 consolidated election: Bridget Lindbloom, Richard C. Dykstra Sr., and Joe Wholley. The candidates were introduced Wednesday, Oct. 14, at the campaign's Oktoberfest kickoff at Silver Lake Country Club.
Orland Park for All was established as a political slate led by Mayor Jim Dodge ahead of the April 2025 election, in which he defeated two-term incumbent Mayor Keith Pekau.
Bridget Lindbloom is a lifelong Orland Park resident who has served on the Orland Park Public Library Board of Trustees since 2019 and was elected board president in 2025. She has worked in association management for more than two decades, including as Acute Care Surgery Fellowship Program Director for the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma since 2013, director of operations at SmithBucklin Corporation, and an executive director at Affinity Strategies. She graduated from St. Michael School, Marian Catholic High School, and Illinois State University, where she earned a degree in economics with a concentration in human resources. She and her husband, Joe, have two sons.
"I grew up here, I'm raising my boys here, and I've spent years volunteering alongside my neighbors, so this community means everything to me," said Lindbloom. "Whether it's a library board meeting or a school fundraiser, I've learned that the best results come when people feel heard and work together. I'd be honored to bring that spirit to the Village Board."
Richard C. Dykstra Sr. has lived in Orland Park since 1977 and spent nearly five decades in the HVAC industry, leading his family's business, founded in 1926. He is a Carrier Hall of Fame inductee and recipient of the Skip Snyder Humanitarian Award. Dykstra has volunteered with Kiwanis International for 50 years and is involved with Orland Park Christian Reformed Church. He and his wife, Cheryl, have been married for 53 years and have two children and seven grandchildren. He attended Roseland Christian School and Chicago Christian High School.
"I've called Orland Park home for nearly 50 years, and I've watched this community grow because people stepped up to serve it," said Dykstra. "I've built my whole career on hard work, treating people right, and getting the job done. That's exactly what I want to bring to the Village Board."
Joe Wholley is an Orland Park resident with nearly 30 years of experience in business development, financial oversight, and revenue strategy. He grew up in Evergreen Park and Oak Lawn and graduated from St. Ignatius College Prep and John Carroll University. He has led sales and business development efforts in the United States and internationally and currently works in state and local tax consulting. Wholley serves on the Board of Directors of Chicago Gaelic Park, where he helped lead an initiative that more than doubled annual sponsorship revenue. Earlier in his career, he reported to the American Legion's full Board of Directors and led revenue-growth initiatives for other veterans' organizations. His wife works as a media specialist at Oak Lawn Community High School, and both of their children have attended Orland Park schools.
"This is my first time running for office, and I'm not doing it to play politics. I'm doing it because Orland Park is where my family has put down roots, and I want to put my experience to work for this community," said Wholley. "I look at the facts, listen to different viewpoints, and ask good questions, because a good idea is a good idea no matter who proposes it. Every resident deserves to be heard, and I'm excited to join a team that is focused on responsible taxes, safe neighborhoods, strong services, and respectful government."
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