The Illusion of Success: Mayor Pekau's Cherry-Picking

It seems that in a past life, Mayor Pekau might have been a champion fruit picker—because in this life, he's a master at cherry-picking. When presenting statistics, he doesn’t provide the full picture, only the selective figures that make him look good.

Take his claims about debt, for example. He insists that debt skyrocketed under the McLaughlin administration and that he has reversed the trend. However, he only talks about bond debt, not total liabilities. A more honest assessment of total liabilities from 2017 to 2022—covering his entire tenure—tells a different story. In 2017, total liabilities stood at $143 million, increasing every year except one, reaching $203 million in 2023. That’s a rise of $60 million, or $10 million per year (https://bit.ly/OPfinancialreports ).

His cherry-picking extends beyond finances to crime statistics. In one survey ranking the safest suburbs, he highlights that Orland Park had the 5th lowest violent crime rate and the 2nd lowest property crime rate. However, that same survey considers additional safety variables, and when looking at the full picture—not just the numbers he selectively promotes—Orland Park didn’t even make the top 20 safest suburbs. Meanwhile, Elmhurst, Oak Brook, and Naperville all secured spots in that top tier (https://bit.ly/PoliceEndorseDodge ).

And speaking of crime, Pekau gives numerous examples of the huge amount high tech gear he has purchased to demonstrate his extraordinary support of his police officers, cherries all.

Not mentioned is the police, in a unanimous vote, endorsed Jim Dodge and specifically rejected Keith Pekau. This unprecedented endorsement—especially against an incumbent—signals deep dissatisfaction within the police force and underscores the urgent need for change in Orland Park’s leadership. (https://bit.ly/PoliceEndorseDodge ).

This pattern of cherry-picking is evident across his financial and crime statistics and beyond.

While the mayor touts his selective successes, he has also tried—and failed—to manufacture “rotten cherries” regarding the tenure of former trustee Dodge.

Rotten Cherries

Pekau has distorted facts, for example, in two major claims:

1. The Triangle TIF “Loss” – He blames Dodge for a $47 million loss on the Triangle TIF, yet 2022 TIF books showed only $31 million owed. In either case, there is no actual loss—the funds are scheduled to be repaid over 31 to 47 years (https://bit.ly/OPfinancialreports https://bit.ly/TriangleDebt )

2. The 9750 Apartments Deal – Pekau claims Dodge “blew $64 million of taxpayer money” on the 9750 apartments. What he fails to mention is that this was a loan, not a gift, and it has already been repaid with interest, yielding a $6 million profit (https://bit.ly/OPfinancialreports).

A Strategy, Not an Accident

Pekau’s cherry-picking isn’t accidental—it’s deliberate. By highlighting only the numbers that support his narrative while ignoring the full reality, he crafts an illusion of success that falls apart under scrutiny.

Whether it’s finances, crime statistics, or his selective portrayal of Dodge’s tenure, the complete truth tells a very different story.

What sets Pekau apart is that he goes beyond selective framing and into outright misrepresentation. While all politicians emphasize their successes, Pekau consistently distorts reality to create an illusion of success.

For example, it’s not just that he highlights low crime rankings; it’s that he ignores the full survey results that tell a different story. It’s not just that he criticizes past debt; it’s that he intentionally misrepresents how debt works to push a misleading narrative. And when he claims millions in ‘losses’ or ‘waste,’ he often leaves out key facts—like how some of those ‘wastes’ actually turned a profit for taxpayers.

So while every politician “cherry-picks,” I’d argue that Pekau is engaging in deliberate deception rather than just selective emphasis. That’s why it’s important to call this out—because when a leader systematically distorts facts, it undermines the ability of voters to make informed decisions.