Orland Park Election: McLaughlin Unseated In Mayoral Upset

ORLAND PARK, IL — Orland Park Mayor Dan McLaughlin, who has held the post since 1993, was unsuccessful in his campaign for a seventh term. Challenger Keith Pekau unseated McLaughlin Tuesday night in a stunning upset.

McLaughlin called Pekau to concede the election just before 10 p.m., according to a social media post from the First Orland Party.

Unofficial results from the clerk's office in Cook County and Will County indicate Pekau totaled 54 percent of the vote to McLaughlin's 46 percent. In unofficial vote totals as of 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, Pekau had 6,492 and McLaughlin had 5,475.

"When this campaign began we knew there was a sea change in the way people cast their votes," McLaughlin wrote in a statement after conceding defeat. "The national elections in November taught us those lessons."

"The election is over, at least for me."

Pekau thanked voters in Orland Park in a statement to media following his win.

"I will not let them down," he said. "I got into this race because I could not sit back and watch was happening to the village I love. I heard the voices of hundreds of our neighbors and friends who felt strongly that we needed a change at the top."

He said voters felt "powerless" to stop a mayoral salary increase and pension spike "that was thrust upon them."

"It’s one thing to just gripe about problems, and another to actually do something about them. I decided to take a stand," he said.

McLaughlin was gracious in defeat, congratulating Pekau as an opponent who "motivated us to get out and deliver a message to more voters than ever."

"He delivered a message that resonated with a greater voting base and for that he should be commended. I will help him in the transition to keep Orland Park strong."

Separate races in Orland Park on April 4 went unchallenged, with the First Orland Party holding onto all other offices in the village. John C. Mehalek went unchallenged in the race for clerk and James Dodge, Dan Calandriello and Kathleen Fenton were unopposed for three open seats on the village board of trustees.

McLaughlin praised the "team of trustees" who "love Orland Park like I do."

"Since elected as a trustee in 1983, I have been part of a team committed to fiscal responsibility and accountability for Orland Park," McLaughlin said. "This First Orland Team will continue the efforts on behalf of the residents and businesses in Orland Park."

With the First Orland Party continuing to hold control of the village board, Pekau said he knows it will be "tough sledding" to institute the reforms he has in mind.

"I am up to the challenge and promise to do my level best to lead Orland Park over the next four years with honesty, integrity and service above self," he said.

Vote totals from Will County are posted here. Totals from Cook County can be found here.

All results are unofficial.

Read More: Orland Park Mayoral Election 2017 Preview

Photo: Dan McLaughlin (left), courtesy of First Orland Party. Keith Pekau (right), courtesy of Keith 4 Mayor.