A Response to Mayor Pekau—and a Message to Orland Park Voters

Thank you, Mayor Pekau, for your reply to my recent post. Yes, streaming board meetings is a good step—but transparency requires much more.

Real transparency means providing clear explanations for decisions, welcoming input from others, and making public information truly accessible and understandable. It's not just about being visible—it's about being accountable.

Your brief reply—"In short all the stuff I have done for 8 years..."—captures the real issue. You believe you are already doing everything necessary. But you're not.

This isn't just my opinion—this is my area of expertise. I earned a PhD in Business and Applied Economics and an MBA in Finance and Industrial Relations from the Wharton School. As a professor of management and decision science at UIC, I spent much of my career researching and consulting on local government performance.

Since moving to Orland Park after retirement, I’ve taken a close interest in how our village is governed. What I’ve found is troubling: we have a mayor who doesn't seem to understand how a council-manager system is supposed to work—and who is unwilling to accept input from others, even from experts. That’s a recipe for mistakes, and we've seen many.

Before the current election cycle, I began writing about these issues—not to support any candidate, but to raise awareness and suggest solutions. But when a credible candidate emerged who shared my concerns, I gave him my support. I continue to believe that Mayor Pekau is not open to meaningful reform.

Here is a link to this post and to articles I’ve written that dig into facts, examine the performance of our local government, and highlight what's at stake in this election: I hope you’ll read a few before casting your vote.

It’s time for leadership that welcomes input, values expertise, and is genuinely committed to transparency and good governance.

—Darold Barnum

Selected Articles on Orland Park Governance(Click titles to read full articles)

The Results of Unchecked Authority in Orland Park’s Government: Mayor Pekau has bypassed the council-manager system and centralized power, eliminating traditional checks and balances

Orland Park Police Reject Pekau’s Failed Leadership: In a Unanimous Vote, Police Endorse Jim Dodge for Mayor—Calling for Strong Leadership, Transparency, and Real Solutions

Orland Park Mayors' Performance in Capital Project Development: This comparison underscores a crucial lesson for our village -- good governance matters

Mayor Keith Pekau’s Pattern of Public Attacks: A Growing Concern Mayor Pekau has chosen a path defined by public attacks, personal vendettas, and an apparent need to vilify those who disagree with him.

The Illusion of Success: Mayor Pekau's Cherry-Picking Pekau's selective use of data misrepresents both his and Dodge's performance

The Strategic Value of TIFs: Looking Beyond Direct Financial Returns

Paying Off Triangle's $47 Million Debt to Orland Park: Start With Competent Financial Analysis

Cops and Robbers in Orland, Tinley and Cook: When are suspected crime trends probably true and when are they probably not in Orland Park, Tinley Park, and Cook County outside of Chicago

Crime Continues to Decrease in 2023: Both nationally and locally, both violent and property crime rates continued down

Understanding Crime Trends in Orland Park and Tinley Park: Key public safety issues, with a focus on retail theft and violent crimes

Setting The Record Straight: Dan McLaughlin’s Legacy vs. Keith Pekau’s Claims

Dealing With Climate Change: We must act to slow the change, and build an infrastructure to withstand it.

Village of Orland Park Press Release--A Rebuttal to Their Rebuttal: VOP's rebuttal illustrates my concerns rather than rebutting them

Village of Orland Park’s Press Release on critical Patch article: The Village's approach appears to conflict with principles of free speech and open political discourse.