Dodge, 'Orland Park For All' Slate To Vie For Leadership Spots In 2025

ORLAND PARK, IL — Former trustee Jim Dodge is seeking a return to the political stage in Orland Park, having filed to run for mayor in the April 1, 2025 election.

Joining Dodge on the Orland Park for All slate are Mary Ryan Norwell for clerk, and trustee candidates Dina M. Lawrence, John Lawler and Joanna M. Liotine Leafblad.

Dodge and his slate will take on incumbent Mayor Keith Pekau and his People Over Politics slate. Pekau is joined by current trustees Sean Kampas and Brian Riordan, along with newly appointed clerk Brian Gaspard. Trustee Joni Radaszewski will not seek re-election; Carol McGury will run for her seat.

In a release Monday, the Orland Park for All Slate thanked its supporters.

"The entire team thanks the 4,236 Orland Park residents who signed our petition," Dodge said in the release. "They want a choice, and they want their voices heard. We are thrilled with how many people enthusiastically took action to put us on the ballot.

"This team represents the path forward for Orland Park. We will focus on listening to and acting on behalf ofthe residents, we will stop the partisan rancor at Village Hall, and better manage your tax dollars."

Dodge was elected village clerk in 1989 at age 26. He was appointed trustee in 1996 following the passing of Bill Vogel. He served until 2021.

Norwell is a retired Cook County State's Attorney, who has represented municipalities and schools. She is a board member at Chicago Gaelic Park and a longtime parishioner of St. Michael's.

Lawrence holds an MBA from the University of Chicago and is a former Orland Youth Association basketball coach.

Lawler is a local small business owner, volunteer with Orland Youth Association and St. Michael, and member of the Arts and Recreation Committee. He also holds an MBA from DePaul University.

Liotine Leafblad is a prosecutor for the Cook County State’s Attorney's Office, and former member of the Orland Park Theatre Troupe and the Sandburg Music Booster Bands. She currently serves as President of the Orland Park Library.

The group is running on key points including treating all Orland residents with respect, better managing Orland residents' tax dollars, investing more resources in public safety, and rebuilding intergovernmental relationships, according to the release.

"The candidates are committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful atmosphere where every resident feels valued and heard, managing financial resources effectively, prioritizing the safety of the community, and enhancing collaborations with surrounding governmental bodies," the release reads. "These priorities will serve as the foundation for their vision of a more responsive and responsible Orland Park government."