Election 2025: Orland Fire District Board Candidate Beth Damas Kaspar

ORLAND PARK, IL — The consolidated election is set for April 1, and some new faces could be joining the Orland Fire Protection District Board of Trustees.

Two, six-year terms are up for grabs, as well as one unexpired two-year. Six are vying for the former, and three for the latter.

Running for the six-year seats are incumbent Beth Damas Kaspar, incumbent Commissioner Donald "DJ" Jeffers, and Bridget Tolan on the Fiscal Voices for Fire Safety Slate.

Also running on slate Together, Protecting & Supporting Orland Fire are Danielle Dorsey, Christian Barcelona, and Jennifer May.

Both Tolan and May are seeking the unexpired seat, as well as Steven Troglio.

A third slate also has two candidates—Mark Mitchell and Paris Stirrat—running for the six-year seats.

Patch issued candidate questionnaires, and answers are now published in candidate profiles.

Early voting began March 17.

Candidate:

Beth Damas Kaspar

Campaign website:

Fiscal Voices for Orland Fire

Office sought:

Fire Protection District Board

Town/City of Residence:

Orland Park

Party Affiliation (if a partisan race):

Fiscal Voices for Fire Safety (political committee)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you're running for.

No.

Occupation. Please include years of experience.

Endodontist in Orland Park, since 2010 (15 years); General Dentist in Tinley Park, 2005-2010 (5 years).

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office:

Commissioner for the Orland Fire Protection District, 2022-2024.

The most pressing issues facing our board are _______, and this is what I intend to do about them.*

Merger and consolidation of the OFPD with Tinley Park and potentially other surrounding municipalities. We have the best Fire District in Illinois with one of the highest Save Rates in the country. I am against any merger or consolidation that would decrease our Save Rate and be to the detriment of Orland Park and Orland Hills taxpayers. Tinley Park has part-time firefighters and rents its ambulances. They are in need of major improvements, but those improvements should not be paid by Orland Park and Orland Hills taxpayers. Based on the current merger and consolidation plans that I have seen, I absolutely would vote NO MERGER to protect our Save Rate to protect Orland Park and Orland Hills taxpayers.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

There are two other slates running for the Fire District, but only my slate – Fiscal Voices for Fire Safety, which is Donald “DJ” Jeffers, Beth Damas Kaspar, and Bridget Tolan – are against the proposed merger and consolidation of the OFPD and Tinley Park. The other two slates are being led by people who would benefit from consolidation, and none of those candidates have come out against consolidation. Initially they said consolidation was a myth, and when evidence came out that the leadership of the OFPD was trying to buy land for new firehouses for a consolidated fire district, then these slates suddenly changed their message to, “Consolidation might be happening, but it wasn’t our idea.” I don’t care who came up with consolidation, what I am here to tell you is that I am against consolidation and I will fight it every day on the job.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

I was appointed to the OFPD Board of Trustees in 2024 and am running for election to serve another term. I have fought the past year to stop consolidation. Board president John Brudnak and Trustee Jayne Schirmacher, who are not running for re-election, also have fought against consolidation. If elected to the Board, the taxpayers have my promise that I will fight against consolidation and will fight hard to protect our high Save Rate.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

I am fighting for the taxpayers of Orland Park and Orland Hills and to find the right balance between our outstanding Fire Protection services and the costs and expenses for those services. We have the highest Save Rate in Illinois, and we want to protect that. We have one of the best Fire Districts in the country, and we want to protect that. But we also want to make the right fiscally responsible choices to protect the taxpayers whom we represent.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have built a highly-successful multi-office Endodontic practice that employs two other doctors and a dozen staff members. I have built my practice by delivering the highest quality treatment to our patients and at the same time investing in my valuable staff. It has not been easy, especially during the pandemic, but through putting in the time and effort and taking input from my staff into consideration, we have achieved one of the most successful Endodontic practices in the Chicagoland area, known for its patient care and quality work.

Why should voters trust you?

I have served as a Commissioner for the OFPD and the past year on the Board of Trustees and have demonstrated that I will ask tough questions and challenge others based on the data. I have been an incredibly open book, and have been very accessible to anyone with questions. I do not need this position for any reason; but rather want this position to protect the world-class Fire Protection services that OFPD provides while insisting on accountability to the taxpayers.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?

Preventing merger and consolidation of the OFPD with Tinley Park or any other surrounding municipality and maintaining our #1 Save Rate are my priorities. If we stop the consolidation plans that have been discussed behind closed doors by mayors, township supervisors, and union leaders, I will consider that an incredible victory.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the handling of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

The Board of Trustees serves the taxpayers. We are entrusted by the taxpayers who elect us to protect our Fire District's services and to protect the tax money that the Fire District receives. Under my watch, we have added new equipment to maintain the strength of our Fire Protection services. But we have only added equipment that is justified by the data demonstrating that the equipment is needed and that it is properly budgeted and accounted for. We also approved a much awaited pay increase for our Firefighters, which was long overdue. But we only did so after doing our due diligence to be sure those pay increases were appropriate and would not take taxpayer dollars away from other important investments.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

No, I intend to serve a full term.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I was born at Palos Hospital, raised in Lemont in a house that my parents still own, went to Providence high school, and chose Orland Park as the place to raise children and to build my practice. We live in a wonderful community with an incredible Fire Protection district, and it is incredibly important to me to fight to keep our world-class Fire Protection services and #1 Save Rate.