Election 2025: Orland Park Village Trustee Candidate Sean Kampas

ORLAND PARK, IL — Orland Park residents in the thick of a contentious local election season are likely about ready to see it end. With the consolidated election set for April 1, early voting began March 17, and residents can make their picks for the village's next leaders.

Incumbent Mayor Keith Pekau's People Over Politics slate will face off against mayoral challenger Jim Dodge's Orland Park for All.

Pekau is flanked by trustee candidates Sean Kampas, Carol McGury, and Brian Riordan, along with clerk candidate Brian Gaspardo.

Dodge leads his slate of trustee candidates Dina M. Lawrence, John Lawler and Joanna M. Liotine Leafblad, as well as Mary Ryan Norwell for clerk.

Patch sent questionnaires to candidates, and their answers are now published in their candidate profiles. Early voting began March 17. Find out where and when you can vote ahead of April 1.

Candidate:

Sean Kampas

Campaign website:

People Over Politics

Office sought:

Orland Park Village Trustee

Town/city of residence:

Orland Park

Party Affiliation (if a partisan race):

People Over Politics – (Republican)

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.

I have spent over 25 years in consulting, IT strategy, and operational leadership, solving complex challenges and delivering measurable results. As a Trustee, I’ve applied that same approach—ensuring that every decision we make prioritizes results over rhetoric and people over politics.

Previous or current elected or appointed office.

Village Trustee

The most pressing issues facing Orland Park are _______, and this is what I intend to do about them.

Orland Park is in a strong position today—but only because we made the tough decisions necessary to secure our future. The biggest risk we face now is backsliding into the political failures of the past.

For years, past administrations neglected our roads, our parks, and our finances. They wasted millions of taxpayer dollars on failed projects while our infrastructure crumbled.
When we took office, we changed that.
• Infrastructure: Over 40% of our roads were in poor condition when we started. Now, we’ve repaired and repaved miles of roads, upgraded our parks, and restored long-neglected facilities.
• Public Safety: Orland Park is one of the safest communities in America, with the lowest violent crime rate in Illinois for cities our size. We’ve provided our police with the best tools and training to keep it that way.
• Fiscal Responsibility: We cut waste, paid down over $25 million in debt, and lowered taxes—while investing in the services our residents rely on.

This election is about keeping Orland Park moving forward.

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

This election presents a clear choice: Do we continue the path of responsible leadership, or do we go back to the failed policies of the past?

My opponents have a track record of raising taxes and spending.

• Joanna Leafblad has repeatedly voted to increase the Orland Park Public Library’s tax levy over the years, resulting in a 61% increase in the operational levy during her tenure. This year, the levy increased by 4.3%, despite the library receiving a revenue windfall that could have provided relief to taxpayers - a point I made to their board in 2023 when they came to the Village Board meeting concerning the release of that funding. Today, the library’s property tax alone makes up 55% of the Village’s levy.

• John Lawler wants to impose two new taxes on Orland Park residents—a 1% tax on food, beverages, and entertainment and a sales transfer tax on real estate transactions. He was also involved in a questionable land deal that personally benefited him while leaving residents responsible for maintaining his private park at taxpayer expense.

Orland Park thrives when we put residents first. That’s why I’m running—to continue protecting taxpayers, investing in our community, and ensuring our village remains one of the best places to live, work, and raise a family.

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

You didn’t ask a question for incumbents only, so I want to take this opportunity to convey how our leadership has delivered real results for Orland Park—and why we can’t afford to go backward.

When we took office, Orland Park was burdened with over $100 million in debt, crumbling roads, and declining parks. Previous administrations prioritized pet projects over core infrastructure, wasted millions on failed developments, and made reckless financial decisions that left residents paying the price.

Since then, we’ve cut debt by over $25 million, reduced property taxes, rebuilt financial reserves, and made historic investments in our roads, parks, and public safety. We’ve restored responsible governance, increased transparency, and ensured that residents—not politicians—are the ones who benefit from our decisions.

Orland Park is stronger, safer, and more financially secure than it has been in decades. That didn’t happen by accident—it happened because we refused to repeat the mistakes of the past. I’m running to ensure we continue that progress and never return to the days of reckless spending, insider deals, and mismanagement.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

For the first time in decades, Orland Park is strong, stable, and growing. We cannot afford to return to the days of mismanagement.

1. Protecting Taxpayers: We cut expenses, lowered taxes, and paid down debt while still delivering the services our residents expect. We must continue this responsible approach.

2. Public Safety: Crime is at a 31-year low. We will continue giving our police the tools and training they need to keep Orland Park safe.

3. Infrastructure & Development: We’ve rebuilt parks, fixed roads, and welcomed over 600 new businesses. We must continue investing in our community’s future while keeping Orland Park affordable for families.

This election is about progress vs. decline. I’m running to make sure we keep moving forward.

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

I have a proven track record of delivering results for Orland Park—both in government and in my professional career.

• Ethics & Good Governance: I co-authored Orland Park’s ethics ordinance with an evenly balanced committee of Republicans and Democrats, ensuring stronger accountability, transparency, and integrity in local government.

• Fiscal Responsibility: I have helped cut waste, lower taxes, and reduce Orland Park’s debt by over $25 million, all while making critical investments in our roads, parks, and public safety.

• Economic Growth & Jobs: Under our leadership, Orland Park has welcomed over 600 new businesses and added more than 5,000 jobs, strengthening our local economy.

• Public Safety: I have worked to keep Orland Park one of the safest communities in America, achieving the lowest crime rate in 31 years and ensuring our police have the best training and technology.

• Accountability & Performance: I helped bring merit-based performance evaluations to village staff, ending political patronage and ensuring that government employees are evaluated on their work—not on who they know.

Beyond my role as Trustee, I have built a successful career in consulting, IT strategy, and operational leadership. I know how to analyze complex challenges, manage large-scale initiatives, and make strategic decisions that lead to measurable results.

I take this role seriously and put in the work to review every policy, budget, and decision in great detail—always prioritizing what’s best for Orland Park.

Why should voters trust you?

Because I have consistently delivered on my promises—and I have done so with integrity, transparency, and a commitment to putting Orland Park residents first.

When we took office, we made a promise to restore good governance in Orland Park. We have kept that promise:

• We eliminated wasteful spending, cut trustee salaries, and eliminated pensions for elected officials, because public service should never be about personal gain.
• We instituted term limits and increased transparency, making board meetings public and accessible to all residents.
• We ended insider deals and eliminated political patronage hiring, ensuring that village staff are held to performance-based evaluations instead of political connections.

I also co-authored Orland Park’s ethics ordinance with a bipartisan committee, ensuring accountability in local government. That ordinance was passed with the support of then-Trustee Jim Dodge—yet today, his party pretends it doesn’t exist. But we know the truth: we put real accountability in place, and we are not going back to the old ways of doing business.

Orland Park belongs to its residents—not career politicians.

The progress we’ve made isn’t an accident—it’s the result of hard work, careful decision-making, and a firm commitment to people over politics. I will continue to bring that same dedication to my role as Trustee, and that is why voters can trust me to serve them.

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

We’ve already cut debt by over $25 million while lowering property taxes and maintaining a balanced budget. I want to continue reducing financial liabilities while ensuring that Orland Park remains affordable for families and businesses.

We’ve repaired and upgraded 32 parks and improved miles of roads that had been neglected for decades. But there’s still work to do. I will push for further infrastructure investments that enhance our parks, improve road conditions, and ensure long-term sustainability—all while staying financially responsible.

Public safety will always remain a priority. Orland Park is already one of the safest communities in America, with crime at a 31-year low over the last 6 years. I will continue to support our law enforcement professionals by ensuring they have the tools, training, and resources they need to keep our residents safe.

Most importantly, success means preserving the integrity, transparency, and fiscal responsibility that has defined our leadership. Orland Park has made incredible progress, and my goal is to ensure we never return to the reckless spending, mismanagement, and political games of the past.

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

For too long, politicians operated with a spend-first, ask-questions-later mentality, depleting reserves, raising taxes, and making reckless financial decisions that burdened residents. We changed that.

Since taking office, we have:
• Cut operating expenses and eliminated wasteful spending.
• Reduced debt by over $25 million while maintaining a balanced budget.
• Lowered property taxes while continuing to invest in essential services.
• Rebuilt financial reserves to ensure Orland Park remains financially secure.

We also prioritize smart, long-term investments that save taxpayers money in the long run. A great example is the new public works facility, which will move all trucks and equipment indoors, reducing maintenance costs and extending the lifespan of our assets.

What are your thoughts on the crime rate in your community, and what more can be done to combat crime — especially violent crime — in town?

Thanks to the outstanding work of our police department, we have achieved the lowest crime rate in 31 years. Among the 360 largest suburbs in the country, Orland Park ranks:

• #2 in lowest property crime
• #5 in lowest violent crime

And among Illinois cities with over 50,000 residents, we’ve had the lowest violent crime rate for five years straight.

This didn’t happen by chance—it happened because we prioritized public safety and provided our law enforcement with the best tools, training, and support.

To keep crime low, we must remain proactive:
• Continue investing in law enforcement—ensuring officers have the latest training, technology, and resources to protect residents.
• Expand community policing efforts—strengthening partnerships between officers and the neighborhoods they serve.
• Enhance crime prevention strategies—utilizing data-driven approaches to identify and address emerging threats before they become major issues.
• Maintain our strong stance against crime—ensuring Orland Park remains a place where criminals know they are not welcome.

During the 2020 riots and looting, while other communities hesitated, we acted decisively to protect Orland Park’s residents and businesses. That same commitment to safety continues today.

We have a simple message: Orland Park is not an easy target. We will always stand up for the safety and security of our families, businesses, and community.

What is your view of the Village's approach to commercial and residential development?

We need both commercial and residential development to ensure long-term economic vitality. Under our leadership, we have:
• Welcomed over 600 new businesses and added more than 5,000 jobs, strengthening our local economy.
• Revitalized key commercial areas, making Orland Park a top destination for shopping, dining, and entertainment.
• Supported responsible residential growth, ensuring new developments align with community needs and infrastructure capacity.

One of my top priorities has been strictly enforcing Orland Park’s residential density caps. I have been vocal and passionate about ensuring that new developments respect the village’s density limits to preserve our community’s character and protect our infrastructure from being overburdened. If you review Village Board meeting videos, you will see that I have consistently advocated for responsible growth while rejecting high-density residential proposals that do not fit Orland Park’s vision.

This commitment to responsible growth is also why we insisted on no new residential development in the 143rd & LaGrange project. After decades of mismanagement and failed proposals, we made it clear that this site should be developed as a vibrant commercial destination—not another high-density residential complex. This approach will generate economic activity, create jobs, and bring lasting value to Orland Park without increasing residential density or overburdening our infrastructure.

Moving forward, we must:
• Encourage high-quality commercial development to attract businesses that complement our existing economic base.
• Ensure residential development is well-planned, maintaining density limits while meeting the needs of families and young professionals.
• Continue modernizing our downtown area by advancing projects like 143rd & LaGrange in ways that benefit the entire community.

A thriving community requires a strong business environment and a high quality of life for residents. Our approach ensures Orland Park remains a great place to live, work, and raise a family—without sacrificing the community standards that make it unique.

When it comes to development, what are some key areas for improvement or additions you feel are most wanted by residents? What will need to be done to make this happen?

Residents want smart, well-planned development that enhances Orland Park’s character, supports local businesses, and maintains our high quality of life.

Key areas for improvement include:
• Continue expanding commercial development by maintaining an environment where businesses want to come and invest. We don’t choose the businesses, but we ensure that Orland Park remains a desirable location by maintaining low taxes, strong infrastructure, and a streamlined, business-friendly approach to development. Part of this includes refilling abandoned locations through appropriate incentives, as we successfully did with Steinhafels and many others. Instead of allowing empty buildings to sit idle, we focus on making redevelopment attractive to businesses that will provide lasting value to the community.
• Enhancing public spaces and parks by continuing to upgrade facilities, walking paths, and recreational amenities. We’ve already made significant improvements, but we must keep investing in parks and community gathering spaces that improve residents’ daily lives.
• Strengthening infrastructure to support both businesses and residents. This means continuing to improve roads, sidewalks, and utilities to ensure they can accommodate future growth without causing congestion or strain on resources.

To make these improvements happen, we must:
• Continue enforcing responsible development standards, including strict adherence to our residential density caps, ensuring that new projects fit within Orland Park’s vision.
• Maintain a business-friendly environment by keeping taxes low, improving efficiency in the permitting process, and ensuring developers see Orland Park as a stable, welcoming place to invest.
• Ensure new developments contribute to the community rather than placing unnecessary burdens on taxpayers. We will continue holding developers accountable to provide value to residents, not just profit for themselves.

Orland Park is a desirable place to live, work, and visit because we plan carefully, invest wisely, and enforce smart growth policies. By staying committed to responsible development, we can continue to attract businesses, enhance public spaces, and strengthen our community without sacrificing what makes Orland Park unique.

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

No.

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

Orland Park is at a crossroads.

We can continue moving forward—building on our progress, strengthening our community, and protecting taxpayers.

Or we can go backward—to higher taxes, insider deals, and political games that serve politicians, not residents.

I’m running to make sure that Orland Park stays on the right path.

Serving as your Trustee is a responsibility I take seriously. I’ve always put my all into this role, making every decision with the best interest of the village in mind. I work hard to review everything we do in great detail, ensuring that every policy, budget decision, and project serves the people of Orland Park—not political agendas.

With a background in consulting, IT strategy, and operational leadership, I bring an analytical, problem-solving mindset to local government. I believe in accountability, transparency, and responsible leadership. That’s why I’ve fought to cut waste, strengthen public safety, and ensure that our financial future remains secure.

Orland Park is stronger today than it was a decade ago. That’s not by accident—it’s because we made tough decisions and focused on results. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished, but there is still work to do.

I’d be honored to continue serving this community and ask for your vote to keep Orland Park strong, safe, and thriving.