Election 2025: Orland Township Trustee Candidate Frank Williams

ORLAND TOWNSHIP, IL — The consolidated election is April 1, and Orland Township leadership will inevitably see a shakeup.

Three separate slates will vie for Township spots including supervisor, clerk, highway commissioner, and trustee. Twelve candidates are jockeying for four trustee spots.

Incumbent Orland Township Supervisor Paul O'Grady and his Orland Township Together slate includes clerk candidate Reem Odeh, highway commissioner candidate John Lynch (a current trustee), and trustee candidates Michael Maratea (incumbent), Kristin Hawksworth, Patrick Feldner (incumbent), and Marie Fuesel.

For the Orland Township United slate, current Orland Township Assessor Rich Kelly tops the ticket as supervisor candidate, with incumbent clerk Cindy Murray, current highway commissioner Antonio Rubino for assessor, Tracy Sullivan for highway commissioner, and trustee candidates Michael Schofield, Lena Matariyeh, Danny Flores, and Kelly Metzger.

Several declared Republican candidates are trying for spots, as well. Appearing as Republican candidate for clerk is Shannon Olson. Competing for highway commissioner is Republican candidate William Brennan. Republican candidates Kenneth Duffy, Frank Williams, Kenneth Soltis, and Matthew Keane, Jr. will also contend for trustee spots.

Candidate:

Frank Williams

Campaign website:

Orlandtownshipgop.org

Office sought:

Orland Township Trustee

Town/city of residence:

Tinley Park

Party affiliation:

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.

Retired after 41 years in the Chicago financial markets.

Previous or current elected or appointed office:

N/A

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

Greater government transparency.

Fiscal accountability.
Elimination of elected official taxpayer funded pensions.
Improved stewardship of tax revenues.
Ending appearances or the reality of political nepotism and patronage.
Term limits for township supervisor, board, highway department and assessor.
Eliminating or consolidation of redundancies in social services as they occur across layers of government.

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

Neither opposition slate favors relieving taxpayers of funding their pensions.

Neither opposition slate feels government transparency should be enhanced by live streaming of all township board meetings.

I favor smaller township government, while the two opposition slates either embrace the status quo, or are not averse to growing government.

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

They waste taxpayer funds to the tune of $10,500 per year, per trustee, to meet once monthly for an average of 5-10 minutes. They also receive taxpayer funded pensions for this.

The incumbents are hardly transparent in making known their lack of work on behalf of taxpayers. That’s why board meetings must start being live-streamed.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I run on a GOP platform that conforms with that of the national party, and the philosophies of my six running mates. We oppose DEI. We favor strict adherence to immigration law, even at the local level. We seek to produce smaller government, and thereby, lowering taxes. We will conduct township hiring, promotions, and reward performance based solely upon merit, with exceptions being in the honoring of any labor contracts the township is currently bound by.

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

I spent 41 years managing trading breaks and back office operations on three of the largest futures and options exchanges in the world. Over the years skills were sharpened and hardened that enabled me to perform very well under stress, deadlines, and literal chaos. With nothing but a high school education I climb to the level of VP for a regional branch of an international investment bank. Over the years dealing with people, both pleasant and unpleasant, became a skill that enabled me to communicate rationally and reasonably to achieve business objectives.

Why should voters trust you?

They should not. All but a very few of them are going to know me. But what they can know is where I stand on issues of importance to them, and how I plan to remedy them or remove them. It is my hope that this knowledge can inspire them to vote for me, and to either praise or raise hell with me when I’m performing below expectations.

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

Reduction of burdens upon taxpayers. I will have been sent to perform services for maximum benefit to the community, and to do so with wise spending and investment that also allows services to continue. At the end of the day, we’re called to serve, not for thanks or praise, but for the sake of finding satisfaction from how well we serve.

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

It’s simple. Spend no more than taxation brings into the coffers. That’s the same way all of us must handle our own budgets and checkbooks. Where budget challenges arise, economies must be found for the provision of services, or spending must be cut. Borrowing should be considered only as a last resort, and only for purposes of maintaining critical services. Above all, taxpayers must be immediately made aware if we increase their tax burden by borrowing.

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?

In Orland Township there is, or course, crime. Crime follows the money, and the many fine businesses in the township do attract criminal elements. The township itself does not have a police department, per se, but its residents have a voice. And they will always be encouraged by township government to say something when they see something, and to do so to their respective municipal police forces.

I also have some thoughts about how from the township level we can be of service to first responders. Should we be elected, proposals with more details will be rolled out.

What is your view of the city's/village's approach to commercial and residential development?

For decades the municipalities of Orland Township have sought to be very business friendly, and conscientious in their service to residents. While each of them has a different approach to governing, taxation, commercial and residential development, I’m pleased to live in the area, and find almost everything I need to buy from local businesses. And I feel safe.

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?

While this again is outside the realm of what township governments typically do, I do find empty retail spaces, and undeveloped commercially zoned lots to be unattractive. It is really not for me to say what mayors of our three member municipalities should do to remedy this. And I very much understand that the realities of the economy, state and federal policies, and circumstances beyond their control l, play a role in sometimes creating what I call public eyesores or blight.

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?

My wife and I try very hard to live lives consistent with our personal faith. We believe we are called to serve, and to also speak up when things don’t seem quite right, locally, statewide, or nationally. It is unusual that a guy would seek political office for the first time at almost 70 years of age. But here I am. I have the time, the will, the energy, the mind power, and the empathy required to perform public service. And I quite simply feel called to do so.