Orland Park Elections Take Ugly Twist With New Robocalls

ORLAND PARK, IL — Local elections have a way of turning dirty and ugly and Orland Park did not escape that this season.

Orland's two parties, Orland Integrity Party and People Over Politics and embroiled in a bitter battle for three seats that drew Mayor Keith Pekau (who backs People Over Politics) and former Cook County Commissioner, taxpayer advocate and Orland Republican Committeewoman Liz Gorman into it. Neither Gorman not Pekau are running for office in Orland April 2.

It involves robocalls and potentially forged documents, not unlike what is happening in Tinley Park's heated race.

The robocalls began last month to attack Orland Integrity Party, which is led by Carol Griffin Ruzich. Pekau blamed the calls on Gorman. That continued until Gorman made a robocall to endorse the OIP slate and explained that Pekau had “full membership” at Crystal Tree, which includes playing golf there for free. The club has a tradition of waiving membership fees for to mayors and other office holders -- it's a way of giving them an honorary membership.

As columnist Ray Hanania reports, it escalated from there.

South Cook News reported that Gorman is delinquent in her Crystal Tree Country Club dues, and published a photo it purports to be a notice of unpaid accounts hung on the club's wall. All names are redacted expect Gorman's. When Gorman was in office, she held the honorary membership the club offered, but purchased a "social"membership after she stepped down in 2015. With a social membership, you pay as you go. Pekau, in pointing out that she had the honorary membership he does, called her a "hypocrite," and ridiculed her for what he said were unpaid dues.

However, the difference is that Pekau had been an equity member for a long time before he took office. When he learned about the honorary membership, "he resigned and demanded a free one," Gorman said. Unsavory behavior for an elected official.

Gorman also produced an original copy of the dues list from March 21 that she obtained from the club, the same one South Cook News purported contained her name. Her copy does not contain her name in it.

"I got dragged into this by attacks from the mayor, and the false attacks by the mayor show his mental instability, being a narcissist and a sociopath, and being unable to lead," Gorman said.

"I will be taking legal action with whomever I need to for defamation."

Gorman is friends with candidates Ruzich, Kelly O’Brien and Cynthia Nelson Katsenes. Pekau had asked Ruzich to join his slate, but she declined. He also has lost support from other trustees on the village board.

For his part, Pekau also recently attacked OIP candidate O’Brien in the West Cook News, saying she hasn't lived in Orland long enough to run for trustee — an issue that has been an ongoing debate.

A political strategist I talked with for another story told me that campaigns go on the offensive when candidates don't have a plan.

Is that the case in Orland?

I would love to hear your thoughts.

We'll be covering the election Tuesday. Stay with us for more.