Voters Want Orland Government To Stay The Same, Election Shows

ORLAND PARK, IL — Unofficial results show that Orland Park residents Tuesday decided the Village government should remain structured and functioning as it has for decades.

The referendum asked voters to consider a change from a government structure that gives a village manager final decision-making ability in many matters, to one that returns that authority largely to the mayor, with a board of trustees also weighing in.

Unofficial totals show voters appear to be decisively in favor of keeping the current format, which was first enacted in November 1983.

Specifically, the question asked:

Shall the Village of Orland Park retain the managerial form of municipal government?

"The Owens family is grateful to the Vote Yes Committee and everyone who voted to keep the village manager form of government in Orland Park," said Maura Kownacki, daughter of the late Mayor Fred Owens.

"It was our dad—the late Mayor Fred Owens—who led the movement 40 years ago to professionalize the village government and optimize local services for residents and businesses. He ran for office to help better the community and we are all very proud to see his dreams continue to benefit the people of his beloved Orland Park."

With the polls closed, here’s how vote tallies looked with all precincts reporting:

COOK COUNTY

• YES: 6,383
• NO: 3,318

WILL COUNTY

• YES: 22
• NO: 7

The ordinance approving the referendum was cleared in January, with subsequent immediate and sharp criticism regarding the delineation of authority and decision-making ability within the village administration. Many questioned if the suggestion was a power play by Mayor Keith Pekau, following a failed bid for Congress in 2022.