Village Wants Restraining Order Against Ex-Mayor Pekau To Be Permanent

ORLAND PARK, IL — The Village of Orland Park is continuing its efforts to make a temporary restraining order issued against Orland Park's former mayor permanent, officials said in a new release this week.

Amid an emergency lawsuit filed by the Village of Orland Park, a judge in August issued a temporary restraining order against former mayor Keith Pekau, ordering him to "immediately remove his publication of the Village’s confidential information he received access to while in office, and to cease publishing or disseminating any additional non-public confidential information related to the Village of Orland Park."

The suit was filed in response, the Village said, to Pekau's use of a blog and social media posts to disclose "sensitive internal documents and details concerning ongoing litigation" involving the Village, and "non-public information related to Village employees," the Village said.

Pekau uses a Facebook page and his "Straight Down the Fairway" email newsletter to share his takes on the Village's current administration. The former was used as Pekau's campaign page, and was reactivated following his failed bid for re-election in April 2025, to "keep you informed about what’s happening in Orland Park."

Pekau's actions, the Village said, "violated certain privacy laws and threatens to undermine the Village’s position in active federal lawsuits and could ultimately expose taxpayers to greater liability and financial harm when these cases are resolved."

Prior to filing the lawsuit, the Village said it had requested that Pekau voluntarily remove the confidential information, but he refused.

During ongoing court proceedings, law firm Ancel Glink has argued that Pekau’s publication of the Village’s confidential information violated his oath of office, the Village Code’s requirement that current and former officials cannot divulge the Village’s confidential information, and the Illinois Municipal Code’s requirement that outgoing officials turn over all records to their successors. The attorneys reiterated that the Village was committed to transparency, but that transparency laws still permit municipalities to keep limited information confidential for a number of reasons permitted by the Illinois General Assembly, according to a release.

As the Village’s request for a permanent injunction against Pekau continues in circuit court, the temporary restraining order remains in place. It prohibits Pekau from "posting, sharing, or discussing any confidential Village communications, including legal memoranda, settlement discussions, personnel matters, and internal emails protected under attorney-client privilege," the Village said.

The Village said it also continues to fight Pekau for the return of confidential Village documents that he has in his possession.

"The Village of Orland Park remains committed to open, transparent and responsible governance and will continue to take legal action when necessary to protect its interests and those of its residents," the Village said in a release.