Orland Township Supervisor Candidate: Paul O'Grady

ORLAND TOWNSHIP, IL — Paul O'Grady is seeking re-election this April, hoping to keep his current spot as Orland Township's Supervisor. O'Grady is currently running with the Orland Township Together Party, against the Orland Residents for Responsible Government slate, backed by Supervisor candidate Scott R. Kaspar.

O'Grady recently filled out the Patch candidate survey, and his answers can be found below.

If you are a candidate for the April election, and would like to answer our Patch candidate questionnaire, please email yasmeen.sheikah@patch.com.

Paul O'Grady

Age (as of Election Day)

56

Town/City of Residence

Orland Park

Office Sought

Township board

Party Affiliation (if a partisan race)

Orland Township Together

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

B.A. and J.D., Loyola; certifications from Harvard School of Law and the FBI national academy

Occupation

I am an attorney with more than 20 years of public and private practice and litigation. I have also served as a Cook County Sheriff’s police officer and deputy sheriff.

Campaign website

ott2021.com

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Currently: Orland Township Supervisor, Special State’s Attorney in Cook, Will, Lasalle & Lake Counties, Special Attorney General for the Illinois Attorney General’s office defending the interest of taxpayers in said Counties and State.

Previously: Commissioner and Chairman of Orland Fire Protection District, Special Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago, Chairman of the Thomas J. Dart Cook County Sheriff Blue Ribbon Committee on Internal Affairs

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The services of township government provide a much-needed safety net for the residents of our communities, filling in the gaps to provide sorely-needed services such as food, medical support, and scholarship funds. This was true prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is more important now than ever before.

The most pressing issue facing our board is keeping our services, particularly our senior services, funded and safely operational through the pandemic. This has required sacrifice, creative planning, and around-the-clock work on the part of the board and myself. But I consider every day that we can run our food pantry and our distribution drives in a safe, secure, and helpful manner to be a victory for our residents in the fight against the virus.

Do you support Black Lives Matter and what are your thoughts on the demonstrations held since the death of George Floyd and the shooting of Jacob Blake?

I focus on the issues that matter to my constituents and act in the way my office allows. Our township services, senior transport service, and food pantry serve residents of all races, colors, and creeds, and we do not tolerate discrimination of any kind. Inclusivity matters. Hand in hand, our township has passed a resolution supporting our police officers in the strongest way possible, and I will never defund the police. What matters to me most is that we help all Orland residents, and we do that by respecting and listening to all sides.

Do you think the current board has done enough to support racial equality, and if not, what specifically should be done to do so?

We fully support racial equality. If any complaint is brought to my office or the board regarding discrimination or racism in our township, I will address it with the greatest attention and effort.

What are your thoughts on the national and local coronavirus response? Do you favor measures such as limiting operation of non-essential businesses and restricting indoor/outdoor dining? And do you favor a local mask mandate?

Too often, public officials take a knee-jerk or politically-motivated position on issues that should be soberly and seriously considered in an objective light, guided by evidence and rational thought. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, Orland Township has worked with the state and local businesses to ensure our services and local commerce can continue in the safest possible manner whenever possible, and we have not been afraid to suspend some operations and help secure relief for those affected when we do so. We should continue listening to those who understand our community and the virus when we make these decisions.

What are your thoughts on the state and local coronavirus vaccine distribution, and how do you think local governments should work together to handle vaccine rollout?

I am frustrated by the poor communication and delays I sometimes encounter in the planned rollout of the vaccine, but at the same time there have been incredibly helpful individuals in our state government who have aided our township greatly. We currently have the refrigeration units needed to distribute the vaccine, thanks to our expansion of the food pantry, and I have worked extensively with other local bodies and individuals such as Tinley Park Trustee Mike Glotz to ensure our area is ready when the vaccine is made available to us. I will always support inter-governmental cooperation.

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

The major difference between my opponent and myself is that my opponent threatens to eliminate township government altogether, and with it every service that we provide. This includes our senior transport and wellness days, our food pantry, and our scholarship fund. It would also likely force the closure of the recently opened secretary of state’s service office at our township.

I also differ greatly with my opponent when it comes to experience and philosophy. I have a demonstrated record of accomplishment throughout my tenure as supervisor, consistently bringing new programming and innovative solutions that enhance our services to constituents. My opponent, meanwhile, is a big-money political donor. I also believe in providing efficient and effective service at low or no cost to the taxpayer through public-private partnership. I do not believe in defunding, disbanding, or devolving our services and institutions.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

Our slate is pushing to pass a term limit resolution in Orland Township that would limit public officials to three terms in office. The people of Illinois know all too well the danger and cost of corruption in government, and I am proud to stand with the almost 89% of Orland Park voters who came out to support term limits in the referendum I supported last November. We are also fighting to keep township taxes as low as possible, especially for working- and middle-class families.

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

Most recently, my board negotiated to move the Secretary of State’s office to our Orland Township Offices after they were asked to leave the Orland Park Village Hall. As a result, residents of Orland park and surrounding communities now have access to the full range of secretary of state services that they need and require. The move was accomplished at no cost to taxpayers, and it is an example of the leadership and experience that I bring to this position, working in partnership with our board members, other government agencies, and the community at large.
Additionally, we mobilized the community to ensure the Palos Hospital campus in Orland would not end the services of the Palos Health and Fitness Center, which is one of the only spaces in the area offering specialized fitness centers for seniors and people with chronic illnesses such as MS. We have also greatly expanded the food pantry and introduced the pet food pantry to ensure seniors on a fixed income and those in need would never need to choose between feeding themselves and their pets. I am incredibly proud to have done all of this while keeping our taxes among the lowest in Cook County.

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

Passing a hard term limit law, maintaining all government services throughout the COVID pandemic, enabling the Orland Secretary of State’s office to issue REAL IDs, and getting the COVID vaccine to any who want it in the township.

Why should voters trust you?

Voters have given me their faith for the past eleven years, and throughout that entire time I have worked diligently to bring innovation, cost savings, and transparency to the role of township supervisor. There have been no questions of impropriety or ethics violations during my tenure and I have worked to make Orland the most transparent and accessible township in the state. For example, for the past five years we have hosted all official government actions on our township website. I am proud to have made township records more open and accessible than ever before.

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

Whenever possible, my office uses only volunteer contributions to fund our programs, and organizes private sector efforts to serve our township residents. For example, our scholarship fund is operated at absolutely no cost to the taxpayer, not to mention our no-cost deal with the Secretary of State. Our work in the township shows that it is possible to offer some of the best service in the state while keeping taxes stagnant or almost stagnant if efficiency is prioritized and bureaucratic waste, red tape, and corruption are fought every step of the way.

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

There are none.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Your word and your name are synonymous. Never betray the trust of the voter.

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

The most important testimonials come from the people of our township. I would encourage you to talk to those in our community, especially our seniors, and ask what their experience with me has been, and if our township services should be defunded. The best arguments do not come from candidates, but from the people that the candidates serve.

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