Sworn in Monday as Orland Park’s mayor, Jim Dodge said it’s “a new day” in the village and pledged he and other new elected officials are “going to do everything to make sure we listen” to residents.
Dodge won election in April 1, defeating Keith Pekau, who was seeking a third term.
Sworn in with Dodge were Village Clerk Mary Ryan Norwell and trustees John Lawler, Dina M. Lawrence and Joanna M. Liotine Leafblad.
Although he would have a 4-3 majority on the Village Board, Dodge promised he and the new elected officials will be able to see eye-to-eye with trustees continuing on the board, who were elected with Pekau.
“You will see us work collaboratively, all seven of us,” Dodge said.
He said the board and village will work to “deepens relations” with school districts, the library, township and neighboring communities, and “we’re open to ideas from any source.”
“I always want multiple points of input,” Dodge said.
He said he plans to meet and talk with all village employees in the coming weeks.
In making decisions, Dodge said he and the other officials will “bring the best of what we’ve learned in our professional lives and our personal lives.”
An overflow crowd filled Village Hall, with seats set up outside the board meeting room for people to watch the proceedings on video monitors. Chairs inside the meeting room were reserved for family and friends of the newly elected officials.
Family and supporters stood and applauded after each took the oath.
In the April 1 election, Dodge received 57% of the vote to 43% for Pekau. Turnout was more than 34% of registered voters.
Dodge, 62, became village clerk in 1989 then was appointed trustee in 1996. He did not run for reelection as trustee in the April 2021 election.
Norwell replaces Brian Gaspardo as clerk. Gaspardo was recently appointed to the position and was running for a full term.
Norwell is a former Cook County assistant state’s attorney and has worked as a municipal attorney for the last nine years.
Lawler is a homebuilder while Lawrence holds a master’s in business administration from the University of Chicago and has a background as an evironmental engineer. Leafblad was president of the Orland Park Library Board and is an assistant Cook County assistant state’s attorney.
Lawrence thanked three trustees who were leaving — Sean Kampas, Brian Riordan and Joni Radaszewski.
Kampas and Riordan ran on the People Over Politics ticket with Pekau along with trustee candidate Carol McGury. Radaszewski did not seek reelection.
“They laid a really good foundation for us to build on,” Lawrence said. “We will all do our best to listen to the residents.”
Leafblad, who was on the Orland Park Library Board for 10 years, said she is “grateful for the opportunity to serve” and thanked supporters.
“This is definitely a group effort in every single way,” she said.
Norwell said she and the other new board members will “begin to rebuild your trust in government.”
“I’m excited to start this new position so let’s get to work,” she said.
mnolan@southtownstar.com
