Politics & Government

Incumbents Remain on Orland Park Village Board

James Dodge, Brad O'Halloran and Kathy Fenton were all re-elected to the Orland Park Village Board of Trustees.

The Orland Park Village Board will remain exactly the same as the last two years after Tuesday’s election.

As of early Wednesday morning, all 51 precincts showed vote totals that place James Dodge, Brad O’Halloran and Kathy Fenton as the winning candidates for the Orland Park Village Board.

“We all care about Orland Park deeply,” Dodge said. “The people of Orland Park said we’re going to put these guys back in office, so I thank them. You’ll see me continue to bang on the drum to open up more channels of communication with our residents.”

Find out what's happening in Orland Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Fenton said the results are proof that the residents are happy with the current administration.

“I appreciate their continued support and confidence in what we’ve done,” she said. “We are concerned about the quality of life in Orland Park and keeping it number one.”

Find out what's happening in Orland Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

View Patch’s Orland Park Election Results table for a rundown of the votes.

Mayor Dan McLaughlin said he sees the results as a sign that residents understand and support the administration’s plans.

“We got the message out that we’re paying attention to public safety, we’re paying attention to finance, we’ve been fiscally responsible,” McLaughlin said. “The one guy opposing us really never had any ideas or plans. It’s one thing to criticize and it’s another thing to offer an alternative.”

Challenger John Fotopoulos, who lost the race, said there are still people in town unhappy with the village’s decisions and actions, and the 12 percent voter turnout did not accurately represent the village’s sentiment.

“If Orland Park wasn’t a good town I wouldn’t live here, but I want Orland Park to be a better town,” Fotopoulos said. “We need better stores and restaurants, not a $65 million apartment building on the taxpayers’ backs.”

Fotopoulos said he was offered a position with the village as a hearing officer, on the condition that he withdrew from the race and turned it down.  McLaughlin described the claim as “absolutely untrue.”

Fotopoulos also criticized Cook County Commissioner Liz Gorman for not endorsing a candidate to run against McLaughlin.

 “There were no candidates willing to step to run against Dan McLaughlin,” Gorman said. “He’s obviously a popular mayor in town. I don’t know why John can’t run for mayor. He could’ve been a candidate.”

Gorman said she herself chose not to run because she isn’t willing to give up her position with the county.

Since 2011, the village started several sizable changes, including the first development within the Main Street Triangle area. Plans for widening LaGrange Road continued, with the work scheduled to start later in the year.

The re-elected trustees shared their thoughts on how best to continue building up the Main Street Triangle area, with the Ninety 7 Fifty complex nearing its opening date, earlier in our Patch election questionnaire.

Brad O’Halloran

Given the walkability of the Triangle development, restaurants, a food store, and a potential myriad of service businesses would be appropriate. I can envision residents being able to drop off their dry cleaning, get a paper and a cup of coffee and head to their job downtown on Metra. Upon their return they could get in a workout, grab some food at the nearby grocery or walk over for a fine meal at one of several restaurants. All without getting in a car and leaving the community. A truly full service pedestrian environment.

James Dodge

We are actively working to bring more restaurants and other small businesses to that area. It will be a great development and our investment will pay off, on schedule. Other phases include plans for townhomes and condos.

Kathy Fenton

The Main Street Triangle is designed as a mixed use "walkable" community. Therefore it is very important for the residents to be able to access businesses that will enhance their life styles. Commercial, office, and entertainment uses along with the residential portion of the project will continue to make this project a success.

Return to our results page for other election outcomes.

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