Election 2013: Brad O'Halloran

Campaign Info

• Position Sought: Orland Park Village Board
• Website: firstorland.com
• Email:
• Phone:
• Hometown: Orland Park

Personal Info

• Family: Harry and Ryan, sons; Elizabeth and Casey, daughters
• Education: University of Notre Dame, B.A./ 1976; University of Notre Dame/ MBA/ 2009/ Magna Cum Laude
• Occupation: Regional Director of Development, University of Notre Dame
• Political Party Affiliation: First Orland Party

Candidate Questions

Why are you seeking office?

To continue to keep Orland Park the premier community of the Chicagoland area. To keep it a place we can be proud to live in and raise our families in.

What will be your single most important priority if you get elected?

Continuing to keep Orland Park a fiscally strong, safe community that people want to move to and raise their families.

What sets you apart from other candidates? 

I think I bring a unique mix of business expertise and long time community service. I enjoy representing the citizens of Orland Park and have felt that I have been able to make a difference in the community I love.

Mayor Dan McLaughlin has spoken previously on the importance of fostering Orland Park as a retail hub. Should the village also work to diversify its tax base through other types of businesses, and what types would you suggest? Why or why not?

The village has to continue to aggressively pursue light industrial, distribution and other types of service businesses. In addition I believe we have a unique opportunity to expand our already strong health care component on the south end of LaGrange road and the I-80 corridor.

Construction has begun on the Main Street Triangle. With units within the Ninety 7 Fifty apartment complex soon to be opened, what else should be built or established within the triangle area to ensure the extensive investment will be worthwhile?

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.

How do you propose keeping a tighter budget that doesn’t burden taxpayers, while keeping Orland Park accessible, competitive and desirable?

I think that we've done a good job in shepherding the dollars of our residents. We continue to do more with less. Our head count is down from a decade ago and we continue to look for ways to improve efficiencies but at the same time provide our residents with the high quality services they have come to expect.

Can anything else be done to help residents with costs other than the property tax rebate?

While we have been successful in rebating taxes to our residents in 10 of the last 12 years, it is only through sound fiscal management that this is possible. Right now our citizens are only paying 7 cents of every tax dollar to the village of Orland Park before any rebate. That's 7 cents per dollar that gives you all the services and improvements that have made Orland Park one of the best places to live in our country. Now I happen to think thats a great value proposition to our residents.

Recently the village was able to sell off part of the debt obligation for the Ninety 7 Fifty project. How else can the village work to reduce this debt?

I've come out publicly with my concerns on the debt for this particular project. I've had several discussions with the Mayor about offloading some or all of this debt to the private sector as the project continues to prove itself. However, in the context of the overall debt of the village, I believe we are extremely sound. I think a good way to look at it is if you had a home worth $400,000 and your mortgage were $16,000 would you be concerned about your overall debt. I sure wouldn't. Well, that's an analogy to the overall debt of the village versus our Equalized Assessed Valuation. There’s a reason we continue to receive one of the highest bond ratings in the state and that’s because we are so fiscally strong.

Would you support term limits for trustees and the mayor? Why or why not?

I think you can make strong arguments on both sides of this issue. In the end if the citizens of Orland Park want change they can do it at the ballot box or move a referendum to change policy. I'd differ to their wisdom on this issue.

What are your thoughts on the village’s use of TIF districts? Has the village used them effectively? Why or why not? Would you do anything differently with TIF?

I believe we have been very focused and prudent in the use of TIFs. The Orland Park Place Mall is a key example of an extremely successful TIF and took what was an abandoned enclosed mall and converted it into a thriving retail and restaurant hub. I believe the Triangle project with time will be just as successful.

Have you ever been charged with a crime? Were you convicted? If yes, please say what the charge was, and what was the case's outcome as it stands.

No.

Are there any candidates in other races you would like to endorse here?

Jayne Schirmacher and John Brudnak for the Fire District. I've known John and Jayne for quite some time and given their history of community involvement feel they would do a fine job at the Fire District. In addition I whole heartedly endorse John Schiera for the Morraine Valley Board. John again knows the area and is a true believer in the mission of MVCC.

Read about other candidates running for the Orland Park Village Board in the April 2013 election.