The whistleblower Mark Felt — more famously known as “Deep Throat” — secretly provided information to Washington Post reporters about Nixon administration abuses of power, which were central to exposing Watergate and ultimately led to President Richard Nixon’s resignation. Former senior Enron executive Sherron Watkins warned leadership that the company was built on fraudulent accounting in the early 2000s.

Watergate changed history. In Orland Park, one self-proclaimed watchdog appears intent on turning post-election sour grapes into a cottage industry.

In April, the southwest suburb endured a bitter mayoral race pitting former friends and neighbors against one another.

It seems their grudge match may never end. 

Former Orland Park Village President Keith Pekau lost his bid for reelection, defeated by labor-backed former village Trustee and Clerk Jim Dodge. 

Orland Park Village President Jim Dodge talks to residents concerned about a proposed vehicle repossession lot project in Orland Park before the Cook County Zoning Board holds a public meeting, May 7, 2025, in Chicago. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune)

Since then, Pekau has continued his crusade, setting himself up as a watchdog critiquing village governance and policymaking. In August, Cook County Circuit Judge Kate Moreland issued a temporary restraining order requiring Pekau to remove confidential village information he’d posted on his blog and social media, and to stop publishing additional confidential material. It’s not clear now exactly which documents Pekau posted. The village described them as “sensitive internal documents” relating to ongoing litigation and nonpublic information about employees. We don’t know whether his posts caused concrete harm; we do know a judge found this activity serious enough to order their removal.

The village is seeking to make that restraining order permanent. 

“I will not be silenced,” Pekau posted online in response. “I will keep bringing you the facts they don’t want you to hear.”

“They want a fight? They’ve got one,” he added.

We imagine few ordinary residents want this fight to continue, especially given these legal contests cost both time and taxpayer resources. We got a firsthand glimpse of the bad blood ahead of the consolidated elections in April when we spoke with both candidates. In a joint virtual appearance before us, the candidates told the editorial board they used to be neighbors, and that Pekau’s children used to babysit Dodge’s kids. We were left wondering what changed since then. 

Pekau has drawn parallels between himself and President Donald Trump, seemingly painting his current self-appointed crusade against the village as his own Russiagate. “Just as Trump refuses to quit nationally, we will not be silenced locally,” he wrote on Facebook in September.

Sure, it’s fair game to report on village goings-on and to bring issues to light. But Pekau should not leak privileged information, as Judge Moreland made clear in August. If he believes there’s corruption or mismanagement, he should bring evidence to law enforcement, the attorney general, the inspector general or a court. Otherwise, Dodge needs to be able to focus on improving life in the village.

In politics, it’s not unusual to dislike your opponent. But, unless Pekau has credible information of wrongdoing, he comes across as a sore loser by continuing to wage a campaign that was recently decided. It’s time for this to end.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/09/orland-park-pekau-dodge-feud/