South Cook News

Restoration PAC recently released an ad touting Keith Pekau’s accomplishments while in office as mayor of Orland Park. 

Pekau is running for Illinois' 6th Congressional District where he will face off against five other Republicans in the June 28 primary. 

“Remember when Orland Park politicians got rich? Spending and debt were out of control. Then voters made Keith Pekau mayor. He cut his own salary. Then Keith Pekau cut costs, lowered taxes and paid down the village debt,” narrators read in the ad. “That's just what we need in Washington, cost cutting, tax lowering, debt payer downer dude. Keith Pekau for congress.”

As Orland Park Mayor, Pekau — a decorated veteran and small businessman — said he "inherited a complete mess” from predecessor Gary Grasso. Pekau doubled investments in the village's infrastructure during his term as mayor, while managing to reduce total operating costs by 14%, according to his website. He also lowered property tax rates and paid down more than $50 million of the village's debt.

“Our reserves were projected to be completely depleted by the end of next year," Pekau said, South Cook News reported. "What is scary is that the board had known this for five years prior to that and had not taken any action to fix it ... After the end of this budget year, we will have taken $46 million off of our books since the day I arrived, including the money we are spending this year.” 

In early March — as gas prices began their ascent — Pekau blamed the Biden administration for contributing to runaway inflation.

"Americans are being crushed at the pump," Pekau posted on Facebook. "Indirectly they are being hammered with higher prices for all goods, with diesel prices over $5 per gallon thanks to the policies of the Biden administration. Both of my Democratic opponents Sean Casten and Marie Newman support these horrible policies. Put a stop to this by voting for Pekau for Congress and put people over politics." 

Dupage Policy Journal reported that Pekau has a cash advantage over his Republican opponents. As of April, he had raised nearly $270,000 since November 2021. The campaign exceeded internal fundraising goals and goals laid out by the NRCC and other political groups.

Illinois’ new 6th Congressional District includes Cook, DuPage, Lake, Kane, and McHenry Counties.