South Cook News

Jim Dodge, a Republican candidate running for Mayor of Orland Park against two-term Mayor Keith Pekau, is supported by leftist organizations including the Chicago Federation of Labor (CFL) and the pro-Hamas group, All United. 

Dodge, a former Orland Park trustee, ran as the Republican candidate for Illinois Treasurer in the Nov. 6, 2018 election, but has since been firming up support from the radical left. 

Running with a slate of candidates under the banner Orland Park For All, Dodge's allies include notable figures and controversial leftist organizations, some of which even have links to terror organizations. One such group is All United, an organization backed by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).

Members of AllUnited canvassing on behalf of Dodge and the Orland Park For All slate of candidates. | Facebook / Orland Park for All

According to the Investigative Project, since 2007, CAIR has been tied in court cases to the funding of Hamas. 

“CAIR was listed among ‘entities who are and/or were members of the US Muslim Brotherhood's Palestine Committee.’ That committee, prosecutors say, was created to advance the Hamas agenda within the United States,” the Investigative Project said in a report on CAIR’s ties to Hamas and other Middle East terror groups.

CAIR and other Muslim organizations have faced criticism for blaming Israel for Hamas attacks and calling for an end to Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories, while CAIR is also listed on the FBI's watchlist for terror funding.

In 2013, the FBI released a report stating that it was prohibited from working with CAIR outside of investigative matters, citing two instances involving the Chicago chapter.

Orland Park For All’s Facebook posts feature All United canvassers supporting Dodge’s campaign, and the group has faced scrutiny for its outspoken stance on foreign policy, particularly following a heated disruption at a 2024 village board meeting.

All United PAC chairman, Yousef Zegar, was behind the controversial demand for a Gaza ceasefire during the meeting, which Pekau refused to endorse, stating the village had no role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In February 2024, Pekau noted the disruption by Zegar's group of CAIR protestors at a Village Council meeting.

“We can't affect foreign policy,” Pekau told South Cook News after the meeting. “We can't talk to our senators and congressmen and have an effect on policy. As for what comes out of it, I don't think this was good for relations at all. But what I hope comes out of it is people learn to be respectful when they have disagreements.”

Pekau also expressed a desire to return to addressing local concerns, such as infrastructure and public services, rather than divisive international political issues.

However, now All United, whose members were part of the protest, has thrown its support behind Dodge.

“All United was founded in 2024 in Orland Park, IL, by a group of entrepreneurs and activists in response to a sense of deep marginalization and alienation felt by Arab, Muslim, and other minority communities from a handful of divisive elected officials,” All United’s website reads.

Dodge has also received the backing of the Chicago Federation of Labor (CFL), which is heavily linked to the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU).

CFL and CTU have supported high-profile leftist figures like Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and former Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx.

The CTU is facing litigation over its $5 million contribution to Brandon Johnson's mayoral campaign, which some members argue violated the union's rules against using dues for political purposes. 

CTU funded approximately 65% of Johnson’s campaign, raising concerns about transparency and potential conflicts of interest, as Johnson was also a former CTU organizer and lobbyist while serving as a Cook County Commissioner.

Foxx, backed by leftist billionaire George Soros, was noted as one of the “Five Worst Prosecutors in America” when she was Cook County State’s Attorney from Dec. 1, 2016, to Dec. 1, 2024.

During her tenure, she followed progressive prosecutor policies, including refusing to prosecute various offenses, seeking to decriminalize drugs, and stopping cash bail, contributing to Chicago's record homicide rates and a steep increase in crime.

The CFL’s influence extends to Orland Park, where Dodge’s slate includes candidates like Joanna Leafblad, a former Kim Foxx staffer.

This alliance has drawn connections to the CTU and the CFL, which have long been involved in local education and political races.

Dodge’s connections with these groups raise questions about the direction he could take if elected.

Critics argue that the CFL and CTU have already heavily influenced local schools, and now they are turning their attention to Orland Park’s municipal government. 

Meanwhile, Orland Park mayoral incumbent Pekau has set a stark contrast in leadership. 

During his tenure, Pekau reduced the mayor’s salary from $150,000 to $40,000, eliminated public pensions for elected officials, and instituted term limits. 

His administration is credited with keeping Orland Park open during the COVID-19 pandemic, defying state mandates and overseeing the repayment of $26 million in debt, while still funding over $150 million in infrastructure projects.

During Pekau’s tenure, Orland Park has also been recognized for its safety, ranking as the safest city in Illinois in 2020, and placing highly in national rankings for low property and violent crime rates in 2024.

As the April 1 election closes in, voters will have a choice between a candidate with strong ties to powerful unions and outside political influences, and a mayor who has prioritized fiscal responsibility and community safety.