FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Village of Orland Park Responds to False and Misleading Patch Media Article
ORLAND PARK, IL (November 15, 2024) – The Village of Orland Park is addressing false statements published in a November 14, 2024, “article” on Patch Media’s Neighbor News section, which not only misrepresents key facts but also violates Federal Election Law and Illinois Election Law.
The article, credited to “Inform Orland Park, Neighbor,” a Political Action Committee (PAC) registered with the Illinois State Board of Elections, misleads readers about its origin and nature. Inform Orland Park filed its Statement of Organization on August 18, 2024, and its officers include former Village Trustees Kathy Fenton and Patricia Gira. Despite this, the PAC failed to include the legally required disclaimer identifying itself as a political entity in its Patch Media submission, presenting its partisan content as unbiased news.
Under Federal Election Law and the Illinois Campaign Disclosure Act, all public communications by PACs, including internet publications, must include a disclaimer identifying the political committee as the source. Illinois election law further underscores the importance of transparency to ensure the public is informed of the origin and potential biases of political communications. By omitting such a disclaimer, Inform Orland Park has likely violated both federal and Illinois election laws, misleading readers and undermining public trust.
The Village strongly condemns the deliberate dissemination of misinformation by Inform Orland Park and urges Patch Media to uphold journalistic standards by labeling content from political organizations appropriately.
Patch Media Removes Article at Village’s Request
Following a request from the Village of Orland Park, Patch Media has removed the misleading article from its platform. The Village appreciates this action but emphasizes the importance of ensuring future publications meet journalistic and legal standards.
Setting the Record Straight
The article falsely claims that Mayor Keith Pekau misrepresented the status of the Village’s 2022 audit during the November 4, 2024, Board of Trustees meeting. Specifically, it alleges that Mayor Pekau inaccurately stated the audit was “accepted.” This statement is unequivocally false as demonstrated below:
- A motion is made for the Village of Orland Park to accept the Fiscal Year 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. (View Here)
- The roll is called on the motion to accept the audit. (View Here)
The article also accuses Mayor Pekau of misleading the public by calling the audit “clean,” implying this determination must come from the Illinois Comptroller. This assertion reflects a fundamental misrepresentation of audit processes. A “clean” or unqualified audit opinion is determined solely by the independent auditors who conduct the audit. The Illinois Comptroller does not issue such designations. The Village of Orland Park’s 2022 audit was indeed a clean audit, as confirmed by the auditors:
The Independent Auditor confirms that the audit was indeed a “clean audit.” (View Here)
It should also be noted that the Illinois Comptroller’s Office agreed with the process used by the Village, accepted the Village’s compliance plan to approve the audit on November 4 and upload documentation over the following week. (View Here)
The article also includes misleading and incomplete statements regarding the Village’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District. Contrary to claims in the article, TIF districts do not “divert” existing tax revenue. Revenue generated through TIF districts stems from new development, making this assertion fundamentally inaccurate. Furthermore, any insinuation that Mayor Pekau was responsible for the establishment of the TIF is false. Ironically, the district was created—and associated funds borrowed and spent—years before his election, by Inform Orland Park officers Kathy Fenton and Patricia Gira.
Holding Patch Media Accountable
“It is disappointing, though not surprising, that Inform Orland Park, a PAC with a clear political agenda, would resort to misrepresentation and violate both Federal and Illinois Election Law to mislead the public,” said Mayor Keith Pekau. “However, Patch Media has an obligation to ensure that its platform is not used to deceive readers by publishing content from political entities without proper disclaimers.”
The Village of Orland Park takes these violations seriously and will consider legal action if necessary to address the misuse of election laws and protect the integrity of public discourse.
The Village remains committed to transparency and accountability, and we encourage residents to reach out with questions or concerns about the Village’s operations.
###
