Former Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau has been ordered to remove confidential village information from his blog and social media and barred from publishing other information.
Cook County Judge Kate Moreland granted a temporary restraining order Aug. 7 barring Pekau from publishing “future statements disclosing the village’s attorney-client privileged communications and confidential non-public information contained in village personnel files,” and ordered he remove any publications of such information.
Moreland denied the village’s request that Pekau return village records containing confidential information and destroy copies of the records. She also denied their request for Pekau to “itemize the ways in which he has published or distributed” confidential information and identify people to whom he gave the information.
Pekau lost his bid for a third term as mayor to Jim Dodge, who took office in May. Dodge’s administration said in a news release that Pekau’s posting of village information after the end of his term violated privacy laws and could undermine Orland Park’s position in active federal lawsuits.
“This reckless and irresponsible behavior is not just disappointing, it is potentially damaging to every taxpayer in Orland Park,” Dodge said in the release. “We are working to protect the public interest, not just in terms of transparency, but also in safeguarding the legal and financial integrity of the Village.”
On social media Aug. 2, Pekau posted a blog post calling the village’s case against him an abuse of the courts. He said the village previously served him with a cease and desist letter.
“I will not be silenced,” he wrote. “I will keep bringing you the facts they don’t want you to hear.”
Pekau, in an affidavit filed by attorneys Aug. 4, said at the end of his term he turned over all village property in accordance with state law and has not disclosed information “that was not already publicly available or would not have been available to the public under Illinois’ access laws.”
He said he runs a political newsletter that discusses village business but does not disclose confidential information.
He said since leaving office, he has not engaged in conversation with litigants involved in pending lawsuits or stated he will release confidential information.
“The purpose of my newsletter is to create open dialogue about community issues and to express views on what is best for our community,” the affidavit said.
The next hearing is set for 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 17 in Room 2302 of the Daley Center, 50 W. Washington St., Chicago.
