Lalmalani for Oak Brook village president

Daily Herald Editorial Board

In the contest for Oak Brook village president, incumbent John Craig faces challenger Gopal Lalmalani, who has run a hard-hitting campaign vowing to return “honesty, integrity, transparency and accountability” to village government. Much has happened on Craig#146;s watch: he has been criticized for drawing two public sector pensions while coming down hard on village employees; his conduct has been questioned in an after-hours visit to a local bar; he accepted and later returned a $10,000 campaign donation from a local restaurant not long after granting it a liquor license; and the Oak Brook police union gave its chief a vote of no-confidence. How much of this should be pinned on Craig as improper behavior is tough to say. For example, he points out he is qualified for his state pensions, and he presented to the Daily Herald results of a polygraph test supporting his account of events in the late-night bar visit, while the police officers who characterized him as drunk and belligerent have declined to be tested. But when he was questioned about some of these allegations, his response was to fling some mud in the direction of Lalmalani. It was a stretch, to say the least. Lalmalani#146;s daughter, Craig said, worked for law firm Jenner Block, which is a major contributor to the Better Government Association, which has unearthed some of the stories that have emerged about Craig, suggesting, he says, the reports have been politically motivated. All this pretty much adds up to one thing: It#146;s time for a change in Oak Brook. Lalmalani, a cardiologist who has lived in Oak Brook for 23 years, strikes us a man smart enough to stay out of situations that could embarrass him or the village. He also suggests a five-year staffing plan that would weigh the costs against the impact on village services. Lalmalani pledges not to impose further cuts on public works or public safety departments, while he wants to ensure an ambulance can respond to any point in the village within three minutes. He vows to reduce Oak Brook#146;s legal fees, which are considerable. Lalmalani is endorsed.