Politics & Government

Larry Deetjen Puppet Show a Hit in Oak Lawn

Yes, that Larry Deetjen -- the former Deerfield Beach city manager who was practically joined at the hip with mayor-turned-felony-suspect Al Capellini. Despite rumors that Deetjen would be swooping back around to take his old job back from Mike Mahaney -- Mayor Peggy Noland doesn't like the way Mahaney parks...
Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Carbonatix

Yes, that Larry Deetjen — the former Deerfield Beach city manager who was practically joined at the hip with mayor-turned-felony-suspect Al Capellini. Despite rumors that Deetjen would be swooping back around to take his old job back from Mike Mahaney — Mayor Peggy Noland doesn’t like the way Mahaney parks his car — Deetjen appears to be doing just fine in his new role as the mayor village manager of Oak Lawn, Illinois.

So fine that suburban Chicagoans are having trouble distinguishing him from the mayor. From the Southtown Star:

Hired out of Deerfield Beach, Fla., to become Oak Lawn’s village
manager in July 2007, it became clear at a village board meeting
Tuesday night that Deetjen is now running things – while an impotent
Mayor Dave Heilmann protests that he is kept in the dark and implies
that secret deals are being made.

From a safe distance of a 1,000 miles or so, Deetjen’s very nearly a loveable rogue — especially when you read how he’s managed to turn four of the village trustees against the mayor, rendering the man elected to lead the people a mere figurehead. Deetjen, you rascal!

Anyway, tough break, Oak Lawn. But that’s what happens when you don’t do your homework on your new village manager.

GET MORE COVERAGE LIKE THIS

Sign up for the Things to Do newsletter to get the latest stories delivered to your inbox

Loading latest posts...