Burr Ridge Mayor, Rival Trustee Plan To Run Again

BURR RIDGE, IL — Burr Ridge Mayor Burr Grasso and his allies filed their candidacies Monday in the April 6 election. But two more candidates said they would turn in their petitions by next Monday.

On the first day of filing, the village reported receiving petitions from Grasso for mayor and trustees Guy Franzese and Anita Mital, and political newcomer Russell Smith for Village Board. Three trustee seats are up for election.

Asked Monday whether he would seek a second term, Trustee Zach Mottl said he planned to file his petitions by next Monday, which is the last day to do so. Mottl, whom the board has censured five times since late 2019, has repeatedly tangled with Grasso on a variety of issues. Grasso defeated Mottl in the April 2019 election.

Mottl noted another candidate, Elena Galinski, is also circulating petitions.

In an interview, Galinski confirmed Mottl's statement. Asked about her alliances in the election, Galinski said she would take questions by email.

Smith, a financial adviser in Burr Ridge, was reached at work late Monday afternoon and said he was busy and not prepared to give a statement.

In a text message to Patch, Grasso said he backed Smith.

"I support all three Trustee candidates wholeheartedly and will be campaigning for all of them," Grasso said.

Before beginning his latest mayoral term, Grasso served in the position from 2005 to 2012, when he resigned after winning a seat on the DuPage County Board.