Burr Ridge Mayor Seeks Higher Office

BURR RIDGE, IL – Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso is looking for another political job – again.

On Thursday, Grasso, an attorney, announced he would run as a Republican for chairman of the DuPage County Board. The current chairman is Democrat Deb Conroy, who is in her first term.

He served on the county board from 2012 to 2018. He has been mayor twice – 2005 to 2012 and since 2019.

Historically, Republicans have controlled DuPage's government. However, that has changed in recent years as Democrats have become more popular in suburbs across the country.

In his statement, Grasso described himself as "socially moderate." But Grasso may have trouble attracting the party's MAGA wing.

In 2022, Grasso lost the Republican race for Congress to MAGA enthusiast Keith Pekau, then Orland Park's mayor, who went on to lose to Democratic incumbent Sean Casten.

In his announcement, Grasso said Burr Ridge was the first to receive busloads of migrants from Chicago without notice or information about them. He said Burr Ridge welcomed the migrants while assuring the community that all were respecting the law.

He said he would protect law-abiding, taxpaying immigrants who want to become citizens. But he said he would never offer sanctuary to undocumented immigrants who commit violent or serious crimes.

Grasso also promoted his handling of the pandemic. He said he worked with the Village Board to provide stipends to small businesses to pay rents and salaries.

He also said he found money to erect tents for restaurants rather than follow an "ill-advised" order to close them.

Grasso said he was proud that Burr Ridge did not close or lose one business to COVID.

"This is one of several reasons why the Village of Burr Ridge is debt-free today," the mayor said.

In his statement, Grasso noted he was chairman of the county's 911 board. In that post, he said he led the consolidation of the county's 21 call centers to two.

He announced his Republican candidacy on his Facebook page titled, "Gary Grasso – Mayor of Burr Ridge" and labeled "Public & Government Service."

The Democratic and Republican primaries are March 17.