Questions Linger With Burr Ridge Mayor's Financial Report

BURR RIDGE, IL — As Illinois voters head to the polls Tuesday, questions linger about the campaign finances for Gary Grasso, a Republican candidate in the 6th Congressional District.

Gary Grasso, who is Burr Ridge's mayor, was one of several non-incumbent congressional candidates in Illinois who failed to file financial disclosure reports in mid-May.

Grasso’s campaign filed for an extension in March, which was granted until May 27. The campaign filed for a second extension on May 23. The second extension request was still pending when Grasso filed his disclosure reports on June 15, according to a member of his law firm.

According to his disclosure report, Grasso earns a $300,000 salary from working at his law firm, Grasso Law PC. Grasso also earns $6,000 annually in his role as Burr Ridge mayor.

The disclosure did not reveal income from Grasso's investments, if any. Nor did the report disclose his wife’s income, if any. According to the U.S House Ethics Committee's website, candidates can exclude spouses' income only in rare circumstances.

Grasso checked that he had not excluded any trusts or other assets that could have been exempted.

In contrast, one of Grasso's primary rivals, Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau's financial disclosure report showed IRAs, 401(k)s and income from stock dividends as well as the income of Pekau’s spouse.

Patch asked Grasso's campaign why he filed for two extensions and did not disclose his wife’s income. His spokesman, Rosemaria DiBenedetto, responded.

“He filed his statement earlier this month and is in compliance,” DiBenedetto said in a text.

She also referred Patch to a news release from June 21 in which Grasso attacked Pekau for campaigning against a $150,000 mayor’s salary but still took the salary when he took office in 2017.

Grasso also attacked Pekau for removing Orland Park elected officials from the state’s pension plan in 2019 while the mayor’s position remained eligible until the subsequent mayoral election in 2021. Pekau opted out of the state pension system when he was elected, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Voters will decide on Tuesday which of the six Republican candidates will take on the Democratic nominee in the November general election.