Tinley Trustee Pannitto: Donations 'Not A Factor' In Board Votes

TINLEY PARK, IL — Concerned Citizens for Tinley Park trustee candidate Michael Pannitto said that his village board votes are not swayed by campaign contributions and that his decisions are based on what is best for the community.

Pannitto, an incumbent trustee who is running for a second term, said that he also does not solicit campaign contributions on his own from donors.

"Campaign contributions are not a factor that even cross my mind when placing my vote," he said. " In fact, I have voted against some projects and policies by contributors, and I have also voted for some. But, I have always voted for what I feel has been in the best interest of our community. "

His comments come in response to a Patch article that illustrated the relationship between the money that finances campaigns and the people or firms that secure a government contracts. It showed that Concerned Citizens for Tinley Park, Pannitto's party and the party in political power, raised $47,099 from 59 different donors in 2018. Of the 16 contributors listed, nine were paid by the village for contracts and services that year. The largest contract was $1.2 million. The smallest, more than $3,200. One contract was reimbursed.

At the time, representatives from CCTP, as the party is known, did not respond to Patch for comment. Pannitto said his party representatives whom Patch contacted did not tell him about interview requests for the article. It is not clear why.

Pannitto pointed out that, as the article mentioned, that many of the donors have a long-standing history of donating to several political parties, not just Concerned Citizens for Tinley Park.

He added that he spoke to running mates John McGuire and John Curran, who said they also have solicited donations on their own from any of the contributors who donated to CCTP.

Neither McGuire nor Curran have commented directly to Patch about the story.

"Both informed me they will also not allow campaign contributions to influence their decision making," Pannitto said.