Gary Grasso

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Gary Grasso

Republican Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

June 28, 2022

Education

Bachelor's

Georgetown University, 1973

Law

Fordham Law School, 1978

Personal

Birthplace

Tuckahoe, N.Y.

Religion

Catholic

Profession

Attorney and litigator

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Campaign YouTube

Gary Grasso (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Illinois' 6th Congressional District. He lost in the Republican primary on June 28, 2022.

Grasso completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Gary Grasso was born in Tuckahoe, New York and lives in Burr Ridge, Illinois. He earned a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University in 1973 and a J.D. degree from the Fordham University School of Law in 1978. Grasso's career experience includes working as an attorney and litigator, the mayor of the village of Burr Ridge from 2005-to 2012, and as a member of the DuPage County Board. He has been affiliated with bar associations, DuPage Mayors and Managers, and West Suburban Municipal League.

Elections

2022

See also: Illinois' 6th Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Illinois District 6

Incumbent Sean Casten defeated Keith Pekau and Arthur Jones in the general election for U.S. House Illinois District 6 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sean Casten (D)	54.4	150,496
		Keith Pekau (R)	45.6	126,351
		Arthur Jones (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	12

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 276,859
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 6

Incumbent Sean Casten defeated incumbent Marie Newman and Charles Hughes in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 6 on June 28, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sean Casten	67.7	45,654
		Marie Newman	29.2	19,726
		Charles Hughes	3.1	2,085

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 67,465
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 6

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 6 on June 28, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Keith Pekau	38.7	20,178
		Gary Grasso	27.2	14,150
		Niki Conforti	11.4	5,947
		Catherine A. O'Shea	10.1	5,243
		Scott Kaspar	6.9	3,573
		Rob Cruz	5.8	3,003

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 52,094
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• John Ostman (R)

2018

See also: Illinois Attorney General election, 2018

General election

General election for Attorney General of Illinois

Kwame Raoul defeated Erika Harold and Bubba Harsy in the general election for Attorney General of Illinois on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kwame Raoul (D)	54.7	2,488,326
		Erika Harold (R)	42.7	1,944,142
		Bubba Harsy (L)	2.5	115,941

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,548,409
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Attorney General of Illinois

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Illinois on March 20, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kwame Raoul	30.2	390,472
		Pat Quinn	27.2	352,425
	Submit photo	Sharon Fairley	12.7	164,304
		Nancy Rotering	9.5	123,446
		Scott Drury	7.9	102,193
	Submit photo	Jesse Ruiz	5.4	70,158
		Renato Mariotti	4.0	51,902
		Aaron Goldstein	3.0	39,196

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 1,294,096
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Attorney General of Illinois

Erika Harold defeated Gary Grasso in the Republican primary for Attorney General of Illinois on March 20, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Erika Harold	59.2	389,197
		Gary Grasso	40.8	268,688

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 657,885
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Gary Grasso completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Grasso's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

GARY GRASSO (R) returned as Mayor of Burr Ridge in 2019, serving first as mayor from 2005-2012 before winning elections to the DuPage County Board (2012-2018). During that time, he chaired DuPage County’s 9-1-1 Board, overseeing the construction of two state-of-the-art call centers protecting almost one million residents and saving them $9 million annually in operation and personnel costs, repurposing a vacant building and gaining $250,000 annually in rent.

Gary also served as a trustee for the DuPage County Board of Health from 1999 to 2012 that gave him valuable experience to balance health with business during COVID to keep Burr Ridge open for business. Gary was a member of the parish council and school board at St. John of the Cross in Western Springs. Gary was designated a Leading Lawyer in 2011, 2018 and 2020 and received the highest rating for legal ability and ethical standards from Martindale-Hubbell. First in his family to earn a college degree, Gary graduated from Georgetown University and Fordham University Law School, and attended Johns Hopkins SAIS in Bologna, Italy. Mayor Grasso has been married to his wife Janet for 44 years. Together, they have raised six children and have six grandchildren, so far.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Conquer inflation: return to energy independence, build the Keystone Pipeline, ease regulation of manufacturing and transportation to lessen supply-chain interruptions, stop federal hand-outs discouraging people from working.
• Enforce Criminal Laws, hold prosecutors accountable for prosecuting crime, stop no-bail policies, and back the police and first responders
• Block the southern border, stop illegal immigration, while still finding a path for citizenship of DACA and efficiently processing those who are lawfully seeking admission to this country through application or asylum .

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Restoring the American Dream for our children and grandchildren that I was able to live by making education and job training equally available to all regardless of where one lives.

Lower property taxes by moving away from property-tax funding of schools; promote school choice options.
Engage in discussing age limits, special licensing, and background checks for the purchase of semi-automatic and automatic weapons.

Facilitate a discussion of lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinian people.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Many leaders who struggled through enormous adversity and prevailed - such as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill and Mahatma Gandhi.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

I read American history and historical biographies. Examples of biographies of people I admire and would recommend are: Alexander Hamilton, Washington, Franklin and Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt and Winston Churchill (especially his WWII leadership).

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Dedication to serving the public, having the experience and skill to understand the issues, and be willing to work with others to achieve overall good. An elected official cannot expect to get everything he or she wants - but should be willing, without compromising values, to work with others to find common paths to achieve common good.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Consensus builder - never have had to vote on a substantive issue as Mayor.
Good listener - I have always listened to my constituents, business owners and those with whom I have served to be sure I am hearing all sides of an issue.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Stay honest, true to your values and focused on what is best for the common good. Job one is public safety - protecting people and property. Job two is to be a good steward of the taxpayers' money.

What legacy would you like to leave?

As Mayor: that Burr Ridge - as we say "a very special place" - is that in part because of my leadership in helping with many others to build our Village Center, bring sustainable businesses and restaurants, and establish a model Veterans Memorial on our municipal campus for all to enjoy.

As 9-1-1 Chairman: leading with others the building of two state-of-the-art call centers and bringing the best technology to give our first responders in DuPage - the largest single 9-1-1 center in Illinois - the ability to get the best outcomes for those in emergencies. I want to believe we save lives.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

JFK's assignation - age 12

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

After college, working on a congressional staff for my Republican congressman - 18 months and then started law school at night while working as a researcher for judge's clerks in a county judges library.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Fiction - Fountainhead by Ayn Rand - because it is about individualism in a world of conformity.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Peter Pan

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Happy Birthday

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

As a public servant, having to deal with a small few who wish to be disruptive and demeaning for no apparent goal other than to bring attention to themselves. Thankfully, these have been few in number.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

It can change every two years, it controls the purse strings of the government, and it is most representative of the many different people living in our country.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

Very much so. I have a long history of public service from his two tenures in Burr Ridge as Mayor (2005-12; 2019-present) and two terms on the DuPage County Board (2012-18). While on the DuPage County Board, I also served as Chairman of DuPage’s 911- Emergency Telephone System Board (ETSB) and led the effort to build two state-of-the-art call centers saving the County $9 million annually and repurposing a vacant building that was rented for an additional $500,000 of revenue to the County annually. These two call centers cover all of DuPage, the largest 911 center in Illinois, and give first responders the best chance to have good outcomes when residents are in need and at risk.

I also previously served 12 years on the DuPage County Board of Health which gave me invaluable experience to deal with the many health and pandemic issues that continually seem to face us today. So having previous experience in government or politics will help me tremendously should I be elected to Congress.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Staying Number 1 in ideals, freedom and economy. I also believe one of our other greatest challenges is climate change. Climate change is real, and the US can and should strive over time to lessen the carbon footprint, but not so suddenly as to make us energy-dependent upon others – especially those countries, like Russia, who are not our friends.

The United States must return to being energy independent. The Biden Administration’s decision to end the Keystone Pipeline has made our nation less self-reliant with our energy needs. It is unacceptable that politicians in Washington handcuff domestic energy producers, including our nation’s vital oil-and-gas sector while propping up rogue regimes around the globe as we purchase oil and gas from them. We are blessed here in the United States with incredible energy resources, and we should expand our domestic energy production. We should invest in our nuclear energy expansion so long as the facilities can be safe, secure, and located as far away from population centers as feasible. Finally, we should invest in other forms of renewable energy such as the benefits from solar and wind.

If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Transportation

Foreign Affairs

Education and Labor

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

No - should be four - the two year term requires constant campaigning and fundraising that results in diminishing the time and work of the Congress to address real issues.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I favor them .

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

No. No one person in particular but as I referenced earlier, I do admire the work of historical figures who have embodied the qualities our nation is founded upon...freedom and democracy.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

The most impactful story I heard recently tells me how important it is to support our police and law enforcement. Burr Ridge, where I am the Mayor, straddles Cook and DuPage Counties. When one of our officers arrested a criminal recently, the first thing the criminal wanted to know was: What County Am I In? Think about that - the first thought of the criminal was hoping he was in Cook where he apparently thought he'd be released or get away with what he had done. We have a strong states attorney in DuPage and a perceived liberal weak one in Cook County. We need to fund our police and get strong, tough states attorneys everywhere. Crime is rampant and has to be addressed.

Tell us your favorite joke.

Not a joke - true story - my dad was an early riser - one morning when I was just a teen, he was apparently tip toeing down our steps from his bedroom just at the top of the stairs when he must have slipped. I awoke to the crashing noise of him falling down all the steps - sounded like hit them all. There was silence and more silence, I did not move and I did not hear my mother or sister stir - then, my dad yelled up the stairs: "I'm alright ---- if anyone gives a damn,,," I smothered my face into my pillow - laughing.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Sure - no one gets everything in any part of life. Consensus building or compromise is key to good government. As Mayor, I am a consensus builder and thus, have never voted on a substantive issue. I am proud of my ability to build consensus on ideas. As an attorney and litigator, I have to listen to all the views, participate with facts and respect different opinions. Congress needs to do more to work together constructively to address the issues facing our country.

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

I would use it. It plays the critical role of conducting government based upon what is reasonably affordable. That is where we should start before we pass laws. Can we afford this?

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Candidate

U.S. House Illinois District 6

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Footnotes

[show]

Illinois' current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Tammy Duckworth (D)

Dick Durbin (D)

Representatives

District 1

Jonathan Jackson (D)

District 2

Robin Kelly (D)

District 3

Delia Ramirez (D)

District 4

Jesus Garcia (D)

District 5

Mike Quigley (D)

District 6

Sean Casten (D)

District 7

Danny Davis (D)

District 8

Raja Krishnamoorthi (D)

District 9

Jan Schakowsky (D)

District 10

Brad Schneider (D)

District 11

Bill Foster (D)

District 12

Mike Bost (R)

District 13

Nikki Budzinski (D)

District 14

Lauren Underwood (D)

District 15

Mary Miller (R)

District 16

Darin LaHood (R)

District 17

Eric Sorensen (D)

Democratic Party (16)

Republican Party (3)