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Grasso Scores Second in DuPage Chairman Straw Poll

Posted on Octobe 11, 2009 Gary Grasso

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Yesterday, the Downers Grove Township Republican Organization held a straw poll in the race for DuPage County Board Chairman. Gary Grasso, Mayor of Burr Ridge, placed ahead of both DuPage County GOP Chairman Senator Dan Cronin and Senator Carole Pankau.

1. Debra Olson with 1029 points
2. Gary Grasso with 1007 points
3. Carole Pankau with 956 points
4. Dan Cronin with 860 points

Mayor Gary Grasso:

"I am thrilled with my strong showing at the Downers Grove Township Republican Organization's straw poll. The results of the poll show that our underdog campaign is gaining strength. The Republican voters who attended the forum all are familiar with Dan Cronin's record over his last 20 years in Springfield, and it is clear that they don’t want him to be the next DuPage County Board Chairman."

Mayor Gary Grasso is running for County Board Chairman to ensure that DuPage County stays a special place for families, workers and businesses to call home. As a mayor, a member of the DuPage County Board of Health and as a professional, Gary will continue to fight for commonsense government as the next County Board Chairman. The Grasso Plan calls for holding the line on taxes, consolidating government services for greater efficiency, promoting DuPage County for development and expanding employment opportunities, and preserving parks, forests and open spaces. Gary and his wife Janet have six children and have resided in Burr Ridge since 1995.

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2010: Mad as Hell and Not Gonna Take it Anymore!

Posted on Septebmer 23, 2009 Gary Grasso

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2010: Mad as Hell and Not Gonna Take it Anymore!

I recently paid the second installment of my DuPage County property tax bill and I am mad as hell. Reading line-item by line-item conjured the Peter Finch character Howard Beale shouting his scorn in the 1976 movie Network: "I'm mad as hell and I'm not gonna take it anymore!"

That exclamation must be the mantra for the 2010 election. Our economic existence in DuPage County is being eroded by property taxes that mainly go to support inefficiencies and duplication of government at all levels. Ninety percent of our property taxes go to separate school boards, single purpose service districts and escalating pensions. We are grossly overpaying for redundant services, imbedded inefficiencies and extravagant entitlements never intended to be the province of common sense government. We can - and must - do better to keep DuPage County a special place to live, raise children and work before it is taxed into oblivion.

Schools are certainly a cornerstone of neighborhoods and society. Indeed, education is the great equalizer. As the first in my family to earn a college degree, I understand the value of education. Without it, I could not have lived the American dream raising six children with my wife Janet in one of DuPage County's great communities.

Government's function is first to protect lives and property, then provide basic services such as education, public health, road and sewer infrastructure, sensible zoning and storm water protection. Government cannot reach beyond its core purpose and become an open faucet of endless tax supported programs. Citizens should not acquiesce year after year to policies that promote the agendas of lawmakers over the peoples' business. We cannot function with ever-increasing boards, districts and commissions that waste our tax dollars on duplication and inefficiencies.

We are constantly reminded in editorials that Illinois is the most over-governed state in the Union; Springfield's inefficiency, waste and neglect are the great embarrassments of our political generation and have led to unprecedented budget deficits. We must ensure that the sickness in Springfield does not find a foothold in DuPage.

In 2010, the peoples' business must include a rebellion against the cascade of tax increases that perpetuate inefficiencies and waste in government. Demand better from those running for election in 2010 than a cowardly call for more taxes to feed the monster. The drive to raise taxes is brazen political arrogance coupled with contempt for your hard-earned tax dollars. Open your windows, grab your neighbors and friends, get animated, involved and shout like Howard Beale: "I'm mad as hell and I'm not gonna take it anymore!" DuPage County voters can provide the watershed for common sense government; top to bottom. Stop tax addicted inefficiencies, duplication and limitless benefits.

 

 

 

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Gary Grasso on Healthcare

Posted on Septebmer 23, 2009 Gary Grasso

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Gary Grasso:

"With Springfield in budget and ethical messes, I applaud Chairman Schillerstrom for proposing a county budget for FY 2010 that contains no tax increases and would sustain the core services that the county provides to our taxpayers. As a member of the Board of Health, I want to thank the Chairman for singling out the Board of Health for reducing taxes by $2.5 million for 2010 and putting our health budget below its FY 2005 levels. The Chairman noted this about the Health Board: 'I cannot think of any other county department in this state reducing their budget which at the same time increasing services, can you?'"

"At the Board of Health, we have developed operation models to streamline services and reduce duplication which result in saving our tax dollars. Moving forward into the new decade, DuPage County must remain vigilant and consider cooperative and innovative approaches among our several levels of municipal and county governments to provide more services at less cost like we have done at the Board of Health. I have been a member of that board since 1999 and am proud that while our budget will be reduced by $2.5 million this coming year, the vital services the department provides will not be reduced. But we will face continued fiscal challenges in the years ahead that require strong hands to control government's inherent tendency to grow."

"As the next DuPage County Board Chairman, I would hold the reins tightly on expanding county government. Because the Chairman position, like County Board members, is intended to be part-time, I would also ask the Board to restore the County Administrator position and reduce the compensation paid to the Chairman. With a $452 million annual budget in FY 2010, the taxpayers deserve to have a full-time, fiscally focused professional administrator overseeing day-to-day operations who will be accountable to the Board. In an ever complex world, the County Administrator will assist the County Board and Chairman, ensuring we maximize ever tax dollar, provide good services to taxpayers and that we effectively work with the state, federal, and neighboring local governments."

Mayor Gary Grasso is running for County Board Chairman to ensure that DuPage County stays a special place for families, workers and businesses to call home. As a mayor, a member of the DuPage County Board of Health and as a professional, Gary will continue to fight for commonsense government as the next County Board Chairman. The Grasso Plan calls for holding the line on taxes, consolidating government services for greater efficiency, promoting DuPage County for development and expanding employment opportunities, and preserving parks, forests and open spaces. Gary and his wife Janet have six children and have resided in Burr Ridge since 1995.

 

 

 

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Mayor Gary Grasso Announces Broad Support

Posted on July 22, 2009 Gary Grasso

Burr Ridge - Today Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso announced that his campaign for DuPage County Board Chairman is off to a strong start. In Grasso's first week of fundraising he already has commitments of well over $100,000 and the endorsement of eight DuPage County mayors. Mayors who have announced their endorsement:

Carol Stream Mayor Frank Saverino
Westmont Mayor Bill Rahn
Wayne Village President Eileen Phipps
Clarendon Hills President Thomas Karaba
Hinsdale Village President Tom Cauley
Lombard Village President Bill Mueller
Lisle Mayor Joe Broda
Woodridge Mayor Bill Murphy

Gary Grasso:

"I am honored to have the support of these local mayors in my campaign to become the next DuPage County Board Chairman. I am proud that in just my first week of fundraising I have received commitments to my campaign in excess of $100,000 and expect to raise much more in the coming weeks. My campaign will have broad support and the resources to send me to victory on February 2nd."

Mayor Gary Grasso is running for County Board Chairman to ensure that DuPage County stays a special place for families, workers and businesses to call home. As a mayor, a member of the DuPage County Board of Health and as a professional, Gary will continue to fight for commonsense government as the next County Board Chairman. The Grasso Plan calls for holding the line on taxes, consolidating government services for greater efficiency, promoting DuPage County for development and expanding employment opportunities, and preserving parks, forests and open spaces. Gary and his wife Janet have six children and have resided in Burr Ridge since 1994.

 

 

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