Developer Gives To Burr Ridge Politicians

BURR RIDGE, IL – Burr Ridge-based McNaughton Development, which found itself caught in a gift cards-for-praise controversy this week, also has donated money to local politicians.

In the last six years, the developer has given $14,900 to politicians around the suburbs.

The company gave then-Mayor Mickey Straub's campaign fund $500 in 2017 and $2,000 in 2018.

In 2019, McNaughton donated $500 to Mayor Gary Grasso's campaign a month before he was elected mayor. Last year, the developer gave $500 to Grasso's fund after he ran unopposed in the village election. Federal records show that Paul McNaughton of McNaughton Development gave $2,000 to Grasso's recent congressional campaign.

Like others, Grasso expressed displeasure in response to news that McNaughton offered Capri Ristorante gift cards to residents who sent letters to the village in support of a proposed development.

In an email to Patch this week, the mayor said, "Knowing village processes well, offering a pre-meeting gift for support likely will not be well received."

Nearly half of McNaughton Development's political donations in recent years were to Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau, who defeated Grasso in a Republican congressional primary in June.

Patch published a story Tuesday about the gift card issue. The next day, Patch wrote about McNaughton's suggestion it may take legal action against a resident who criticized the gift card offer in an email to village officials.