Ex-Burr Ridge Mayor's Role Questioned

BURR RIDGE, IL – Former Burr Ridge Mayor Mickey Straub was enlisted as a consultant for the local developer that made the controversial offer of gift cards to residents in return for praise.

In an interview Tuesday, Straub confirmed that he was a consultant for Burr Ridge-based McNaughton Development.

"I know the system and the process," said Straub, who was mayor from 2013 to 2018. "That doesn't carry any influence. That's not the way it works in Burr Ridge."

Straub added, "(Paul McNaughton) wanted to offset the natural tendency for people to come out when they are against something. He was stacking the deck back in his favor. He didn't think through that. It wasn't a good idea."

He also said other former elected officials in Burr Ridge and elsewhere have taken on similar work.

"It's done every day," he said.

At the Dec. 5 meeting of the Plan Commission, Chairman Greg Trzupek said he was contacted by the developer about the proposed 20-home subdivision. He said he and village staff met with the developer's representatives, including Straub.

According to meeting minutes, commission member Barry Irwin said he had an issue with the hiring of a former mayor to lobby the village. He said he believed that needed to be disclosed.

In Tuesday's interview, Straub said Irwin's statement was "misguided." He said he appointed Irwin.

"The word 'lobbyist' has more of a negative connotation than 'consultant'," Straub said. "I'm not a legal lobbyist. My one goal is to make a difference in the community."

As for the gift card offer, Straub said, "(Paul McNaughton) had good intentions. He made a mistake and admitted to it. Had he asked me, I would have told him it was not a prudent idea."

In an email to Patch on Tuesday, Irwin said, "To be clear, my concern is individuals being paid to endorse a petition, or lobby in favor of a petition, without disclosing the fact that you are being paid to do so. Mayor Straub may have disclosed that he was being paid to approach commissioners to lobby in favor of a petition, but I do not know if that disclosure was made or not. I was not approached by former Mayor Straub."

The Plan Commission recommended against the project at the Dec. 5 meeting. McNaughton withdrew the proposal.