Mayor Fires Back Over Burr Ridge Restaurateur's Arrest

BURR RIDGE, IL – The arrest of Burr Ridge restaurant owner Filippo "Gigi" Rovito has become a subject in a DuPage County political race.

It all started Monday when Mayor Gary Grasso weighed in on the federal case against Rovito, the owner of Capri Ristorante. Rovito is accused of taking part in an illegal gambling ring.

In a statement emailed to residents, Grasso, an attorney who has represented Rovito in civil cases, said the charges against the businessman were serious, but he is innocent until proven guilty.

In the meantime, Grasso said he would continue going to Rovito's restaurant, a popular Italian eatery.

A few hours later, Deb Conroy, the Democratic chairwoman of the DuPage County Board, posted on Facebook screenshots of Grasso's statement. She and Grasso, a Republican, are facing each other for chairman in November's election.

In her post, Conroy wrote, "There is a whole lot going on in Burr Ridge. I firmly believe DuPage County residents deserve a full time, fully focused on DuPage residents County Board Chair. Each day I am grateful for the privilege to serve as your full time DuPage County Chair."

Late Wednesday, Grasso posted a statement to Facebook responding to his Democratic rival.

He said she "dissed Burr Ridge residents and businesses and its government – largely her own constituents – with a sarcastic post really aimed at me as Mayor for daring to state that a person is innocent until proved guilty."

The mayor said Conroy was mad at him for challenging her in the November election.

"She obviously would run to the hills if you were in trouble and trash your right to be deemed innocent until proven guilty as our constitution provides," the mayor said. "She is a Madigan-funded politician who would flush you and move on."

He said people should compare his statement, which he described as factual and informative, with Conroy's "sarcastic" post. He said her message indicates she is no leader.

Conroy published her statement to her campaign Facebook page, while Grasso did so on a page labeled as "Gary Grasso – Mayor of Burr Ridge."

Grasso has said before that he did not see his page as "an official page," noting that he uses Facebook's "public figure" designation.

Last year, Burr Ridge resident Patricia Davis sued Tony Schiappa, a village trustee, over his Facebook page. She said he made it appear as an official page, but used it for political posts.

Illinois law bars employees and officers of any public body from taking part in political activities in their official roles.

After Davis sued, Schiappa made a few changes to his page. A judge threw out the case, saying Davis had not exhausted local administrative remedies.