Pritzker A Dictator? Don't Expect Burr Ridge Mayor To Say So

BURR RIDGE, IL — Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso has questioned the pandemic-related mandates issued by Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker. But he doesn't suggest the governor is some sort of dictator.

Grasso is running as a Republican for Congress in the 6th District. His GOP opponent is Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau.

In September, Pekau noted the state had been under a state of emergency for 600 days, during which the governor has issued 97 executive orders.

"These are the actions of a dictator," Pekau said.

In an interview Tuesday, Patch asked Grasso whether he would call the governor a dictator. Grasso said he would not.

"We can disagree with each other respectfully," he said.

Pekau said in an interview with Patch that he stood by his words.

"Orders by fiat is acting like a dictator," he said. "The way you are supposed to do things is through the legislative body."

Both candidates are appealing to a Republican base that largely opposes vaccine and mask mandates.

Grasso said he opposes vaccine mandates, but he encourages people to get the shot. His emails include the tagline, "Consider getting fully vaccinated."

During Burr Ridge Village Board meetings, officials wear masks, following the governor's mandate. Orland Park officials, however, do not, though Pekau said he does not object when people choose to do so.

On Tuesday, the Orland Park Village Board adopted a resolution stating it would not enforce Cook County's mandate requiring vaccination cards for those entering indoor venues.

Grasso told Patch that non-home-rule towns such as Burr Ridge have no ability to enforce the mandate. Businesses are given that responsibility, he said.

"Cook County wrote the order to make the businesses enforce it. It's an unenforceable order," Grasso said. "That puts businesses in a precarious place. It is putting the burden on businesses that have already been terribly hurt, with no indication that (the order) will make a difference."

Grasso questioned why the county would delay the order's effective date to next Monday if it were serious about it. That is after all the holiday celebrations when everyone gets together are over, he said.

Pekau accused Cook County leaders of playing politics by imposing unlawful measures.

"Every person has the right to do what they want to do," he said. "We should give them the choice to make the most informed decisions for themselves."

As of Wednesday, Orland Park has seen 153 coronavirus cases per thousand people since the pandemic's beginning, compared with 142 in Burr Ridge, according to health agencies. In Orland Park, 1.4 percent of those testing positive have died from the coronavirus, compared with 2.5 percent in Burr Ridge.