Caylor 'Disappointed' By Naperville Mayor's Background Check

NAPERVILLE, IL -- Mayoral challenger Rocky Caylor has issued an open letter to residents saying he was "disappointed" by a recent background check conducted by incumbent Mayor Steve Chirico. In the letter, Caylor asserts that Chirico hired Texas-based research firm Stonebriar Research LLC to "damage [his] reputation by impugning [his] service to this country, the operation of [his] company and attacking [him] personally."

Caylor, who served in the U.S. Marines, wrote that he is "intensely proud of my time as a Marine, serving overseas with the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines and I was humbled to be given the honor of being the Guidon Bearer at Marine Barracks, Washington D.C., 8th & I, where, among other duties, I served at the White House and Arlington Cemetery."

He went on to say that "[o]peratives like Stonebriar search for ways to twist facts and mislead with unsubstantiated narratives."

Chirico took to Facebook to respond to Caylor. He wrote that "Naperville is the fourth largest city in Illinois and deserves to have candidates that have been well vetted."

He added, "it is common for candidates in large cities, counties, states and federal campaigns to perform professionally vetted opposition research on their opponent and many do opposition research on themselves to discover what is being said about them as well. I did both."

Regarding Caylor's time in the Marines, Chirico wrote, "I want to be ABSOLUTELY clear that I have the utmost respect for my opponent's military career. I honor all those who have served in the military and who have served on the front lines fighting for our country."

Chirico went on to say that he agrees with Caylor that "negativity and partisan politics should not play a role in [the] election."

Chirico added that his campaign has not made use of any information gathered through the research, but offered to "release both unedited reports" available if Caylor requests that.