Gary Grasso
Republican | Illinois
Candidate Profile
Moderate
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Gary Grasso
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
U.S. Rep., Dist. 6
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Fordham Law School, New York City, Law, 1978
Georgetown University, Washington DC, Foreign Service, 1973
Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Bologna, Italy, 1973
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Thomas Ford Library Board, Board Member, St. John of Cross Parish Council and School Board
Board Member, DuPage County Board of Health, Commissioner
DuPage’s 911- Emergency Telephone System Board (ETSB), Chairman, DuPage Mayors & Managers Conference
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Mayor of Burr Ridge (2005-12; 2019-present), 10 plus years
DuPage County Board (2012-18), 6
Trustee of Burr Ridge, 2
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Illinois Attorney General in 2018
ENDORSEMENTS
OTHER (2)
Dan Webb
Jim Durkin
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (7)
JIM DURKIN - Republican IL House Leader and nearly 30 State, County and Municipal leaders including.....
DAN CRONIN - DuPage County Board Chairman
DAN WEBB - former US Attorney – Northern District of IL
BOB SCHILLERSTROM - former DuPage County Board Chairman
PATTI BELLOCK - former IL State Rep
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (3)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2018)
State Republican Party Organizations (2021)
WinRed (2021)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
John Curran (2016)
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Agree
Citizens throughout our country are divided on this issue for a long time. Thus, federal funds should not be used for abortion providers. Each state may decide the issue at the state level.
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Agree
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
To save a mother, in cases of rape / incest. Abortion will not go away if completely outlawed Thus, States may decide to allow or ban it. I do not support a federal right to an abortion.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Neutral
Religious liberty deserves the highest level of protection as framed by the constitution - religion should be used to evade legitimate laws of service. This remains a country where everyone should be allowed to practice their chosen religion without interference.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Disagree
While I would hope a religious person would tolerate all ways of life - we are a nation of freedoms and rights - if he/she truly and strongly believes she/he cannot provide services that would violate their moral or religious beliefs, then that right too should be protected.
What should be the relationship between the church and the state?
Always separate.
NATIONAL SECURITY
With regard to America's foreign policy, which view most closely resembles yours: A) The United States should intervene whenever freedom is threatened. B) The United States should selectively help countries trying to grow democracy and fight tyranny. C) The United States has become too involved in others' policies and should remain focused on issues regarding our own sovereignty unless in imminent danger. D) The United States should stay out of foreign conflicts completely.
B) The United States should selectively help countries trying to grow democracy and fight tyranny - who are likely to be favorable to us for security and investment in their economy. We must be very careful about the use of our foreign aid - and give it sparingly where our interests are in line with the people we are aiding. Thus, reassessment of our foreign aid has to be done frequently and vigilantly.
I support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied territories, remove the separation barrier in the West Bank, allow full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees.
Neutral
I support Israel sovereignty and right to exist. That stated, Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel should have the same citizen rights as everyone else there.
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
When a country tells you who they are by their actions - believe them - America comes first and foremost.
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
Keep Iran from becoming a nuclear power, and make it clear that we will support our allies in the wake of terrorism - and we will react swiftly and thoroughly as warranted. If we are attacked, we should retaliate militarily and economically. Peace through strength is a sound philosophy.
HEALTHCARE
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Only under a true, proven health emergency such as polio or small pox, HPV, diphtheria, where significant percentages of people can be permanently compromised or die. Missteps can prove deadly so the health emergency must be fully recognized and vetted. The COVID pandemic would not qualify for mandatory vaccinations.
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D)Tax-payer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be de-funded.
B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options - and supplemented for the most vulnerable amongst us.
ECONOMY
Redistribution of income is needed to lessen the gap between the wealthy and working classes.
Disagree
Education and job opportunities at competitive wages must be assured so that the American Dream can be realized by all. I favor all super wealthy being taxed more than current rates.
The government should cut spending in order to reduce the national debt.
Neutral
Cutting spending if the cuts are used to pay down the debt but more importantly, the federal government should have a 5 and 10 year plan to pay down the debt, so as not to be dependent on foreign powers and banks.
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
The government should restructure the tax code to eliminate special-interest loopholes and deductions so that everyone pays their fair share.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
State and federal funds shall be denied to any public or private entity, such as a sanctuary city, that is not in compliance with immigration laws.
Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
All those that cherish liberty, hard work and the American Dream - and who come here legally.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Strongly Agree
This has always been the law and should remain so.
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Disagree
I support using taxes and fight for grant funding from Congress to increase mental health and community betterment programs. These are long term programs. We cannot undermine police departments in the process.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Neutral
Victims of gun violence due to the sale of illegal guns or illegally dealt legal guns should be able to sue firearms dealers at fault for distributing illegal guns or legal guns dealt illegally. This is especially true if dealers sell guns to minors.
ABOUT YOU
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Conservative
I am conservative on economic and fiscal issues. I am tolerant of gender and lifestyles choices, but oppose school sex-orientation teaching to children in K-6th grade elementary schooling.
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
Burr Ridge internet articles - paying off our village of Burr Ridge bond debt - sustaining police and meeting our pension obligation w proper necessary levies - creating business districts to sustain economic growth; DuPage County ETSB-911 call-center consolidation and building two PSAPs in Wheaton and Addison, IL
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No
What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?
I was raised to put Family First and have done so. My wonderful wife Janet (St. Mary's College, Notre Dame, IN; American Airlines International Flight Attendant, ret) have raised 6 children, we have six children and I am running to represent you in the IL 6th. I was the first in my family to earn a college education (Georgetown University) and worked full time while attending law school for 4 years at night. Whenever voters have given me their vote, I have produced positive results. I helped put Burr Ridge "on the map" as a great place to live, work and raise a family. I am the only candidate that has lived and governed in Cook and DuPage Counties. My dad was a fireman, and I have been a strong supporter of police, first responders and believe fundamentally that Job #1 of Government is to protect people and property. Send me to Congress to vote to "grab the gavel" of the Speaker from Nancy Pelosi and fight against the socialisms programs of Biden and Harris that have brought us record inflation with groceries, housing, and gas exceeding 10%. Vote Grasso for Congress June 28.
VALUES
Sexual orientation and gender identity should be protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Agree
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I have hope for my children and grandchildren that right usually will prevail over wrong and that we have the means in our minds and bodies to continue to make the United States the land of the free and home of the brave. We need better leadership and I have hope it will appear soon. God and country - through strength.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Disagree
some form of credible identification - does not have to be a photo - should accompany mail in or in person voting
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
Voter identification for mail in and in person voting; no 3rd party "help" for mail in voting. Strict manufacturing and maintenance requirements for manufacturing and programming voting machines.
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Disagree
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
No - we must continually sustain racial equality, and prosecute legitimate hate crimes, but we have made substantial racial progress in the last six decades and must emphasize the positive and not dwell on the occasional bad actors.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Agree
Which comes closest to your view? A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost.
A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy.
