| ILLINOIS SCHOOL SYSTEM AUDITIllinois Statewide Political Dynasty MapEvery Family Dynasty · Construction Empires · VGT Networks · Law Firms · Car Dealers · Money Map |
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| 30+Documented political dynasties statewide | $1B+Annual VGT revenue — now exceeds state lottery | 10Major construction dynasties controlling Illinois public works | $59.7MGriffin-led ballot initiative money that traced to Morrison |
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866-312-6456 | auditor@illinoisschooldistrictaudit.com | IllinoisSchoolDistrictAudit.com | May 2026
PART I: DEMOCRATIC DYNASTIES — COMPLETE STATEWIDE MAP
1. The Madigan Dynasty — The Most Powerful Machine in Illinois History
| Michael Madigan convicted 2025. Lisa Madigan was AG 16 years. The Velvet Hammer ran Illinois for 40 years.Michael Joseph Madigan (born April 19, 1942): Speaker of IL House 1983-2021 (all but 2 years); Chair IL Democratic Party 1998-2021; convicted February 12, 2025 on 10 counts of bribery, wire fraud, Travel Act violations; sentenced to 7.5 years federal prison + $2.5M fine; began serving sentence at West Virginia federal prison October 13, 2025. Called 'the last of the big city bosses' after Daley. Controlled all redistricting in Illinois for decades. Ran extensive patronage network spanning state and local bodies. Son of a Democratic precinct captain from Chicago's 13th Ward. Began career in Richard J. Daley's administration. |
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| Person | Role / Significance |
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| Michael J. Madigan Sr. | Speaker IL House 1983-2021; IL Democratic Party Chair 1998-2021; convicted bribery/fraud 2025; 7.5 years federal prison; the single most powerful figure in Illinois politics for 4 decades |
| Lisa Murray Madigan | Adopted daughter of Michael; IL Attorney General 2003-2019 (16 years); first woman to hold that position; Georgetown BA; Loyola JD; did not seek re-election 2018 (same year father's scandals escalated) |
| The Madigan Law Firm | Madigan & Getzendanner — Michael's private law firm handling property tax appeals; used House Speaker's power to steer property tax cases to his firm; ComEd paid $200M+ in property tax relief structured to benefit Madigan clients |
| The 13th Ward Machine | Madigan was 13th Ward Democratic Committeeman for 50+ years; used ward organization as personal patronage army; hundreds of precinct captains got government jobs |
| School connection | As Speaker, Madigan controlled school funding legislation for 40 years; every school district in Illinois operated under his budget priorities; D230, D135, and every SW suburban district was subject to his power |
2. The Daley Dynasty — Chicago Machine Made National
| Person | Role |
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| Richard J. Daley (1902-1976) | Mayor of Chicago 1955-1976; 'the last of the big city bosses'; Son of Irish immigrant laborer; controlled city patronage, contracts, construction projects; built expressways, public housing, O'Hare; Democratic National Convention 1968 |
| Richard M. Daley (born 1942) | Mayor of Chicago 1989-2011 (22 years, longest-serving); Cook County State's Attorney 1980-1989; Daley Center downtown named for his father; his administration awarded billions in city contracts; TIF districts proliferated under his watch — Chicago created hundreds of TIFs |
| John P. Daley (born 1946) | 11th Ward Democratic Committeeman; Cook County Commissioner 1992-present (Finance Chairman); IL State Senator 1989-1992; IL State Representative 1985-1989; the quieter brother who stayed in local power |
| William M. Daley (born 1948) | U.S. Secretary of Commerce 1997-2000; White House Chief of Staff 2011-2012; JPMorgan Chase Chicago Chairman; ran for IL governor 2019 (withdrew); connected to every major corporate interest in Chicago |
| Patrick Daley Thompson (born 1969) | Richard J. Daley's grandson (via daughter Patricia); Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner 2014-2015; Chicago Alderman 11th Ward 2015-2022; CONVICTED of federal tax fraud 2022 — same ward the Daley family controlled for 70 years |
| School/TIF connection | Richard M. Daley's TIF expansion captured hundreds of millions from Chicago school districts; CPS received $379M from TIF surplus in 2025 alone — but over 22 years of Daley's tenure schools were systematically underfunded while TIF funds flowed to connected developers |
3. The Stroger Dynasty — Cook County Machine
| John H. Stroger Jr. (1929-2008) | Cook County Board President 1994-2006; first African-American in that role; 8th Ward committeeman; member Cook County Board 1970-2006 (36 years); patron of every Cook County Democratic organization south of the Loop |
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| Todd Stroger (born 1967) | Son of John; Cook County Board President 2006-2010; appointed by Democratic county committeemen to replace father (who had a stroke); raised sales tax to highest in nation; lost reelection 2010 to Toni Preckwinkle |
| The Machine Pattern | John Stroger held 8th Ward committeeman + County Board + Board President simultaneously for years; his son was parachuted into the county presidency by machine committeemen rather than voters; same Madigan-style patronage but for south side Democratic machine |
4. The Lipinski Dynasty — Southwest Side Congressional Seat
| Bill Lipinski (born 1937) | U.S. Representative IL-5 1983-2005; 23rd Ward Alderman then Committeeman; Daley appointee to Park District then Congress; conservative Democrat who opposed abortion; Transportation Committee |
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| Dan Lipinski (born 1966) | Took father's seat through a ward machine substitution — Bill withdrew his name 60 days before the 2004 election and the ward committeemen replaced him on the ballot with Dan; taught political science at Tennessee then represented his father's district 2005-2021 |
| The Machine Transfer | The Lipinski seat transfer is textbook Illinois machine politics: Bill won the primary, then privately arranged with committeemen to put his son on the ballot instead, denying voters a real choice; Dan held the seat until unseated by progressive Marie Newman in 2021 primary |
| Southwest suburban connection | IL-3 (the Lipinski district) covered the southwest side of Chicago including Marquette Park, Beverly, and portions of SW Cook County directly adjacent to the Pekau/Morrison/Glotz territory |
5. The Cullerton Dynasty — Illinois Senate Presidency
| The Cullertons have been in Illinois politics for 100 yearsJohn Cullerton (born 1947): IL Senate President 2009-2021; state senator from Chicago's 6th District; his family's involvement in IL politics dates to before WWII; Cullerton nephew is also in Illinois politics; stepped down 2021 amid redistricting controversies |
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6. The Hynes Dynasty — Comptroller and Finance
| Thomas Hynes (1938-2019) | IL Senate President 1975-1977; Cook County Assessor 1979-1997 (18 years); father of Dan Hynes; controlled property assessment for all of Cook County for nearly two decades |
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| Dan Hynes (born 1969) | IL Comptroller 1999-2011; son of Thomas; ran against Barack Obama in 2004 U.S. Senate primary; lost; worked for investment management after leaving office |
| Cook County Assessor significance | Thomas Hynes as Cook County Assessor had power over every TIF base assessment and every property value in Cook County; Assessor's valuations determine TIF base year amounts; Assessor connections to developers are the hidden lever of Chicago real estate |
7. The Preckwinkle Network — Current Cook County Power
| Not a dynasty yet but building oneToni Preckwinkle (born 1947): Cook County Board President 2010-present; Chicago Alderman 4th Ward 1991-2010; 19-year alderman, then longest-serving county board president; attempted to become Chicago mayor 2019 (lost to Lightfoot); built her own machine — backed Foxx for State's Attorney 2016 (controversial); allies in Lyons Township (Dineff territory) and throughout suburban Cook County; her son Myles Preckwinkle is in politics |
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PART II: REPUBLICAN DYNASTIES — ILLINOIS
8. The Gidwitz Dynasty — Illinois GOP Donor Machine
| Gerald Gidwitz | Ronald's father; founder of Helene Curtis Industries (shampoo/cosmetics empire); built Chicago business dynasty |
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| Ronald J. Gidwitz (born March 28, 1945) | CEO Helene Curtis (sold to Unilever 1996 for ~$930M); co-founded GCG Partners (private equity) 1998; Executive Chairman Riverbend Industries Inc. (formerly Continental Materials Corp.) at 440 S. LaSalle Suite 3100, Chicago; Chair IL State Board of Education 1999-2003; Chair City Colleges of Chicago 1991-1999; IL finance chair Trump 2016; led Rauner 2014 fundraising; chaired Dillard 2010; U.S. Ambassador Belgium 2018-2021; Finance Co-Chair National Republican Senatorial Committee 2025-26; donated $100K to Irvin 2022; $110K total to Irvin; $1M+ to IL conservative candidates since 1990s |
| Jay Gidwitz | Ronald's son; Digital Strategy Lead at Riverbend Industries; same 440 S. LaSalle Suite 3100 address |
| Shell entity connection | 440 S. LaSalle Suite 3100 = Riverbend Industries = Coalition to Cut Taxes (the shell that gave $300K to Morrison); Gidwitz family business address used as the registered address of the dark money shell |
9. The Uihlein Dynasty — Schlitz/Uline $11B Machine
| August Krug Uihlein (1875-1921) | Founded Schlitz Brewing dynasty |
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| Richard Uihlein (born 1946) | CEO Uline (packaging/shipping supply) — built to $11B revenue; married to Elizabeth 'Liz' Uihlein; Lake Forest IL; largest Republican megadonor in Illinois history; gave $52M to Darren Bailey 2022 governor race; gave $100K to Coalition to Stop Tax Hike (Griffin's ballot initiative); connected to Jeanne Ives through massive donations |
| Liz Uihlein | Co-owner Uline; politically active alongside Richard; Uline operates as employer in multiple IL communities giving Uihleins economic leverage in those areas |
| The Uihlein-Ives-Pekau chain | $52M to Bailey; $2.5M to Ives 2018; Ives endorsed Pekau for Congress 2022; Uihlein's $100K in ballot initiative pool became part of the $450,540 that went to Coalition to Cut Taxes that gave $300K to Morrison who endorsed Pekau; statewide money chain traceable from Uihlein to Pekau through Morrison |
10. The Ryan Dynasty (Republican Governors)
| George Ryan (1934-2023) | Governor 1999-2003; IL Secretary of State 1991-1999; Kankakee County Board Chairman; convicted federal racketeering and fraud 2006; 6.5 years federal prison; pardoned by Trump 2020; licenses-for-bribes scandal |
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| Jim Ryan (no relation) | IL Attorney General 1995-2003; DuPage County State's Attorney; lost IL governor race 2002 to Rod Blagojevich; Georgetown Law |
| The Republican Governor pattern | Thompson (1977-1991) → Edgar (1991-1999) → Ryan (1999-2003) → Blagojevich (D) → Quinn (D) → Rauner (2015-2019); all but Thompson have documented corruption connections or criminal convictions |
11. The LaHood Dynasty — Downstate Republican
| Ray LaHood (born December 6, 1945) | U.S. Representative IL-18 1995-2009 (Peoria area); U.S. Secretary of Transportation 2009-2013 (Obama administration — bipartisan pick); admitted to FBI 2017 that while in federal office he accepted $50,000 payment from foreign national for home repairs; agreed to repay $50K + $40K fine under non-prosecution agreement 2019; Chief of Staff to House Minority Leader Robert Michel 1982-1994 |
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| Darin LaHood (born 1968) | Ray's son; IL State Senator 2011-2015; U.S. Representative IL-18 2015-present; House Intelligence Committee; same Peoria-area district |
| Dynasty significance | Father-to-son congressional seat transfer; two generations holding the same central Illinois seat; Ray's foreign payment admission never resulted in charges; Darin's connection to Ray's networks |
12. The Oberweis Dynasty — Dairy Business to Republican Politics
| Jim Oberweis (born June 10, 1946): Dairy mogul (Oberweis Dairy, North Aurora); perennial Republican candidate: US Senate 2002, 2004, 2014; IL Gov 2006; IL-14 special election 2008, general 2008, 2020; IL State Senator 25th District 2013-2021; never won a federal race despite spending millions; still running — now in Florida 2026. His children run the dairy business. His father Joe and brother John both preceded him in the family business.CC4400 |
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13. The McNamara Dynasty — Rockford Mayors
| John McNamara was Mayor of Rockford; Thomas McNamara (born March 29, 1983) is current Mayor of Rockford since 2017 (re-elected 2021 unopposed, 2025 with 78%); graduate John Carroll University; son of former mayor. Rockford mayor oversees Hard Rock Casino Rockford. Father-to-son machine in Illinois's second-largest city.CC4400 |
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PART III: CONSTRUCTION DYNASTIES — WHO BUILDS ILLINOIS
| These Are the Firms That Win Every Major Public Contract, TIF Infrastructure Project, and School Bond DealNo comprehensive statewide data source exists that shows the full picture of which contractors donate to which politicians and then win contracts. The pattern must be assembled piece by piece from ILSBE, municipal records, and court filings. |
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| Firm | Key People / Ownership | Political Network |
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| Ozinga Bros. (Ready-Mix Concrete) | Roland Ozinga family — private company; Tim Ozinga Sr. founded; Tim Ozinga Jr. = former IL state rep for district where Ozinga plants are located; voted on school construction and infrastructure legislation | Vertical integration: owns plants, delivers to every school construction site in northeast IL; Tim Ozinga as state rep voted on legislation affecting his family business; Ozinga concrete in virtually every new school building in Cook, Will, DuPage, Kane counties |
| Walsh Group (Walsh Construction) | Private; headquartered Chicago; Matthew Walsh and family; founded 1898 as George Walsh Construction | One of largest privately-held construction companies in US; major IDOT and public works contracts statewide; connected to every governor's administration through contracts; Chicago Transit Authority projects; airport expansion |
| Curran Contracting | Private; based in Crystal Lake IL; McHenry County | Built Harmony Square TIF infrastructure Tinley Park; partner RC Wegman; simultaneously won $100M IDOT contract while building Glotz's downtown TIF project |
| RC Wegman | Private; excavation and underground utilities; partner firm to Curran on major projects | Multiple TIF-funded infrastructure projects across Cook/Will/Lake counties; no-bid work as subcontractor to Curran on Harmony Square |
| McHugh Construction | Family-owned; Chicago; 100+ year history; Francis McHugh founded | Major school and public university construction; UI System projects; CPS projects; Chicago public works; hospital construction |
| Pepper Construction | Founded 1927 by Stanley Pepper; Chicago; employee-owned structure | One of largest contractors in Midwest; school districts statewide; municipal construction; hospital; airport |
| Power Construction | Chicago-based; private; founded 1926 | School construction, municipal facilities, healthcare; present in same geographic markets as Ozinga/Curran/Walsh |
| F.H. Paschen | Chicago family firm; Paschen Construction + S&N Nielsen | Public school construction; particularly strong in Chicago suburbs; multiple CPS projects |
| Gilbane Building Co. | National; Providence RI; heavy IL presence | Major school bond referendum construction manager; manages bond programs for multiple IL school districts; works with bond counsel and school finance attorneys |
PART IV: VGT (VIDEO GAMING TERMINAL) EMPIRE — $1B+ ANNUAL REVENUE
The Three VGT Empires — Who Controls Illinois Gaming Outside Casinos
| Operator | Size / Ownership | Political Network / Corruption |
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| Accel Entertainment (ACEL) | Largest VGT operator in US; ~28,000+ terminals in IL; publicly traded (NYSE: ACEL); founded 2009 by Andy Rubenstein and Derek Harmer; Rubenstein stepping down as CEO 2026 (becoming Chairman) | ProPublica documented: Rubenstein had childhood friendship with IL Gaming Board attorney Bill Bogot; private email correspondence; Bogot answered legal questions and helped Accel navigate competitors; IGB opened investigation; Accel obtained confidential competitor documents from IGB; fined $5M by IGB for illegal DraftKings ad deal; Gold Rush (Heidner) sued Accel for predatory loan conversion and 'bounty' scheme against competitors |
| Gold Rush Gaming / Illinois Gamer LLC | ~700-800+ locations; private; Rick Heidner owner; Elgin area | Heidner ran for IL governor 2026 (lost to Bailey 54%); donated $1.5M bipartisan including to Toni Preckwinkle, Kim Foxx, Don Harmon, Mike Madigan, Bob Dold, Democrats and Republicans; IGB complaint 2019 alleging illegal inducement; $75K settlement 2021; Glotz in Tinley Park controls VGT licensing ordinance — Pekau had sole licensing power 2019-2025 |
| J&J Ventures Gaming | Major private VGT operator; headquartered downstate | Donated to Belleville ballot PAC for VGT expansion; routes throughout downstate and suburban IL; political donations tracked by BGA |
| THE ACCEL-BOGOT SCANDAL | KEY FINDING | ProPublica April 2020: Gaming Board attorney Bill Bogot was childhood friend of Accel CEO Rubenstein. Used two private email accounts to correspond with Rubenstein for years. Answered legal questions about regulations being drafted. Helped Accel with regulators. Accel obtained confidential gaming board documents about competitors. IGB opened investigation. This is THE model for how IL gaming companies build political infrastructure — personal friendships with regulators, not just campaign donations |
PART V: LAW FIRM DYNASTIES — WHO DRAFTS EVERY TIF AND SCHOOL CONTRACT
| Law Firm | Key Attorneys / Locations | Conflict Pattern |
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| Klein, Thorpe & Jenkins (KTJ) | Dennis Walsh (Orland Park, Tinley Park, Oak Forest, Riverside, Romeoville, Wilmette, Palos Heights, Countryside, Campton Hills); Scott Uhler (Lake Zurich, Cary, Oak Forest); Michael Jurusik (LaGrange Park); others | Represents BOTH municipalities AND overlapping school districts in TIF transactions; drafted original 2004 Orland Park TIF AND advised D135/D230 simultaneously; Pekau used KTJ opinion to invalidate agreement KTJ itself drafted 25 years earlier |
| Ancel Glink | Major suburban municipal law firm; multiple IL counties | Similar model to KTJ — municipality general counsel + adjacent school district counsel; TIF creation + school consultation; statewide presence |
| Robbins Schwartz | Chicago; school district specialists; D86 Hinsdale, D181, D230, multiple districts | $1M/year fee from D86 before termination; sued for non-payment; Gary Grasso hired to countersue on legal malpractice; simultaneously represented D230 and multiple other SW suburban districts; same geographic territory as KTJ |
| Odelson, Murphey, Frazier & McGrath | Evergreen Park; municipal/school law | D86 Hinsdale's main firm when Grasso was brought in; specializes in municipal and school district law in Cook/DuPage; Denise Filan is former Cook County judge who became senior counsel at this firm after serving as Burr Ridge ordinance hearing officer under Mayor Grasso |
| Ice Miller | Chicago; statewide school and municipal | Bond counsel on school referendums; TIF legal work; statewide presence in school finance |
| Franczek P.C. | Chicago; school and labor law | Major school district labor/employment counsel; represented districts in collective bargaining; connects to teacher union negotiations |
| The Pattern | ALL THESE FIRMS | Every major school bond referendum, every TIF creation, every collective bargaining agreement, and every school superintendent contract in Illinois passes through a handful of law firms. These firms represent school districts in negotiations against unions — while also receiving annual retainer fees that depend on board approval. They are structurally incentivized to advise boards toward outcomes that generate ongoing legal work. |
PART VI: CAR DEALER DYNASTIES — AUTO INDUSTRY POLITICAL MACHINE
| Dealer Group | Key Figure / Geographic Base | Political Network |
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| Bettenhausen Automotive | Multi-generational; Tinley Park AND Mokena; 60+ years | In BOTH Pekau's Orland Park corridor AND Glotz's Tinley Park; longest-operating dealer in the network; adjacent to Rizza and Zeigler territories |
| Joe Rizza Cars | Joe Rizza; 9 dealerships; Orland Park corridor | Also CO-DEVELOPER inside Glotz's Bremen TIF (Boulevard Development LLC); being sued by own partner Hansen for refusing to build Phase 2; Glotz controls both Rizza's TIF developer status AND Tinley Park VGT licenses |
| Zeigler Auto Group | Richfield/Kalamazoo MI base with IL dealerships | $5K to Pekau Aug 3, 2020; $4.5M village incentive approved 36 days later (Sept 8, 2020) |
| McGrath Automotive | Family-owned; Elgin/northwest suburbs | Large group; multiple brands; IL-14 (Oberweis territory); political donations to Republicans across Kane/McHenry |
| Napleton Auto Group | Chicago-based; multi-state | One of largest dealer groups in Midwest; political donations at state and national levels |
| Route 66 Chevrolet (Pilson) | Chicago south side auto row | Chicago Aldermanic connections; south side political machine |
| CATPAC | Chicago Auto Trade PAC; Eric Vates (Orland Park Mazda) funded it | Connected to Madigan organization; Vates simultaneously being pushed by Pekau for appointment to Orland Fire Protection District board; auto PAC feeds Madigan while dealer lobbies Pekau |
| IADA CAR of Illinois PAC | Illinois Automobile Dealers Association; statewide | Political money to legislators who vote on franchise law, sales tax, dealer licensing; feeds both parties |
PART VII: INSURANCE DYNASTY — THE SAME NO-RFP PATTERN AS CONSTRUCTION
| Every School District and Municipality in Illinois Buys Insurance Through a Broker — Without Competitive BiddingThe same pattern as TIF law firms: a single insurance broker handles a municipality AND its school district AND its park district AND its library district AND its fire protection district — all without an RFP. The broker's annual fee depends on board renewal. The broker donates to the politicians who control renewal. No competitive bidding required by Illinois law for insurance brokerage services. |
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| Broker/Firm | Key IL Connections | Pattern |
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| Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. | Headquartered Rolling Meadows IL; global firm; major IL public sector practice | Government/public sector specialty; school districts, municipalities, fire districts; handles Illinois Municipal League group programs; IML endorsement gives near-monopoly on smaller IL municipalities |
| Horton Group (now Assurance) | Orland Park-based; became Assurance; now part of Lockton | Henry Hastings connection in southwest suburban Cook County; represented districts and municipalities in same geographic territory as Pekau/Glotz network; political donations documented to SW suburban politicians |
| Alliant Insurance | California-based but major IL public sector presence | School district clients statewide; no-RFP relationships with boards that renew annually |
| Holmes Murphy | Des Moines IA; major Midwest school district insurance | Multiple IL school district clients; connections to school board association leadership |
| ISBIT / Illinois School District Liquid Asset Fund (ISDLAF+) | IL school district-specific pools | School finance vehicles that connect to bond counsel and investment banking relationships |
PART VIII: GARY GRASSO — COMPLETE UPDATED PROFILE
| Born April 25, 1951. Georgetown + Fordham Law. 40 years as attorney. Grasso Law (formerly Grasso Bass P.C.) specializes in legal malpractice. Mayor of Burr Ridge 2005-2012, 2019-present. DuPage County Board 2012-2018. DuPage 911 Chairman 2014-2018. Running for DuPage County Board Chairman 2026. Burr Ridge straddles Cook AND DuPage — unique jurisdictional position. |
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The D86 Hinsdale Situation — Breaking April 2026
| Item | Detail |
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| December 2025 | D86 school board voted to hire Gary Grasso as attorney — didn't say why; Grasso specializes in legal malpractice |
| January 2026 | Confirmed: Grasso handling D86's fight against Robbins Schwartz; DuPage County Court records show emails between Grasso and Robbins' attorney Oran Cart |
| March 7, 2026 | Grasso emailed Robbins' lawyer: 'will soon file a legal malpractice lawsuit' on behalf of D86 |
| April 2026 | D86 board voted unanimously to countersue Robbins Schwartz for legal malpractice — Grasso filed the paperwork |
| The 'RS Matter' | D86 board listed Robbins Schwartz as 'RS Matter' on public agendas — refused to spell out what RS meant; AG issued BINDING opinion ordering document release after Patch complaint |
| Connection | Grasso donor: Catherine Greenspon (D86 Board President) donated $400 to Grasso's 2019 mayoral campaign; they know each other; Denise Filan (Grasso's former Burr Ridge ordinance hearing officer) is now senior counsel at Odelson (D86's main firm) |
| Robbins Schwartz | Represented D86 starting May 2023 (Superintendent Prentiss ouster); became D86's main attorney Jan 2024; on track for $1M/year; terminated Sept 2024 calling D86 'unreasonably difficult'; sued D86 for $228K unpaid bills; D86 alleging Robbins gave bad advice on Prentiss ouster ($600K contract payout + $80K settlement) |
| The pattern | Same law firm (Robbins Schwartz) that represents D230 and multiple other SW suburban school districts; now being sued for malpractice by one of those districts; Gary Grasso (who runs for DuPage Board Chairman in 2026) is the lawyer bringing the suit |
Grasso's Cayman Islands / Mafia-Adjacent Donors (2018 AG Race)
| Donor | Amount | Issue |
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| Yorkville Investment I, LLC | $25,000 (returned) | Cayman Islands entity; no longer in business; used same Wheaton IL address as 60 Degrees Group Ltd (another Cayman entity) |
| 60 Degrees Group Ltd | $2,800 (returned) | Cayman Islands entity; same Wheaton address as Yorkville Investment I |
| JR Marital Trust | $11,100 | Cayman Islands-registered entity; same address as above |
| PAL Group (Joseph & Sebastian Palumbo) | $11,000 (KEPT — REFUSED TO RETURN) | Brothers convicted of defrauding Illinois state in 1999 federal fraud case; Grasso refused to return money calling it a 'first time mistake' |
| Filippo Rovito Jr. / Five Brothers Inc. | $10,000 individual + switch to $5K corporate (returned) | Manager of Capri Ristorante, Burr Ridge; owners named in FBI mafia investigation; Rovito denied knowledge of donation; Grasso restructured donation to bring it under corporate cap |
| ILSBE rebukes | Twice | IL State Board of Elections rebuked Grasso twice for accepting donations above contribution caps; he called them all 'first time mistakes' |
| Hinsdale Bank & Trust (Wintrust) | Board of Directors | Grasso sits on board of Wintrust bank affiliate; connects him to Illinois banking network and real estate/TIF financing |
Illinois School System Audit | 866-312-6456 | auditor@illinoisschooldistrictaudit.com | May 2026