Ex-Burr Ridge Official Warned About Political Signs

BURR RIDGE, IL – Earlier this month, Burr Ridge warned a former trustee that his placement of two identical campaign yard signs violated local sign regulations.

In a letter, the village ordered Zach Mottl to remove one of the signs by last Wednesday or face $750-a-day fines.

Mottl, instead, decided to keep both signs for Paula Deacon Garcia, the Democratic candidate for DuPage County clerk.

To rectify the violation, Mottl handwrote the words "Vote for" on one of the signs. He told Patch that this means the signs are no longer identical.

Burr Ridge Village Manager Evan Walter did not return a message Friday on whether this change would bring Mottl into compliance.

Garcia is running against Republican Patricia Kladis-Schiappa, wife of Burr Ridge Trustee Tony Schiappa.

Tony Schiappa is a political ally of Mayor Gary Grasso. During his term on the Village Board, Mottl repeatedly locked horns with Grasso, whose allies defeated Mottl in the 2021 election.

In a message to Patch, Mottl said he was reviewing his legal options and would act to protect his rights.

"Our thin‑skinned Village leadership has a history of stifling dissent while extending special treatment to politically connected individuals, including convicted felons, and this unlawful sign ordinance is just another part of that broader pattern in which officials use their power to shield themselves and their allies rather than do the right thing and respect constitutionally protected speech," Mottl said.

During a 2022 Village Board meeting, trustees discussed regulations for temporary signs, such as those for campaigns.

As trustees considered banning all temporary signs from rights-of-way, a resident suggested an exception for real estate and estate sale signs during the weekends.

Trustees said they understood the request, but village attorney Mike Durkin advised against it.

"Banning everything but one form of speech is completely illegal," he said.

Despite the attorney's advice, trustees continued to ask whether they could permit certain temporary signs on weekends – banning political signs or only allowing directional signs for real estate open houses.

Walter, the village's manager, responded that the village crosses into unconstitutional territory when it must read a sign to determine whether it's legal.

The ban on identical signs requires reading them. Patch's inquiry to Walter included that issue.