Letter: Connections Raise Questions in Elmhurst Politics

Pete DiCianni has repeatedly stated that not only does he desire to be on the DuPage County Board as a representative of District 2, but he wants to remain mayor of Elmhurst. He sees no conflict, despite a legal opinion based upon current Illinois statute stating otherwise, and has gone so far as to state that Dan Cronin, the DuPage County Board chairman, should not be telling anyone what they can or can’t do since he’s only been in office less than one term. (News flash: DiCianni is still in his first term). 

He believes that the law will be changed, as he has political connections to state Sen. Don Harmon of Oak Park (via state Rep. Skip Saviano and state Sen. Jimmy Deleo, among others). State Sen. Harmon is sponsoring legislation in Springfield (using some very interesting methods and manipulation of the legislative process) to change the existing law to allow for a mayor or village official to serve on a county board. State Sen. Harmon also has another very good friend who sits on the Cook County Board and who also happens to be the Mayor of Elmwood Park. (Additionally, it should be noted that Elmwood Park uses the same municipal attorney as Elmhurst). 

To make this whole thing even more intriguing (or confusing), take a look at the campaign disclosures (www.elections.il.gov) of the aforementioned. Notice all of the connections between them. (Note: Win Marketing is owned by DiCianni, and Storino is the last name of the Elmhurst municipal attorney.) And we wonder why Illinois is number one when it comes to such shenanigans.

It has been suggested that the Elmhurst City Council put forth a referendum question this November that would allow the citizens to determine if they want to prohibit elected city officials from holding two offices at the same time. (DiCianni will also be on the same ballot in District 2 for Du Page County Board). We now have a referral working its way through the Finance and Council Affairs Committee that would create an ordinance prohibiting any elected city official from holding dual, overlapping offices concurrently. When questioned regarding this referral, Pete DiCianni merely stated that he will “let the voters decide,” whatever that means.

Democracy is messy, but it doesn’t need to be insulting.

—Darlene Heslop, Elmhurst