Elmhurst Residents Will Be Saying Good-Bye to Their Mayor

Editor's Note: All results are unofficial.

It was a tight race in DuPage County District 2, but with all 159 precincts reporting, three winners have emerged. Elizabeth Chaplin, a Democrat from Downers Grove, received the most votes, with 34,625 (25.6 percent).

"I am so grateful to all those that supported me and I am excited to get to work on the DuPage County Board," Chaplin said.

In second place is Elmhurst Mayor Pete DiCianni, a Republican, with 34,044 votes (25.17 percent).

The other two Republicans were in a fight to the very end. Elmhurst resident and Bloomingdale police officer Sean Noonan's 33,348 votes edged out Oak Brook resident Elaine Zannis by just 90 votes.

It was back and forth all night.

"It's too close to call between everybody," DiCianni said from his campaign party at Armand's about an hour and a half after the polls closed. "It's going to be a long night."

DiCianni will step down as mayor now that he has been elected to the County Board. He was the center of controversy when he originally announced he planned to keep his mayoral post if elected to the County Board.

Two propositions on Tuesday's ballot, a non-binding county referendum and a binding city of Elmhurst referendum, asked voters how they feel about dual-elected duty. In both cases, voters cast their ballots overwhelmingly in opposition.

DiCianni thanked the residents of Elmhurst for allowing him to be their mayor.

"It has been my pleasure to help bring leadership during the toughest of times, uniting the City Council around dealing with sound fiscal solutions such as balancing our budget, advocating for economic development, creating jobs and opportunities such as Elmhurst Memorial Hospital and the New Mariano's that will open next spring," he said in a prepared statement on Wednesday. "I'm proud of our two Blue Ribbon Schools that my own children attend, and our State Champion York Boys Cross Country team who just won #28. 

"I loved being your mayor. My heart will always be with Elmhurst."

DiCianni said he takes promises to be a "strong, independent voice" the people of DuPage County can count on.

"I am honored and humbled to be chosen by the people of District 2 to serve as their county commissioner," he said in the statement. "I promise to be their voice and work to maintain and enhance the quality of life for each and every community. I would especially like to thank the many mayors who supported me along with my dear friend and mentor Jim Ryan."

Noonan, who was celebrating at Doc Ryan's, said he knew it would be a tight race, "but I didn't think it would be this tight," he said.

It was his first time going through a campaign and election, and he said he was humbled by the process.

"I'm very grateful for the people who came out to support me, and the people that actually voted for me," he said. "The numbers are, to me, staggering. I am very humbled by all the people who endorsed me, as well."

He said he wants residents of District 2 to know he's a "regular guy" who will always be accessible to his constituents.

"I'm available at all times," he said.

DuPage District 1

Winners: Paul Fichtner (R), Donald Puchalski (R) and Sam Tornatore (R)

District 1 seats were won Tuesday by incumbents Fichtner (25,544) and Puchalski (26,334), as well as newcomer Tornatore (25,940). They beat out a trio of Democratic challengers—incumbent Rita Gonzalez (20,466), Thomas Michael Castillo (20,826) and Maria DeAngelis-Vesey (18,897).

Related DuPage County Board article:

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