Here's a Very Easy Way to Help Flood Victims—Or to Find Help, Yourself

Those with resources, information or donations to share can turn to Facebook.

A real grassroots effort is underway in Elmhurst to help the victims of last week's flood. First Ward Alderman Diane Gutenkauf created the Elmhurst Helping Elmhurst Facebook page on Saturday morning, and in just about 48 hours, the page has hundreds of followers. Donations of clothing, food, furniture, fans, dehumidifiers, money, gift cards and a whole lot more are rolling in. "It's still fairly organic at this stage, with people posting and responding to each other," Gutenkauf said Monday. "It's a great resource to let people know what's out there and to give people who want to donate and do something a really easy outlet for that." Elmhurst residents have posted that they are without a furnace and hot water. Some have had to move into …

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Letter to the Editor

Letter: Diane Gutenkauf is My Choice for Mayor

Diane stands up against the City Council's give-aways and no-bid contracts.

I’m voting for Diane on Tuesday, April 9, because she’s the only candidate in the race with the right vision and commitment to Elmhurst. Diane’s served as 1st Ward Alderman for nearly six years and I know she’s ready to tackle the job as mayor. For years I’ve seen the City Council vote through bloated, no-bid contracts that help developers more than the city. I’ve seen the council vote to give away city and taxpayer-owned land at no cost. I’ve seen a lot of tax increases as well. And, I’ve seen Diane stand up to all of that. She’s voted against no-bid contracts because they promote an unfair process. She’s fought to get fair value for land instead of giving it away. And she’s voted to keep property taxes down for all residents. Diane’s …

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Pete

6:31 pm on Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Diane did the correct thing in attending the closed session to represent her ward. Paula Pezza on the other hand took the hands off approach and chose not to attend. If Diane thought there were inappropriate discussions in the closed session she could have pointed this fact out to all those in attendance. Based on Diane's silence and her concern for transparency, we can see that she did not feel …   more ›

Letter to the Editor

Letter: Diane Gutenkauf is the Independent Voice Elmhurst Needs as Mayor

Diane communicates well with constituents and will make sure Elmhurst government is transparent and fiscally sound.

For several years the American economy has been in a slump, but you wouldn’t know it by all the spending that has been going on in Elmhurst. It is time to elect a mayor who has a history, since 2007, as an alderman of the 1st Ward and knows Elmhurst politics. This person is Diane Gutenkauf.  She has served on the Public Works and Buildings Committee to help improve our way of life, being especially instrumental in supporting the Safe Routes to School project by getting new sidewalks installed in her ward.  I fully agree with Diane’s statement on her website, “Elmhurst needs a Mayor who will stand as an independent voice and protect the city from the back room cronyism that has wasted taxpayer dollars.” I am most impressed by her consistent…

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Pete

9:31 am on Thursday, April 4, 2013

Let's look at the positives if Diane was to win the election. The Hahn Street project can finally move forward in some direction. The frat house would finally have a "house mother." Dave Pezza may stop putting a strangle hold on all public zoning meetings. All Elmhurst residents would now have some one they could call to go out for coffee.   more ›

Diane Gutenkauf: Candidate for Elmhurst Mayor

1st Ward Alderman and mayoral candidate Diane Gutenkauf answers questions from Elmhurst Patch on why she's running for mayor, her vision for Elmhurst and more.

Campaign Information www.Diane2013.com Diane@Diane2013.com Family: Husband, Michael Hassan; stepsons, Matthew, 22, Zak, 18, and Jordan, 17 Education: Grinnell College, 1980, BA; Northern Arizona University, 1983, MA; University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee, 1987, Museum Studies Certificate Occupation: Director, Robert R. McCormick Museum at Cantigny Park, part of the Robert R. McCormick Foundation Committee Appointments as Alderman: Former Positions: Why Are You Seeking Office?  I ran for public office because I believe that being civically engaged is important and I value accessibility, transparency and accountability. These values have guided me over the six years I’ve served as alderman, and I’m running for mayor now to bring this sensibility…

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Elm Forest

6:05 pm on Saturday, March 23, 2013

Few posters state they are voting for Diane even when prompted to confess to their intent. When people make false accusations it's understandable they can't state they're intend is to vote for Diane without doing unrepairable damage to her campaign.   more ›

Third Elmhurst Alderman Announces Run for Mayor

First Ward alderman enters the fray with Facebook announcement.

A third Elmhurst alderman has announced her intention to run for mayor in the April 9 Consolidated Election. First Ward Alderman Diane Gutenkauf announced via Facebook on Sunday that she would be running. She has represented the 1st Ward since 2007 after being re-elected in 2011. Her current term expires in 2015. She is director of the Robert McCormick Museum at Cantigny Park in Wheaton. One initiative near and dear to her heart has been conservation, as well as the use of renewable resources to deal with flooding. She recently held a gathering at her home to share information about an energy efficiency program for homeowners, and last year she installed a permeable driveway to minimize rainwater runoff. Gutenkauf often has voted against …

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Jim Court

12:08 pm on Saturday, December 1, 2012

Independence, I am not so sure if I agree. Two strong personalities inevitably clashed. Frustration will do this. Perhaps she should have constrained herself but in the heat of the moment things like this happen. Is a bland personality preferable? Not always. Passionate people respond passionately.   more ›