Darien Mayor Denounces Official's Facebook Post

DARIEN, IL – Darien Mayor Joseph Marchese last week denounced a Facebook post by Alderman Tom Chlystek, saying it contained misleading information.

He did not identify Chlystek by name at the meeting, only calling him an elected official. However, Patch obtained public records that identified Chlystek as the alderman.

Chlystek provided Patch with the Feb. 20 Facebook post that he believed was at issue.

In the post, the Ward 4 alderman shared the city's announcement that the police department would hold a neighborhood meeting for Ward 6 on March 16 at the police station.

In his post, Chlystek urged residents to attend.

"Great time to meet our officers! (I apologize for not having one last year, it was denied for whatever reason.) But this one should make up for it," Chlystek said.

In an email to Patch, Chlystek said he has never seen a ward called out specifically for a police meeting with residents.

He showed a city post about a police meeting at McDonald's in 2021, but it did not indicate that it was in Ward 4.

"Just seems odd," he said.

At last week's City Council meeting, Marchese spoke about the Facebook post. Chlystek was not there.

The mayor said the post had "no basis in truth" and was misleading. He said that "impugning the city staff is worthy of a strong response from my office."

"I will not tolerate an individual, specifically an elected official, misrepresenting the city of Darien, its staff, its police chief, its city administrator and any other staff member as this person did," Marchese said. "This is wrong, and that is why I'm addressing this tonight."

Aldermen were provided the emails Chlystek exchanged with city officials about his request for an event.

In an April email to Police Chief Greg Thomas, Chlystek said it would probably make sense for the alderman to set up a "summer safety meeting." He asked the chief which night during the week is best for most officers.

Thomas responded that the department would not take officers off the street, but one could stop by with himself and the deputy police chief to discuss various topics.

Marchese also weighed in at the time. In an email, he told Chlystek that he wanted to discuss the alderman's concept of a summer safety meeting. He noted the police department already holds the National Night Out during the summer.

"In order not to create any misinterpretation behind your rationale for such a program, I feel you have a responsibility to me as Mayor and to your fellow council members to provide details for this event," Marchese said in the email.

After Chlystek's post last month, City Administrator Bryon Vana told Chlystek in an email that the emails from last year show that no one said that Chlystek was denied the event.

In an email to Chief Thomas last month, Chlystek said he was doing an apples-to-apples comparison and that one advertisement indicated it was for Ward 6 and the other did not list Ward 4.

"Toss in that it happens during election season, just adds a bit more to the importance of it," Chlystek wrote.

The April 4 election includes Chlystek running against Gerry Leganski in Ward 4 and incumbent Eric Gustafson against Rachel Lazich in Ward 6.

Thomas said the Coffee with a Cop is part of a national event. He said it has been held in both wards 3 and 4. Other functions have been held in other wards, the chief said. But he said none of them are political.

"I, as staff, am not trying to subvert anything an elected official is doing," the chief said. "I have a boss and I report to the City Administrator as well as the mayor and city council. I have a responsibility to advise them of issues that aldermen bring to my attention."

Marchese has objected to Chlystek's statements before.

In November, Marchese singled out the alderman for criticism in contributing to divisions in the debate over a tax hike in Center Cass School District 66. Patch covered the mayor's statement at the time; Chlystek was not in attendance.

Despite the criticism, Chlystek praised the mayor in response to Patch's recent candidate questionnaire.

"Mayor Marchese does an outstanding job with his weekly quotes in Darien Connect. Many residents mention how they have enjoyed it," Chlystek said.