Does Darien Mayor's Book Promotion Cross Line?

DARIEN, IL – A Darien resident is objecting to what she considers the mayor's promotion of his new book on city platforms.

In mid-April, Mayor Joseph Marchese wrote about the book in his weekly "Mayor's Message" in the city's Darien Direct Connect weekly online newsletter.

The book contains the first 2½ years of his messages to residents, a practice he started more than five years ago.

In his April 16 message, Marchese wrote about his book, "From the Heart of Darien: The Mayor's Weekly Messages," which he said was available in hardcover, softcover and in ebook formats through LuLu Press.

"I have been deeply encouraged by the positive feedback from residents and non-residents, many of whom have shared how these personal stories have resonated with their own lives," he said in the April 16 message. "From the beginning, my goal in writing has always been simple: to show that those of us in public service share the same hopes, fears, and dreams as the community we serve."

The city also posted the mayor's message about the book on its Facebook page.

The mayor told Patch that he got the city attorney's approval for the piece.

However, resident Heather Conroy, who has criticized the city on other issues, said the book's promotion crossed a clear ethical line.

"Are we going to keep getting the ads for the book while he's in office, or was it a one-time thing?" she wrote in an email to Patch. "To me, taxpayer-funded platforms exist to serve residents, not to market personal products. Attorney approval doesn’t resolve that – it underscores the lack of boundaries."

Marchese, though, said he was simply informing readers of the book and that he provided no promotional information. And he said the city ran the article through its attorney, who gave his approval.

"I simply acknowledged that I was proud to share with (residents) that my book had been published," he said.

He continued, "Beyond that article, there have been no promotional advertisements for my book except for that which is listed on my Facebook page. If you check the city website, our city newsletter or our Direct Connect, you will not find any advertisements for my book."

He said he only provided the purchase link through his personal social media page.