96% Of DiCianni Donations Go To His Firm

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst's Pete DiCianni, who lost in his race for DuPage County recorder last month, spent nearly all of his donations at his own printing firm.

During the quarter ending March 31, DiCianni, a former Elmhurst mayor and DuPage County Board member, collected $75,975 and spent $73,166.

Of the $73,166, 96 percent went toward DiCianni's Addison-based firm, WIN Marketing.

The campaign made payments in the exact amounts of $30,000 and $40,000 to WIN Marketing on Feb. 28 and March 14, respectively, according to DiCianni's financial report submitted to the state Board of Elections. The expenditures were listed as being for printing, marketing and postage.

In an email Monday, DiCianni said Patch reporter David Giuliani's "selective reporting again chooses to leave out significant in-kind contributions that my firm has given to my campaigns including my (DuPage County Board) Chairman campaign of over $70,000."

In his latest campaign, DiCianni donated $150 of his own money. His businesses did not contribute anything, according to DiCianni's quarterly report.

In 2022, DiCianni unsuccessfully ran for the Republican nomination for County Board chairman. While he gave his campaign $70,000, records show that $350,000 went toward his businesses, WIN Marketing and DiCianni Graphics.

DiCianni said he hasn't filed his in-kind contributions for the latest race yet. He said he had submitted such donations after his previous elections.

"I challenge Mr. Giuliani to Author and advocate for 8 laws including insuring our country’s number one health condition, Autism, raise millions for challenged children, Mayor a town out of a recession with record flooding and then you can take shots," DiCianni said. "Maybe Mr. Giuliani should move into our City or even our County first. Then give of his time and treasure."

DiCianni's donors included Storino, Ramello & Durkin, Elmhurst's longtime law firm ($2,500), Roberto's Ristorante ($2,500), Comcast ($1,000) and Christopher Burke Engineering, which has done work for Elmhurst ($500).

Last month, DiCianni, a Republican-turned-Democrat, lost in the Democratic primary with 19 percent of the vote. The winner was County Board member Liz Chaplin with 51 percent, defeating incumbent Kathleen Carrier, who received 30 percent. Chaplin is set to face Republican Nicole Prater in the November general election.

Patch has reported before on DiCianni's expenditure of campaign money on his businesses.

In late February, Jesse White, the popular former Democratic Illinois secretary of state, revoked his endorsement of DiCianni in the Democratic primary. He said he had seen two videos of DiCianni that he found "inappropriate and divisive."

In his unsuccessful 2022 race for DuPage County Board chairman, DiCianni was accused of race-baiting.