Elmhurst-Area Agency Under Investigation For Flyer: Official

ELMHURST, IL – Bensenville Fire District No. 1 is under investigation for its apparent use of public resources to support a political campaign.

The district serves unincorporated residents between Elmhurst and Bensenville.

Last fall, the district distributed a flyer advertising a fundraiser for state Rep. Deanne Mazzochi, an Elmhurst Republican. The flyer appears to include the township's stamp.

Over the weekend, Paul Guerino, president of the district's board, confirmed the investigation.

"I was questioned by two DuPage County State's Attorney investigators," Guerino said on a Patch comment board. "I have testified to them already. I did not authorize the flyer. I did not know anything about the flyer until I saw it on the Patch."

Guerino said the district did not pay for the flyer, although he gave no indication whether the stamp was the district's.

On Monday, a spokesman for the state's attorney's office said the office neither confirms nor denies whether ongoing investigations are taking place.

In an interview, Guerino said he did not know whether the investigation had been completed.

In Illinois, it is against the law to use public resources to advance a political campaign.

According to the flyer, Mazzochi has helped the district in its efforts against a bill that would merge the fire district into Bensenville Fire District No. 2.

"Deanne has worked with us to stop this malicious act," the flyer said. "Let's show her our support."

Mazzochi has not returned a message about her position on consolidating the entities.

For three decades, District No. 1 has been considered a "paper" agency. It provides no actual fire service. Instead, it sends annual checks to the city of Elmhurst and District No. 2 to fulfill that function.

Paul DeMichele, the fire district's controller, has not returned messages for comment. DeMichele, who is in charge of the district's paperwork, may have access to the stamp in question.

Earlier this year, resident James Brill of the White Pines Community Alliance submitted an ethics complaint against District No. 1 over the flyer. The township appoints the district's board members.

The township planned a hearing on the complaint. But the district's attorney, Pat Bond, showed up to argue the township had no jurisdiction. He then left.

The township later agreed with Bond's reasoning.

Under a nearly 20-year-old state law, every public body must have an ethics ordinance. But Bond said in an interview the district couldn't find its code. He said the board would approve a "restatement" of its ordinance at its next meeting.

Brill said he planned to submit his complaint to the district.

Bond said the district would respond by creating an ethics committee to investigate it, as required by law.