Elmhurst-Area Official Denies Violation Of State Law

ELMHURST, IL – An official with the fire district that covers unincorporated areas between Elmhurst and Bensenville has denied involvement with a flyer that triggered an investigation.

Last fall, the flyer was distributed to unincorporated residents. It advertised a fundraiser for state Rep. Deanne Mazzochi, an Elmhurst Republican.

The flyer included what appeared to be the stamp for Bensenville Fire District No. 1.

For months, Patch has written about the flyer and questioned whether the district was involved. State law bars public resources from being used for political campaigns.

Paul DeMichele, the district's controller, has not returned Patch's phone calls about the flyer. He handles the entity's paperwork, so he may have access to the stamp.

On Monday, DeMichele showed up at the meeting of the City Council's Public Safety Committee. The panel was to discuss the city's approach to state legislation that would merge District No. 1 into Bensenville Fire District No. 2.

Patch was able to briefly interview DeMichele just before the meeting. He denied knowledge of who handled the flyer.

"Our district did not pay for it," DeMichele said.

He also said the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office investigated the matter and found no violation.

Patch later contacted the State's Attorney's Office to confirm that development. A spokesman said he would try to get that information from the office's civil division.

The district's secretary, Paul Guerino, who also attended the city meeting, has long said he was not involved with the flyer.

Asked whether the district was angry someone used its identity in the flyer, Guerino said, "That's water under the bridge."

More than three decades ago, District No. 1 gave up its fire station and trucks. Instead, it pays two other entities – Elmhurst and District No. 2 – to provide fire services. Its income comes through a property tax, with more than 10 percent going to overhead.

According to the flyer, Mazzochi has helped the district in its efforts against the bill merging the districts.

"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.

With a merger, the district maintains that residents' property taxes for fire services would triple.

Guerino said he wants to protect "my people" from being targeted by outside entities. He cited the consolidation of Elmhurst's school districts in the 1970s as an example of such an occurrence.