Elmhurst Politician Clashes With GOP DuPage Colleagues

ELMHURST, IL — DuPage County Board member Pete DiCianni of Elmhurst criticizes his Democratic colleagues on issues such as police defunding. But perhaps DiCianni's biggest quarrels these days are with his fellow Republicans.

Earlier this month, DiCianni, a former Elmhurst mayor, made headlines when he got into arguments with counterprotesters at a pro-police rally, at one point loudly speaking in a person's face without a mask. He later emailed a Black Lives Matter supporter who demanded his resignation to "stick" her vote in "her a--."

He then made robocalls contending Democratic board members were pushing for defunding of police, which the Republican board chairman, Dan Cronin of Elmhurst, called misleading. Under pressure, DiCianni stepped down as chairman of the board's Health and Human Services committee.

Through a public records request, Patch has learned DiCianni clashed with fellow Republicans over a coronavirus-related issue in his last days as chairman.

In a July 10 email to DiCianni, Republican board member Sam Tornatore of Roselle accused DiCianni of giving incorrect information at a July 7 Health and Human Services Committee meeting.

He said DiCianni told the committee that Tornatore and Republican board member Donald Puchalski of Addison were involved in DiCianni's initiative for coronavirus antibody testing. He said neither he nor Puchalski had been contacted about it.

Further, Tornatore said antibody testing was questionable.

"I know that antibody testing has been a priority of yours for some time, but our public health professionals as well as the public health community acknowledge that the efficacy of such testing is, at this time, suspect at best," said Tornatore, president of the DuPage County Board of Health. "Further, it might lead to a false narrative to those who believe they may be 'immune' when in fact they are not."

The email was copied to Puchalski and Cronin, among other board members. Puchalski couldn't be reached for immediate comment.

In the email, Tornatore said DiCianni's committee had jurisdiction over the Care Center and the Community Services Department, not other health issues and the DuPage County Health Department.

Tornatore asked DiCianni to work through the proper channels for initiatives that deal with the county's health and safety. And he requested DiCianni to ask him first before using his name as a supporter of initiatives.

According to the Mayo Clinic, an antibody test that shows someone has antibodies likely means that the person was infected with the coronavirus at some point. But the clinic notes the World Health Organization warns there is a lack of evidence on whether having antibodies means a person is protected against reinfection.

"The level of immunity and how long immunity lasts are not yet known," the Mayo Clinic said. "Ongoing studies will eventually reveal more data on this."

In a text message to Patch, DiCianni said the head of the Health and Human Services Committee is allowed to form a subcommittee of experts to suggest new programs promoting health in the county.

"Plasma therapy with the COVID antibody has saved many lives and is a proven treatment, especially used prior to a vaccine being in place," DiCianni said. "I look forward to continuing to serve the HHS Committee bringing a vast amount of knowledge and a track record matched by no other board member."

Other recent stories about Pete DiCianni:

Elmhurst Politician Tells Off Constituent About Protest

Elmhurst Politician's Rebuke Of Constituent Sparks Reaction

Elmhurst Politician Chastised By DuPage County Leader

Elmhurst Politician Expresses Regret In Handling Critics

Is Elmhurst Politician Right On Police Defunding Claim?

Listen To Elmhurst Politician's Controversial Robocall