Elmhurst Politician Seeks Higher Office

ELMHURST, IL — Former Elmhurst Mayor Pete DiCianni, a Republican who has served on the DuPage County Board for nearly a decade, is running for board chairman, according to state election board records.

Since 2011, Dan Cronin, a Republican from Elmhurst, has served as chairman. It is unclear whether Cronin plans to seek re-election in 2022, but one of his donations is an indication that he may not. He criticized DiCianni last year for the member's clash with Black Lives Matter supporters.

Illinois Board of Elections records show that DiCianni had $337,404 in his campaign account for board chairman as of June 30. That included $250,000 he lent his campaign.

Last summer, DiCianni took a lot of heat for a videotaped confrontation with Black Lives Matter counterprotesters who showed up at a pro-police rally in front of the Elmhurst police station, telling them, "You leave our town then." He later responded to an email from a constituent who supported Black Lives Matter by telling her to "stick" her vote in her "a--."

DiCianni later sent automated calls to residents that said DuPage County Board members were considering defunding the police.

In a statement in July 2020, Cronin said no effort was underway by any member to defund police. Cronin did not mention DiCianni by name, but it was obvious he was referring to him.

"One board member chose to deliberately share misinformation after he was criticized for appearing at a rally, not wearing a mask, and speaking loudly in the face of another protester," Cronin said. "He was also criticized for inappropriate language used in an exchange over email, which was then shared on social media. None of those things have anything to do with the business of the DuPage County Board, which is focused on protecting the health and safety of all and helping our businesses and families weather these challenging times."

In response, DiCianni said several Democratic members were suggesting defunding the police.

At a meeting soon after, DiCianni stopped short of an apology, but admitted to regrets in his dealings with Black Lives Matter supporters. Under pressure from Cronin and others, DiCianni stepped down as chairman of the board's Health and Human Services Committee.

Another County Board member who is raising big money is Greg Hart, a Republican from Hinsdale. In the quarter that ended June 30, he had $267,627 in the bank, more than 90 percent of which he raised during the quarter. He, too, has indicated in election board records that he is running for chairman.

Besides DiCianni and Hart, none of the other 16 board members had anywhere nearly as much in their campaign accounts as of June 30. A dozen had less than $5,000, including four with nothing at all. So Hart's major fundraising could be a sign he is seeking higher office.

Among Hart's recent contributors is Cronin himself, who donated $10,000 of his campaign money in early June. This could be a sign that Cronin won't seek re-election.

DiCianni, Hart and Cronin couldn't be reached for immediate comment.

According to the Board of Elections, here are the amounts in County Board members' campaign accounts as of June 30.:

CHAIRMAN

Dan Cronin, R-Elmhurst
$419,630

DISTRICT 1

Donald Puchalski, R-Addison
$36,275

Ashley Selmon, D-Addison
$324

Sam Tornatore, R-Roselle
$28,543

DISTRICT 2

Elizabeth Chaplin, D-Downers Grove
$0

Paula Deacon Garcia, D-Lisle
$2,970

Pete DiCianni, R-Elmhurst
$337,404

DISTRICT 3

Greg Hart, R-Hinsdale
$267,627

Brian Krajewski, R-Downers Grove
$9,651

Julie Renehan, D-Hinsdale
$0

DISTRICT 4

Grant Eckhoff, R-Wheaton
$0

Mary FitzGerald Ozog, D-Glen Ellyn
$0

Lynn LaPlante, D-Glen Ellyn
$194

DISTRICT 5

Amy Chavez, D-Naperville
$471

Sadia Covert, D-Naperville
$4,770

Dawn DeSart, D-Aurora
$192

DISTRICT 6

Sheila Rutledge, D-Warrenville
$1,668

Greg Schwarze, D-Carol Stream
$535

Jim Zay, R-Carol Stream
$19,695