Elmhurst Politico's Firms Rake In His Campaign Cash

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst politician Pete DiCianni spent more than half of his campaign cash with his own companies in his recent race for DuPage County Board chairman.

In last month's election, DiCianni lost to Hinsdale's Greg Hart, who took 60 percent of the vote. Both men are County Board members.

According to a Patch analysis, 57 percent of DiCianni's campaign expenditures in his latest race went to his Addison-based firms, Win Marketing and DiCianni Graphics. That amounts to about $350,000.

DiCianni, a former Elmhurst mayor, spent $290,000 with Win Marketing in his latest campaign, according to state Board of Elections reports. All the payments to Win Marketing were in round numbers – $25,000, $40,000, $75,000 and three for $50,000.

This company handled DiCianni's campaign mailers, at least one of which drew the ire of DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick.

The remaining $60,777 was spent with DiCianni Graphics. According to the reports, this firm was paid for services such as consulting, marketing and executive studies.

The records show that DiCianni lent his campaign $250,000 last year.

No state law prohibits a candidate from spending political money with his own firms.

DiCianni has spent his political money on his companies for years.

Last year, a Patch analysis found that he had spent 42 percent of his campaign money going back to 2007 with the two businesses, for a total of $229,000.

In an email to Patch last year, DiCianni said election laws allow him to use his firms just as he could use any other vendor. He noted he has been in office since 2009 and faced competitive races each cycle.

Two years ago, the state Board of Elections conducted a random audit of DiCianni's finances, he said.

"We passed with flying colors," DiCianni said in last year's email. "I had to hire an auditor who is a CPA and does these state audits regularly. We were found to be in full compliance both in valuation of work as well as reporting. These are private dollars, no taxpayer monies used. There is no conflict perceived or implied, and we are a specialty firm that uses the best in union craftsmen and women, including people of color."

In last year's story, a longtime expert in political fundraising said the expenditures with a candidate's own firms could raise ethical questions.

DiCianni couldn't be reached for immediate comment on his latest campaign expenditures.