Elmhurst's DiCianni Ditches Republicans

ELMHURST, IL – Former Elmhurst Mayor Pete DiCianni is leaving the Republicans and joining the Democrats.

Like suburbs across the country, DuPage County is becoming more Democratic.

With his new party label, DiCianni, a former Republican DuPage County Board member from Elmhurst, is running for recorder.

He plans to run in the Democratic primary on March 19. Also in the race is the Democratic incumbent, Kathleen Carrier, who took office in 2020.

In a letter to supporters earlier this month, DiCianni explained his decision to leave the GOP.

"Though I still have conservative values, sadly, the ideology of the Republican Party of DuPage is one I can no longer support," DiCianni said.

He said the DuPage GOP views words such as "bipartisan" as four-letter words.

"This view has cost the party dearly the past few election cycles," DiCianni said. "Regardless of a political party label, I will remain bipartisan, always support law enforcement, champion comprehensive public education, focus on economic development and be an advocate for people from all backgrounds, especially those who need the most help."

Last year, DiCianni lost in the Republican primary for county board chairman to the party establishment's choice, Greg Hart, with Hart grabbing 60 percent of the vote. Hart lost in the general election to Democrat Deborah Conroy.

During a pro-police rally in June 2020 outside the Elmhurst police station, DiCianni walked up to a counterprotester, got in her face and yelled at her to "leave our town then!"

After the rally, a constituent chastised DiCianni for his conduct in an email, demanding his resignation. In reply, he told her to "stick" her vote in "her a--."

He later apologized for his behavior at the rally, saying it wasn't his "finest moment."

Under pressure, DiCianni later stepped down as chairman of the County Board's Health and Human Services Committee.

DiCianni was Elmhurst's mayor from 2009 to 2012, leaving six months early after he won a seat on the county board.

When he was running for Congress in 2016, DiCianni said he disagreed with Donald Trump on many things, according to the Daily Herald. He said both Trump and Hillary Clinton had challenges.

"I will work with whoever the nominee is and I will pass bipartisan legislation, which is so important, that we focus on people, not politics. And Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are politics," DiCianni was quoted as saying.

In his recent letter, DiCianni said that when he was mayor, he and other local officials balanced the budget and restored the city's top bond rating.

He also pointed to "record redevelopment" such as the rebuilding of Elmhurst Hospital and stormwater projects.

As for the recorder's job, he said he would be the first businessman to manage the office. He is the owner of DiCianni Graphics in Addison.

The main job of the recorder's office is to index real estate-related documents.

DiCianni couldn't be reached for comment.