Hinsdale Politician Seeking Higher Office

HINSDALE, IL — Greg Hart, a DuPage County Board member from Hinsdale, plans to run for board chairman in 2022, records indicate. And he has the financial support of the current chairman.

At the end of June, Hart had $267,627 in his campaign account, more than 90 percent of which he raised during the quarter, according to the state Board of Elections.

The only other board member with a comparable campaign fund is Republican County Board member Pete DiCianni of Elmhurst, who is also planning to run for board chairman.

None of the other 16 board members had anywhere nearly as much in their coffers 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 the board Chairman Dam Cronin, an Elmhurst Republican, who donated $10,000 of his campaign money in early June.

Cronin has not publicly announced his political plans.

Illinois Board of Elections records show that DiCianni, a former Elmhurst mayor, 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 them." 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.

Hart, DiCianni 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