Stop the would-be double-dipper

Stop the would-be double-dipper

Pete Dicianni is the first mayor in the history of Elmhurst to declare himself eligible for a taxpayer-funded pension for a part-time job. He is the only Republican candidate for DuPage County Board, District 2, who has definitively stated that for this part-time job, he will take the $50,000 per year salary, the benefits, and pension, all paid by the taxpayers.

Dicianni has made it clear that he wants to be mayor of Elmhurst and on the county board at the same time. He has told the voters of DuPage County that he will not take his salary as Mayor, however, by Elmhurst Statute, the office of mayor is salaried and he must be paid from city funds (what he does with it afterward is his choice), thus maintaining his ability to receive a pension as mayor. What this adds up to is two pensions for Double Dippin’ Dicianni. Illinois has over $80 billion in unfunded pensions and he wants to add to it.

The DuPage State’s Attorney provided the county board with a legal opinion which would prohibit Dicianni from holding the offices of mayor and county board member simultaneously. Dicianni refuted that the state’s attorney had offered “just an opinion.”

New legislation (SB 3332), introduced on March 1 by Democratic State Senator Don Harmon of Oak Park, would completely overrule the DuPage State’s Attorney making Dicianni free to hold both offices, and also eligible for two pensions.

End pension abuse. Stop Double Dippin’ Dicianni.

Darlene Heslop

Elmhurst