Peter DiCianni: Candidate Profile

Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: ElmhurstWebsite: http://www.petedicianni.comOffice sought: DuPage County board District 2Age: 46Family: Married 18 years to Rose DiCianni, a Cardiac Intensive Care Nurse, Loyola Univ. 3 Children, Natalie-16, Peter-14, Brianna-9 All attend Elmhurst Public SchoolsOccupation: President/CEO DiCianni Graphics Inc. (1985-present) A DuPage based Commercial Design/Print Firm Mayor, City of Elmhurst (2009-Present) CEO of one of the Top Communities in DuPage County (Rated #1 Chicago Magazine)Education: BS. Business Management-Elmhurst College School of Business Economics '88 York of Elmhurst '84Civic involvement: Elmhurst Children's Assistance Foundation (ECAF) Director President 1996-2006 (raised a record $1 million) Honorary Chair 2009-present Awarded the "Friend of the Children" 2008 Ecaf's Highest Award Assisted Families with DuPage Children with LIfethreatening Disabling Conditions Metropolitan Family Services of DuPage - Director 2006-present DuPage County's Largest Provider of Senior Services inlcuding Respite and Counseling Center for Speech Language Disorders (CSLD) Awarded the "You Make a Difference Award" 2006 Brianna friends "Walk to Talk"-Walk Chairman 2007-present CSLD is a Center located in District 2 providing Speech Language Services to Children with Autism Ray Graham People for Disablilities Walk Co-Chairperson to raise money for people with developmental disabilities DuPage County's Largest community based living facility serving 2000 children adults DuPage Senior Citizen Council-Supporter/Volunteer "Meels on Wheels" Providing thousands of DuPage Area seniors low cost to free healthy meals along with vital well being checks.Elected offices held: Mayor of Elmhurst (2009-present) CEO of one of the Top Communities in DuPage County (Rated #1 Chicago Magazine) Brought record Economic Development Job Creation New Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, New Mariano's Grocery Store 2 Blue Ribbon Public Schools (Lincoln Elementary Bryan J.H.) Elmhurst enjoys high quality of life while remaining one of DuPage's lowest taxing communities.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NeverCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Low Taxes, Economic Development, Job Creation. These go hand in hand and as a Mayor and business leader who has helped create jobs my whole life, this will be my goal for DuPage. Keeping our taxes low will create an environment where companies want to do business in our County. Recruiting businesses that will be a good fit for our communities will create jobs; bring in add'l revenue streams in the form of sales taxes and commercial property taxes, which will go into the same bucket that we as residents pay into. The bottom line, the more that goes in the bucket from these businesses who are employing our residents, the less the tax burden there is on hard working families and seniors living on fixed incomes. DuPage has a large percentage of Senior Citizens, many of which are homebound or have limited motilities. County sponsored programs like "meals on wheels" and Ride DuPage must be maintained and enhanced. That is why at the end of the day we expect a high quality of life at a value that is affordable.Key Issue 2 Intergovernmental Cooperation and Reduction of Costs. As a businessman and CEO, a Mayor, and taxpayer, my goal will be to look at regionalizing services to give the best quality services including, Public Safety, Economic Development, Road Maintenance, Transportation, Storm-water Management, and Public Health. We must be certain to eliminate duplication in services and work together to make DuPage County the best place to live, raise a family, start a business, and retire. My knowledge again of local government and working with the county to cover unincorporated areas for Police and Fire, Snowplowing and Street Resurfacing, etc. There is money to $AVE. My skills as a businessman and Mayor will be very important in this area.Key Issue 3 Storm Water Management is a key issue that I am running on. As the most senior Mayor of the 2 elected Mayors that sit on the storm-water committee at the County, I feel I have a deep understanding of how the county can help local communities deal with storm water issues. Virtually every town in District 2 and throughout the county have their challenges and I'm very proud of my voting record to help communities with infrastructure improvements to keep their residents and businesses out of harms way of water. I have helped in the crafting of the new storm water ordinance so that new development actually improves the storm-water system and does not cause more of a burden. During the storms of 2010, I was the lead mayor to bring record FEMA relief bringing millions of federal dollars to DuPage County residents to help them rebuild. I understand government and how local, county, state and federal agencies come together to get the job done. I also understand that storm water is expensive burdening many municipal budgets. Bringing local government knowledge to the county with Chief Executive experience will be an asset I can bring and start the job running. There are many communities including Elmhurst, Villa Park, Lombard, Downers Grove, Lisle and Oakbrook that are in need. I will be your voice!!Questions Answers Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election for the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you? If so, what?As you can see from my record of accomplishments in business and government. I enjoy public service!! I feel the county can do more for "we the tax payers" in the area of economic development which will reduce the tax burden on our residents while creating jobs and maintaining the quality of life we expect in DuPage County. The County needs to take a leadership role and work with cash strapped communities to deliver the best quality services at the lowest cost. We must invest and improve our infrastructure (roads and storm-water) as well as strengthen Public Health Public Safety. At the end of the day, it's about providing the Highest Quality of Life at a low cost to the tax payer.If you are an incumbent, describe your main contributions. Tell us of any important initiatives you've led. If you are a challenger, what would you bring to the board and what would your priority be?As an encumbant Mayor, I feel I have a deep understanding of regional issues that the county can help with such as Economic Development Job Creation, Storm-water Management, Public Health Safety, Transportation. I deal with all of these issues at the local level as well as at the County level as I have served the County as a Storm Water Commissioner since 2009. I understand and have a strong record on Job Creation, dealing with Storm Water challenges and securing funding. I have also authored and championed 3 state laws that directly affect Public Health and Safety for Children and Seniors Citizens. Autism, our Country's Largest Public Health Crisis affecting 1 in 88 children born today is an area of great concern to me and one where I have great expertise and passion. I will be a champion for people who are most vulnerable especially children seniors!! I am a bi-partisan statesmen who gets the job done.How can the county best manage its growth, growing diversity?As a proud product of an Italian Irish family, eldest of 7 children who grew up in DuPage County I embrace diversity as that what America was built upon. As long as diversity is hard working, strong in their faith and family values, pays their fair share, and enters this country legally as my grandparents did when they came from their respective countries, diversity is great. It is when people enter this country illegally, don't pay their fair share, and are a burden on society that I take issue with. I am a proud Christian as well as a proud American. I have been blessed and have grown up in a community of DuPage that has given me great opportunity, now it's time to make sure we pass an even better opportunity to our children as well as be mindful of the seniors that have paved the way for our families.If incumbent, are you satisied your attendance at county board/committee meetings has been adequate? Describe the rough percentage of meetings you've attended. If non-incumbent, are you aware of the incumbent's attandance record and is it adequate?I am known to be own of the hardest working Public Servants in DuPage County. Attendance and work ethic along with results as I have proven to bring will be a given. With my experience, I will be able to hit the ground running. While others are learning, I will be doing, as I have being my entire life as a public servant. Government needs more business leaders in leadership.What is your stance on county board members' pay? Too high, too low, just right? Would you propose any changes? Do you think county board members should receive pensions? If not, would be willing to pledge not to take one?I have never gone after elected office for the goal of compensation.