Pete DiCianni: Candidate profile
Bio
Name: Pete DiCianni
City: Elmhurst
Website: pete4dupage.com (updating as we speak)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeteDiCianni/
Party: Republican
Office sought: County Board Dist. 2
Age: 52
Family: Married with three children
Occupation: President/CEO DiCianni Graphics Inc.
Education: Elmhurst College Center for Business & Economics, BS Business Management class of 88; University of Illinois School of Leadership, graduate, Leadership in County Government, 2013;
Civic involvement: Illinois Autism Task Force (Appointed by Gov. Quinn & reappointed by Gov. Rauner) 2012-present; Ray Graham People for Disabilities; DuPage Senior Citizen Council-Supporter/Volunteer "Meals on Wheels" (2009-present); Elmhurst Children's Assistance Foundation, President/Director 1996-2006; Metropolitan Family Services of DuPage, Director 2006-present; The Center for Speech & Language Disorders (CSLD), Director 2006-2017; Author of "Brianna's Law," 2008, allowing autism-related services to be covered by insurance; Author of "James' Law" Public Safety Legislation 2011; Co-Author "Autism Insurance Protection Act" 2012; Co-Author/Advisor "ABLE ACT" A 529 Plan for Children & Adults with Disabilities so families can invest tax advantaged for their children's future needs; Key-Contributor/Co-Author "Annie LeGere Law" allowing first responders to carry Epi Auto Injectors; Illinois Crime Commission, "Integrity in Government Award" 2016; Margaret Bancroft Distinguished Leadership Award 2014; Leonardo da Vinci Award, Outstanding Achievement in Government 2011; Man of the Year, Chicagoland Italian American Charitable Organization 2009; Legislative Hero Award, YMCA of Chicago 2009; Humanitarian of the Year Award, West Suburban Philanthropic Network 2009
Elected offices held: DuPage County Board since 2012; Mayor, city of Elmhurst, 2009-2012
Questions & Answers
1. Why are you running for this office? Is there a particular issue that motivates you?
I'm running for office to maintain and enhance the qualify of life for the residents that I so proudly serve. From keeping them safe, to providing quality services and infrastructure, it is my goal to insure that each and every resident that I serve has a voice in their local government. As Mayor of Elmhurst I saw first hand how County Government is a vital partner and provider in working along with each and every community. Particular in the area of Stormwater Management, Law Enforcement and Public Health. The County is the leader in these areas from protecting our residents with the largest police force with nearly 500 men and women. Protecting our home values through enhancing vital infrastructure like providing clean water and diverting stormwater. The County is the leader in numerous Public Health Efforts including the War on Opioids with Narcan and recently with my leadership, even the use Epinephrine as a front line drug.
2. If you are an incumbent, describe two important initiatives you've led. If you're not an incumbent, describe two ways you would contribute to the board.
While hard to prioritize my numerous accomplishments, I would have to say leading the effort of manning Law Enforcement officers with Epi-Auto Injectors. This came after the passing of Annie LeGere, a 13-year-old beautiful young lady whose life might have been saved had the Elmhurst Police Officer had an Epi-pen. I helped author the legislation including the clean up bill in 2018 that paved the way for the ability for every municipal, county, and state law enforcement agency to now carry Epi. I advocated for DuPage County and the City of Elmhurst being the first two agencies in Illinois trained and today carrying Epi. I'm proud to have led that effort by engaging our Sheriff's Office and our Local Municipal Departments to help save lives of children and adults who suffer from life threatening allergies including food, nut, and bee stings.
The 2nd most important effort that I have helped lead and contribute to are numerous stormwater efforts including leading 2 FEMA declarations 2010 and 2013 that brought hundreds of millions in relief to our residents and tens of millions of federal and state grants helping the county fund vital projects including Graue Mill one of district 2's largest infrastructure efforts that I worked tirelessly on. In addition along with Paul Fitchner, I led the effort to the direct connection of the Elmhurst Quarry protecting over 150 homes and potentially opening the door to save thousands more in the future. And lastly but most importantly I helped Safeguard thousands of homes including 1500 in Elmhurst that were deemed "Flood Plain" by removing that designation saving the values of peoples number one asset, their home.
3. Is there a specific service or amenity that is lacking in the county? If so, how do you propose to provide and fund it?
Currently our Public Health Department does not screen children for an autism diagnosis and 35 percent of our families live in poverty, so the County Health Department is often their first line of defense. I am currently working with Karen Ayala, director of Public Health to solve this important issue for our most vulnerable families. As Chairman of the IL Autism State Task Force I have brought forth resources from University of Illinois including our LEND program that will help train our County Staff with the use of a state grant so that by Spring of 2019 DuPage County will be the first County to screen for Autism. On a state level, I'm fighting for Medicaid Parity for diagnosis and treatment of autism, which we are still one of only a dozen states not to have in place. The passage of state legislation is critical to protect our County's most vulnerable. This is extremely important, as early diagnosis along with intervention is vital to attacking our country's number one medically diagnosed condition effecting 1 in 58 children today according to the Center for Disease Control.
Opioid/Heroin is another key area that we need to fill voids. Loss of life and NARCAN saves are at an all time high. Many of our Saves are repeat overdoses. There is a huge disconnect of what happens to the user after he or she is saved and we need to have a central database along interventions to prevent recidivism. Interventions including rehab, working a daily program with professional monitoring by Public Health and Law Enforcement is vital to helping people stay clean and safe. I have helped identify and have engaged meetings with Cordata, a company with proven County Successes in the area of Opioid coordination and monitoring to give a turnkey solution and fill this missing link. Recently with my leadership, the County Sheriff's Office through the Department of Public Health have applied for $500,000 in federal grants to help secure and fund this initiative which I have been proud to be a leader on.
4. With DuPage County's budget being squeezed by state funding cuts and other factors, what initiatives would you support to increase revenue and/or save money?
Continuing to reduce costs through regionalizing and sharing services intergovernmentally is essential. In addition creating new revenue streams both in sales tax and new growth opportunities through economic development efforts is vital to lessen the property tax burden of our residents and existing businesses. My record on economic development and job creation as Mayor and on the County Board along with my business experience sets me apart from my competition in this area.
5. The county has been focused on consolidation of services and government agencies. How effective has that effort been and how could it be improved?
Overall I feel we have done a good job at working intergovernmentally by sharing services and in several cases through consolidation. From getting rid of paper fire districts that often don't pay their fare share to their municipal fire departments to getting rid of obsolete lighting districts, and to the shared fight on West Nile virus, I think overall DuPage County has set the bar for consolidation. In my opinion one of the largest areas of true consolidation came in the place of working with our Mayors to bring DUCOM, the County's largest 911 center to the County Campus. I helped lead this charge and while this was the doing of the Mayors, the county helped facilitate by taking the old, empty Youth Home and repurposed it to accommodate consolidating 12 community 911 centers down to 3, 911 centers with DUCOM servicing the largest numbers of communities including virtually all of district 2 communities that I so proudly serve. This will save money on duplicate equipment, manpower and all while making our County safer place.
6. What is the single most important issue facing your district and how should the county address it?
The off the charts War on Opioids and the rise in Violent Crime in our county in my opinion is one of my top concerns. According to our state's attorney
DuPage is seeing double digit annual rises in this area and this is alarming. Many of these criminals, nearly 1 in 2 of all felonies are coming from people outside our county, primarily from Cook County. We need to equip our Sheriff's Office with the tools and manpower it needs to be the regional leader in crime and drug prevention. I have been screaming this from the dais every time there is a push to cut Public Safety. From manpower, technology including body-cameras, we must fund the County's #1 Priority and that is keeping our residents, families, children and seniors Safe!
7. Please name one current leader who most inspires you.
Jim Ryan, former IL Attorney General and DuPage County State's Attorney has been a mentor and inspiration to me since I ran for Mayor of Elmhurst. He was always for Good Government, worked well across the isle of partisanship, advocated for many important public safety laws regarding safeguarding children and families. He is a man of deep faith and family who has dealt with the loss of two of his children and his own personal challenges of fighting cancer. Being Italian/Irish Catholic, we have a lot of qualities in common. The man never gave up to service for people, all while being ethical and moral and for that reason, Attorney General Jim Ryan is a man I proudly look up too.
8. What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?
That service to others is bigger than to self. As you succeed, to give back, and that through hard work, you can accomplish anything. This is what my parent's, my teachers and coaches instilled in me. I especially like to thank my father and mother, York Cross Country Coach Joe Newton, Deacon John Maloney and the nuns at Mary Queen of Heaven who set my moral and work compasses.
9. If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?
I would have married my wife sooner, we dated 5 years, and we should have been married after 2. She is the love of my life and a great mother to our children. Family to me is everything!
10. What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?
My favorite subjects in school were my high school Graphic Arts and Business classes. I was always an entrepreneur but Graphic Arts gave me direction and a skill that paid for my College degree (Elmhurst College-Business Management) as being the oldest of 7 children, money was tight. I started by Graphics Company at 18 years old after graduating York of Elmhurst. Pete's Print shop, now DiCianni Graphics is in its 34th year and has provided my family with a strong living and given jobs to many in our county. It's also an example of how teaching manufacturing and entrepreneurship is so important in our public schools.
11. If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?
Do something that you are passionate about and help change the world!