All Aurora mayoral candidates spar for final time
AURORA BEACON-NEWS
March 23, 2009 - By ANDRE SALLES asalles@scn1.com

You always know when it's 5 p.m. here.

Sure, you could look at a clock, but there's really no need. At 5 p.m. every day for the past month or so, something kind of magical happens at The Beacon offices. One of us writers -- sometimes it's me, sometimes Matt Hanley, sometimes Dan Campana -- will press "play" on his Windows Media Player, and for the next 3 minutes and 54 seconds, we'll all be head-bopping and singing along.

What's the song, you may ask? It's a little ditty called "Richard" by local rappers Out Sold, written for Richard Irvin's 2005 mayoral campaign. And it's just awesome. Pretty often, you'll find half The Beacon writing staff singing along with the catchy chorus: "Richaaaard! Irvin, Irvin!"

We're seriously obsessed with this song. And now that Irvin's running for mayor again, " Richard" has benefited from a sudden shot of relevance.

The song was written by two Aurorans, T.J. Ratz and his cousin Morris Spearman. They were both 15 when Irvin made his first run for the city's top office, so I thought it might be fun to find out just what the Out Sold boys have been up to in the last four years.

I caught up with Ratz, now 19 and the father of two boys, ages 3 and 1. He's still in Aurora, attending Indian Plains Alternative High School, and he's still rapping. He says he gets to the recording studio as often as he can, and it's still inspiring for him.

He says Spearman's still in town, too. He just turned 19 and has a daughter.

Ratz has written a new piece for Irvin's second mayoral run called "One Aurora". It's more of a poem -- there's no beat; it's just over a minute long. But the sentiments in it are the same. Over a wistful female voice repeating "He is the change of the future for us" comes the rap, "He's a family man with a family plan to take the hands of the less fortunate, and bring them up ..."

Ratz says the new song is more mature and should resonate with voters. But a quick poll of Beacon staffers shows the latest track is more of a grower and probably won't replace " Richard" in our 5 p.m. rotation anytime soon.

This also got me thinking about Irvin's opponents and what songs they should use for their own campaigns. Mayor Tom Weisner is a songwriter himself and has penned the holiday-themed " Christmas is the Warmest Time of the Year," but that probably wouldn't work as a rallying tune for his campaign. And Alderman Stephanie Kifowit doesn't seem to have a song at all.

Here are my suggestions, then.

For Weisner: Tower of Power's killer " Don't Change Horses (In the Middle of a Stream)" matches his message of sticking with a winning formula. Key lyric: "The wrong decision will spoil all our dreams..."

For Kifowit: I thought of a few, but none were as on-the-nose as the old Derek and the Dominos barn-burner "Tell the Truth." Key lyrics: "Who's been fooling you?" and "A new dawn is breaking ..."

All Aurora mayoral candidates spar for final time
DAILY HERALD
March 19, 2009 - By Justin Kmitch | Daily Herald Staff

In their third and final forum together, Aurora's three mayoral candidates tackled a variety of questions Wednesday, ranging from how they would handle global warming to whether directional signs for locating churches should be allowed.

A few hundred people attended the forum sponsored by Aurora's faith-based groups at Wesley United Methodist Church, 14 N. May Street.

Mayor Tom Weisner, Alderman at Large Richard Irvin and Third Ward Alderman Stephanie Kifowit each began the meeting discussing the roles their faiths play in their decision making.

Irvin, who grew up in low income housing on the city's east side and now owns his own law firm, hopes to use his faith to help guide the city's younger citizens into the future.

"I want to give back to the city that has given so much to me and I want to use my belief, structure, moral compass and my faith to make a difference in the community," he said. "I had the opportunity to climb up the ladder and I want to be able to reach back and pull others up that same ladder and take Aurora to the next level."

Kifowit talked of how the church has historically helped the poor and homeless and how that selflessness can build a stronger community.

"Before Hesed House, it was the churches who housed the homeless, before the Interfaith Food Pantry, it was churches who fed the poor," Kifowit said. "Our societal foundation is rooted in faith-based organizations. As a city, and as a mayor, I am aware and I appreciate the role that the faith based community contributed to growing a better society."

Weisner discussed his time at Holy Cross Junior High School and Marmion Academy's Lake Street campus and how his experiences there led him to dedicate his life to public service.

"Each of us, as God's children, are expected to do what we can to serve our neighbors," Weisner said. "As mayor, I have worked with area churches to form powerful faith-based initiatives. And as mayor I have focused on issues that worked to improve peoples quality of life."

From there, candidates went on to discuss a wide range of issues from the city's need for a new downtown library, which they all supported, to why there are so few minorities on the city's police and fire departments.

"I believe we need to have a police force and fire fighting force that represents our community and I understand there are low numbers of minorities," Kifowit said. "We need to reach out to those communities and engage them in those professions."

Weisner conceded that historically race may have played a part in minorities being held back.

"In the past, I think bias was part of that," Weisner said, recounting in 2005 when he appointed William Powell the city's first minority police chief after he had been denied several attempts to be promoted to a lieutenant. "We are making good progress."

Irvin said minority involvement needs to be increased in more than police and fire jobs.

"I believe it would be my responsibility as mayor to ensure that our city staff refects the makeup of our city and it's not just with the fire department or police department," he said. "Right now our city spends $100 million a year on contracts that they award to businesses. Less than 2 percent of them go to women and minorities and that's shameful."

Despite Weisner agreeing to participate in only three forums, Irvin and Kifowit will share the stage two more times before the April 7 election.

Mayoral candidates face off for final time
AURORA BEACON-NEWS
March 19, 2009 - By ANDRE SALLES asalles@scn1.com

AURORA -- With less than three weeks to go before the election, the three mayoral candidates met for the final time Wednesday night at Wesley United Methodist Church for their third scheduled debate.

It was billed as a faith-based forum, but the questions -- taken solely from members of the audience -- covered a wide variety of issues. The usual topics of this campaign, such as economic development and campaign finance ethics, took a back seat as Mayor Tom Weisner and Aldermen Richard Irvin and Stephanie Kifowit were asked about global warming, gun control and public transportation.

The wide variety of subjects kept the candidates off of their usual talking points. In a moment that drew laughs, Irvin responded to a question about religious signs on public roadways by saying, "I've never actually thought about that."

The result was a calmer, less aggressive performance from all three. For the most part, they agreed on the issues -- all of them said the lack of minority representation in the city's police and fire departments is a problem that must be dealt with, and all of them put forward ideas to help Aurora's school districts recoup the money owed them by the state of Illinois.

Kifowit got a chance to expound upon her plan to replace the mayor's chief of staff with a city administrator, accountable to the mayor and City Council. Irvin said he would not oppose that idea, but felt the mayoral form of government offered more accountability, and Weisner said a city administrator would not be the best choice for a city of Aurora's size.

All three agreed the downtown library needs to be expanded. Kifowit and Irvin declared their support for the Second Amendment and opposed gun control, while Weisner said he has focused on lowering the crime rate in Aurora, not regulating guns. And all three agreed illegal immigration remains an issue, but one that cannot be solved at the city level.

It took until the final question for abortion and Planned Parenthood to come up, but the issue did lead to the night's one sharp attack. Irvin, launching his comments with a firm "Planned Parenthood is bad for Aurora," said Weisner did not get angry enough at the company for coming into the city under a subsidiary name, Gemini Office Development.

"That suggests to me that he knew all along," Irvin said.

Weisner responded by saying he was disappointed in Planned Parenthood for using a subsidiary name, but three separate legal reviews found no wrongdoing in the approval process, criminal or otherwise. He was obligated to issue an occupancy permit, Weisner said.

"If my faith had informed my actions on this issue, I would have violated my oath of office," he said.

Kifowit said Planned Parenthood and abortion were the top issues expressed to her during her door-to-door campaigning, and she also expressed disappointment in the process.

The forum was moderated by Patti Hayes Lackman of the Batavia League of Women Voters. Questions were screened by a panel of religious leaders, including the Rev. Susan Holstrom of St. David's Episcopal Church, Imam Abbas Khawaja of the Fox Valley Muslim Community Center and Rabbi Shmuel Mann of Temple B'nai Israel.

Two more forums are scheduled -- one tonight at La Sierra Restaurant and one on March 26 at Progressive Baptist Church -- but Weisner will not attend either of them, citing both prior commitments and a desire to stick to three debates.

Candidates for Aurora mayor go head-to-head
AURORA BEACON-NEWS
March 13, 2009 - By ANDRE SALLES asalles@scn1.com

We've entered the home stretch toward Aurora's mayoral election, and it was obvious Thursday night, as the three candidates squared off on the stage of Aurora University's Crimi Auditorium.

Mayor Tom Weisner and his two challengers, Aldermen Richard Irvin and Stephanie Kifowit, took on the economy, taxes, crime and economic development over two hours.

But mostly, they took on each other. The attacks were ramped up, the rebuttals more defensive, the atmosphere more charged.

Hundreds of Aurorans turned up for the debate, co-sponsored by AU and The Beacon News, with many others watching from home, courtesy of The Beacon's live Webcast.

And while Weisner offered examples of how the city has been on the right track over the last four years, Irvin and Kifowit took aim at his administration and offered their proposals for change.

Each candidate was offered a chance to present an idea to improve Aurora, and the others were invited to rebut.

Irvin's ideas centered on economic development. He said he would roll back tax increases and cut "unnecessary middle management" from the city budget. And he presented his plan for downtown -- divide it into residential, business and entertainment districts and focus on each separately. Irvin said businesses need a reason to set up shop downtown, and if one is provided, the area will flourish.

"That's a great idea. We're already doing it," Weisner shot back. "But you can't wave a magic wand. It doesn't happen that way."

Weisner also pointed out that the one tax increase his administration has passed went solely toward the construction of the new police station on Indian Trail.

Weisner offered examples of how the city has been moving on the right track. He mentioned recently released statistics that show Aurora's crime rate at a 30-year low and mentioned tax increment financing districts as one way to bring small businesses and other development into downtown. Under his administration, he said, Aurora has "taken areas that have been blighted for 20 years and turned them into productive areas."

Kifowit, however, said there is still no downtown synergy, no momentum bringing in other businesses. She repeatedly mentioned the more than 20 empty storefronts and three vacant buildings downtown and said the recently opened Ballydoyle Irish Pub, often pointed to as a sign of success, is a destination, not an economic engine.

Irvin was more direct: "(Weisner) says economic development is a slow process," he said. "That's apparently true for his administration."

Irvin pointed out other areas of the Fox Valley that have expanded growth over the past four years, contrasting that with the slow progress he sees in Aurora.

Kifowit's ideas were aimed at changing the politics of the city. A central part of her platform involves bringing in a city administrator to take the place of the chief of staff. The administrator would report to the City Council, which Kifowit believes will take the politics out of the day-to-day operations of Aurora.

As she has in press releases over the last few weeks, Kifowit suggested removing the mayor's ability to hire and fire without City Council consent and raised the issue of casino tax funds, which she believes have been misused. She wants a complete audit of the riverboat funds and would like to see their use restricted to downtown development.

Weisner said the city already does an audit of those funds every year and chastised Kifowit for voting for budgets that contain the very expenditures she is criticizing. Irvin said the city should not rely on the casino as heavily as it does.

The election is April 7.

Aurora debate brings sparks
DAILY HERALD
February 19, 2009 - By Justin Kmitch | Daily Herald Staff

Each of Aurora's three mayoral candidates laid out their plans for the next four years Wednesday night during the first of three scheduled candidate forums.

Residents nearly filled Aurora's Copley Theatre, 8 E. Galena Blvd. for Wednesday night's forum, hosted by the Greater Aurora Chamber of Commerce, the Aurora Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Quad County African-American Chamber of Commerce.

The candidates discussed their platforms while answering presubmitted questions from members of each of the three chambers.

Alderman-at-Large Richard Irvin, who had sign-waving supporters stationed at nearly every intersection surrounding the Copley Theatre, told of his service in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm and how that made him want to dedicate the rest of his life to public service. Borrowing a line from President Obama, Irving also pledged to bring "change Aurora can believe in" while also promising to "roll back" recent property tax increases used to fund the new police station being built just west of Farnsworth Avenue and Indian Trail Road.

"They call us the City of Lights and I don't believe we're called the city of lights because we were the first community with electric street lamps," Irvin said, waxing poetic. "They call us the city of lights because of the light of hope that shines in each and every one of your eyes; hope that we can be better, that we can make a difference, that we have a government that won't raise our taxes..."

Third Ward Alderman Stephanie Kifowit also took shots at Mayor Tom Weisner, in what was at times a two-on one battle, by promising to rid the city of it's strong mayor and chief of staff philosophy by hiring a full-time city administrator to handle the daily duties of the city and "rid the mayor's office of politics."

"We are the only community where a political person takes money in one hand and doles out permits with the other," Kifowit said, referring to Weisner's hefty war chest.

For his part, Weisner admitted the city has not run perfectly the last four years but warned it's been much better than Irvin or Kifowit would have voters believe.

During his first term, Weisner boasted, crime rates sunk to a 30-year low, the city has become a leader for instituting eco-friendly initiatives and he said, the city has made "great strides" in attracting new development throughout the city.

"The 1980s brought a redevelopment of the downtown project that never happened. In 2001 Aurora began the River City project and not a shovel of dirt was ever turned," Weisner said. "Since I took office in 2005, phase one of the Riverside Plaza is complete and beautiful condos sit on the (Fox) river's west edge. Waubonsee Community College has broken ground on a downtown campus. The simple fact is, for the first time in a long time, we are making progress in our downtown."

In response to a question about instituting a minority business participation program that would link local minority owned businesses with other contractors, each of the candidates said they would support the creation of such a program.

"Absolutely. Currently we seen 100 million dollars a year on city contracts," Irvin said. "Women and minority-owned companies get 2 percent of that. That's a shame in a city where minorities make up 55 percent of our overall population.

Candidates also discussed the city's need to spend $84,000 a year for a lobbyist.

Irvin and Kifowit questioned the need while Weisner supported the use of a lobbyist in Springfield and Washington, D.C.

"Our elected officials and mayor should be making a joint effort to lobby for Aurora. The mayor needs to be working with representatives and senators to portray a unified front and work together," Kifowit said. "Doing that would eliminate the lobbyist expense."

Each also expressed the need to attract visitors and shoppers to Aurora's local businesses and not just the outlet mall and Paramount Theater.

"We need to continue working to get rid of the crime and gang stigma and let folks know they can feel safe coming (into the city's downtown)," Weisner said. "We're making very real progress."

The next forum will be held March 12 at Aurora University's Crimi Auditorium.

Irvin holds forum on ethics in government
AURORA BEACON-NEWS
February 1, 2009 - By ANDRE SALLES asalles@scn1.com

AURORA -- Two hours after former Gov. Rod Blagojevich was removed from office under suspicion of corruption Thursday, Alderman and mayoral candidate Richard Irvin kicked off a conversation about ethics in government at the Prisco Community Center.

The timing could not have been more perfect. About 60 people looked on as Irvin and his guests -- the Rev. Roy Brown of Progressive Baptist Church, William McNary of Citizen Action Illinois and William Glisson, a professor of law and social justice -- dug into the issue of ethical conduct for 90 minutes.

The goal, Irvin said, is to draft his own policy of ethical government and challenge his fellow candidates in the mayor's race to abide by it.

However, he stayed away from specifics Thursday night and did not mention the names of his two mayoral opponents, Mayor Tom Weisner and Alderman Stephanie Kifowit.

Instead, Irvin and his guests kept things philosophical. The candidate read questions from the audience, and the three panelists answered, each coming at the issue from different directions.

When asked whether citizens should expect their government to be clean and honest, Brown said yes, but only if the system changes so people can be more involved. Brown tackled the issue of campaign fundraising, saying it is often the trappings of power that lead to corruption more than the money.

Glisson spent time defining ethics and morality and opined that those in power often don't like transparency because it exposes weaknesses.

"They're worried that if they expose themselves, people will not put them back into office, but if you expose your weaknesses, you gain power," he said.

And McNary praised President Barack Obama for raising much of his campaign funds from small donors and summed up his thoughts by saying, "It's up to us what kind of government we have."

The point, Irvin said, is to determine just what the community wants to see in their elected officials. Irvin said people have "lost faith in politicians," and said he organized the forum to make sure the "culture of unethical behavior amongst politicians doesn't affect us in the city of Aurora."

But Irvin stopped short of saying whether he believes that unethical behavior is happening now. Campaign finance reform has been one of the key issues in the mayor's race so far, with Weisner instituting his own restrictions on campaign cash, limiting city contractors to $1,500 in contributions.

Irvin has criticized that move, saying Weisner only put those limits in place after bankrolling his campaign in 2007.

Weisner leads the race financially, reporting just under $128,000 in cash on hand earlier this week, compared with Irvin's roughly $47,000 and Kifowit's roughly $7,200.

While Irvin did not accuse Weisner of improper dealings, Weisner said the implication is clear and simply untrue. He said his record of ethical behavior stands for itself.

"I think we need to talk about where we are in Aurora and where we're going in the future," he said. "Grandstanding efforts like (Irvin's forum) don't accomplish anything."

Kifowit, who was in attendance Thursday night, said she agrees that local politics needs to be cleaned up. Kifowit's platform includes switching to a city manager form of government, which she argues would take the politics out of the day-to-day operation of the city.

Aldermen to restart ward fund debate
AURORA BEACON-NEWS
January 31, 2009 - By DAN CAMPANA dcampana@scn1.com

AURORA -- When it comes to ward funds, Aurora's aldermen certainly agree on one thing -- they each have their own ideas and priorities for spending it.

The $580,000 allocated to each of Aurora's 10 ward aldermen has long been intended to focus on neighborhood streets or other infrastructure improvements.

But a philosophy of community improvement has prompted some aldermen to use the money on business grants and cultural events. Such an approach has spurred debate over how to best serve residents with the money.

To that end, the City Council's Finance Committee is scheduled to restart discussions next month on creating stronger guidelines for how ward money gets spent, a topic most recently raised during budget talks because of the nation's economic woes. Ward money is pulled from gaming tax revenue, which saw a noticeable decline in 2008.

Alderman Rick Lawrence, who has routinely put his entire amount into streets, suggests the need for even more careful spending of taxpayer dollars.

"There's plenty of work to be done in every ward," Lawrence said. "There has to be set guidelines. I think we should have a cap unless they can come in and justify" spending it on something outside of infrastructure.

Alderman Bob O'Connor, Finance Committee chairman, said he does not think the committee would have a difficult time requiring a percentage of "hard dollars," meaning money for infrastructure. The greater issue arrives when the conversation broadens.

"You're not going to get general consensus from 10 ward aldermen," O'Connor said, noting that most council members will call for some individual spending discretion.

Timing is also a factor. Any significant changes in how the funds are regulated have to be ready by the time Aurora begins fashioning its 2010 budget later this summer, O'Connor said.

Weisner campaign funds up by $144,000
• Different approach: Slow economy part of why campaign brought in less in 2008
AURORA BEACON-NEWS
January 27, 2009 - By DAN CAMPANA dcampana@scn1.com

On the surface, the thought of a candidate receiving fewer contributions after announcing a re-election bid than before appears contrary to even political common sense.

Following a fundraising explosion at the end of 2007, where donors gave Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner about $155,000, his campaign committee picked up about $144,000 in 2008, all of which came after the mayor's May 22 re-election kickoff.

RELATED STORIES
• Online: Campaign finance reports
With a busy schedule, a national economy struggling and self-imposed limit on some contributions, Weisner doesn't make much of the differences.

"I wouldn't really read anything into that," Weisner said. "We didn't make that kind of push in 2008. Some of it was a hesitancy (to ask) on our part."

Nevertheless, Weisner carries a heavy cash advantage and touts an edge in the number of small donors -- those giving less than $150, often seen as contributions from regular folks -- over opponents Stephanie Kifowit and Richard Irvin. Even so, and less than three months before Election Day, a "large" fundraiser is planned for early February, Weisner said.

"When the final push is in, it'll look very similar (to 2005)," the mayor added.

It's the events and dollar amounts that have drawn Weisner criticism from his opponents.

Alderman Rick Lawrence, who briefly was in the mayoral race last year, cited the mayor's style as a reason to draw up a local campaign finance ordinance proposal that he unveiled the week Weisner announced his bid for a second term.

Kifowit has described Weisner as "hypocritical" for taking large amounts from city contractors and then pushing his own plan for finance reform in city elections.

Irvin has scheduled an "ethics town hall meeting" that he says will include the relationship between donations and how city business is done.

Weisner points out the City Council has the final say on any contracts over $10,000. Repeating a message from his kickoff speech last year, Weisner recently said anyone looking to gain from a donation to his campaign will be "sorely disappointed."

With all three candidates making an early issue of money and how it's collected, here's a look at the recent history of Weisner's campaign finances and proposed reforms in Aurora as the mayoral race ramps up.
In 2007:

• Amid the Planned Parenthood controversy, Lawrence suggests the council should limit city contractor donations to Aurora's elected officials. This comes after an outside attorney recommended by Irvin to review the situation is found to have donated to Irvin's 2005 mayoral bid. Weisner is quoted as saying, "Campaign contributions are a major problem for picking people to work with the city."

• Between July 27 and Nov. 21, Weisner's campaign takes in all of its money for the year -- just under $155,000. Of the 64 individual contributors, nearly half had received payments from the city.

• The campaign also took in $31,475 from unions and other political organizations and $3,730 in small donations.

• Top donors to Weisner were: Cordogan, Clark & Associates; Alarm Detection Systems; Klein, Thorpe & Jenkins; Sho-Deen Construction; Valley Honda President Robert Navarre; Schain, Burney, Ross & Citron Ltd.; Wally Mundy of Mundy Landscaping; Engineering Enterprises; Dolan & Murphy Inc.; Force Development LLC; and Donald Hamman of Fox Ridge Stone Company. All gave $5,000 or more.
In 2008:

• The mayoral campaign opened in the spring with Lawrence, Kifowit and Weisner announcing they'd run. Irvin joined in December.

• During one week in May, Lawrence submitted a campaign finance proposal for City Council consideration, Weisner formally announced he'd run and The Beacon News published an analysis of the mayor's campaign donations.

• In June, Weisner proposed his own set of rules to govern donations to elected officials. The debate lasted about a month before the City Council tabled the discussion until after the 2009 election was completed.

• Weisner's report for the first half of 2008, which covered essentially one month of itemized contributions totaling $30,765, showed only one individual donor, Edward Schmitt, giving as much as $5,000. A handful of others gave between $1,500 and $2,500, including Alarm Detection Systems; Force Development; Kent Shodeen, owner of Sho-Deen Construction; Rempe-Sharpe Consulting Engineers; Jerry Rich of Sugar Grove; Industrial Fence Inc.; Thomas Cook Sr.

• His campaign picked up another $22,760 from unions and other political groups, as well as $14,000 in small donations.

• Weisner's second-half report -- working under self-imposed rules of no more than $1,500 from anyone doing or seeking city business -- indicates individual donations of around $30,000.

• Top donors, giving the maximum amount, were Alarm Detection Systems; Aurora Fresh Market; Michael Cook; Thomas Cook Sr.; Force Development; Fox View Plaza LLC; Sugar Grove-based architect Steven Hansen; Weisner campaign worker Richard Hawks; George Kackert of Batavia; Oakhurst Plaza LLC; Super El Guero De Aurora Inc.; Tressler, Soderstrom, Maloney & Preiss; Gus Tzotzolis of Skokie; and the SRI Venkateswara Swami Temple.

• The campaign takes in another $17,085 from unions and campaigns, nearly $8,900 in small donations and receives $18,000 in campaign headquarters rent.

• Irvin receives $5,000 from the owner of Geneva Construction, who previously donated to Weisner. Kifowit announces she's taking no money from anyone affiliated with city contracts.

Letter to the Editor - Beacon News
January 13, 2009

Aurora should take lead in ethics reform

Friday was a sad day in the State of Illinois. The impeachment of our governor marks a moment in our state's history that we would all like to soon forget. With the presidential inauguration just days away, our state's residents should be focused on the pride we share in one of Illinois' own becoming president of the United States. Sadly, we are forced to deal with the embarrassing impeachment of our governor.

If there is a silver lining in this dark cloud, it is the hope that this experience will lead to real and lasting ethics reforms. As the second largest city in the state, Aurora should be a leader in ethics reform. We should not hesitate to quickly and thoroughly review current ethics laws, ordinances and practices. We should identify improper dealings and pass new ordinances, if necessary, to eliminate opportunities for pay-to-play politics locally.

I am committed to real ethics reform. As part of this effort I will host a town hall meeting, entitled "Ethics Reform for City Government," on Jan. 29. At this meeting, Aurora residents will have an opportunity to learn from experts about ethics reforms and the need for transparency in all levels of government.

The purpose of this forum is simple -- to make certain that those of us who serve in public office do not violate the public trust we have been elected to uphold. Together we can ensure that the state's ethical problem of today will not be Aurora's problems tomorrow.

Richard Irvin Alderman At Large

"Ethics Reform for City Government," on Jan. 29 at the Prisco Center in Aurora, 150 W. Illinois Ave. 6:30 p.m.

A Kifowit crossover: Loan to Irvin in 2005; now he's her opponent
AURORA BEACON-NEWS
January 9, 2009 - By DAN CAMPANA dcampana@scn1.com

AURORA -- Alderman Richard Irvin can count on having at least one fewer supporter in his run for mayor this time around.

In 2005, Alderman Stephanie Kifowit spent about $1,000 to back Irvin as he prepared to take on now-Mayor Tom Weisner, according to state records that describe the money as a loan.

Kifowit said the money went to buy items for which she was reimbursed by Irvin's campaign. Kifowit did so because at the time she found Irvin a better match to her perspectives in several areas, including as a military veteran.

"I thought he brought a new perspective," she said Thursday. "I thought it was a good idea to have a change of pace and fresh ideas."

The script is different in 2009, when Kifowit describes Irvin as being "in line" with the present administration and wanting to maintain the city's status quo.

"To me, it's not about the title; it's about changing government," Kifowit said.

Irvin says he "respects and appreciates" Kifowit's opinions and the backing she gave last time, but discounted her thoughts as talk of a political opponent.

"She knows I've not been aligned with the administration," Irvin offered, noting he didn't immediately recall Kifowit's contribution.

Kifowit knows about Irvin's policy disagreements with Weisner, Irvin suggests, even if he isn't always publicly vocal about them. He believes Kifowit supported him in 2005 because of his energy and dedication to Aurora residents. Irvin still believes in the same things he did in 2005 -- economic development and job growth, among them.

So what's different in his eyes?

"I am older and wiser," he quipped.

Three run for mayor, 4th Ward as filing period ends
AURORA BEACON-NEWS
December 16, 2008 - By ANDRE SALLES asalles@scn1.com

AURORA -- Next year's city elections have finally taken shape, as the deadline to file came and went Monday afternoon. The last few days offered only one big surprise, and his name is Chuck Norris.

No, not that Chuck Norris. This Norris is a 32-year-old letter carrier and former police officer and Marine, who filed to run for the 4th Ward seat on the City Council. Norris said he has dreamed of running for office for years -- he was born and raised in the 4th Ward -- and his job gives him a man-on-the-street perspective on the city's issues.

Candidates for April
AURORA

• Mayor:
Richard Irvin, 2701 Shetland Lane
Stephanie Kifowit, 409 E. Park Ave.
Tom Weisner, 1822 Prairie Street (I)

• Alderman, at large:
Bob O'Connor, 118 S. Commonwealth Ave. (I)

• Alderman, Ward 2:
Juany Garza, 752 E. Galena Blvd. (I)

• Alderman, Ward 4:
Hal Beebee, 902 W. Galena Blvd.
Rick Lawrence, 27 S. Calumet Ave. (I)
Chuck Norris, 316 S. Lake St.

• Alderman, Ward 7:
Scheketa Hart-Burns, 246 N. Sumner Ave. (I)

• Alderman, Ward 8:
Rick Mervine, 690 Waterbury Drive (I)
Jason Minalga, 2935 Dorothy Drive

• Alderman, Ward 9:
Leroy Keith, 2582 Sagamore Circle (I)
Michael Ochs, 1382 Andover Drive

• Alderman, Ward 10:
Lynda Elmore, 2425 Legacy Drive (I)

"I was in the Marine Corps, so I'm used to being aggressive," said Norris, who served overseas in both Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"There's always a simple answer for everything, but you have to please both sides."

With Norris in, the 4th Ward is officially the most hotly contested council seat -- Alderman Rick Lawrence is running for re-election, and Hal Beebee will also challenge him. Norris had nothing but kind words for Lawrence; Lawrence said he'd never met his latest challenger.

Even this three-way race is not enough to trigger a primary election -- under new state rules, it takes five candidates going for one seat to do that. Aurora's general election is set for April 7, 2009.

As expected, the mayor's race remains the same as it was on the first day of filing, with Mayor Tom Weisner facing Aldermen Stephanie Kifowit and Richard Irvin. Weisner defeated Irvin in 2005. Irvin won one of the City Council's two at-large positions two years later. This will be Kifowit's first mayoral run.

Two far East Side aldermen will face challengers. Rick Mervine, aiming for his first full term in the 8th Ward after replacing Chris Beykirch, is being challenged by Jason Minalga. Alderman Leroy Keith, 9th Ward, will face off with Michael Ochs as he goes for his third term.

Four aldermen will run unopposed -- Bob O'Connor, at large; Juany Garza, 2nd Ward; Scheketa Hart-Burns, 7th Ward; and Lynda Elmore, 10th Ward. O'Connor will serve his seventh term on the council, Hart-Burns her fifth, Elmore her third and Garza her second, beginning in April of next year.

Local name surfaces in Blago scandal
AURORA BEACON-NEWS
December 13, 2008 - By DAN CAMPANA Staff Writer

AURORA -- News of old Copley Hospital owner Raghuveer Nayak's name surfacing in Gov. Rod Blagojevich's alleged Senate-seat-for-sale plan left Mayor Tom Weisner "very surprised," a top aide said Friday.

"Seeing Raghu in this context, it surprised him," Assistant Chief of Staff Carie Anne Ergo said.

Published reports on Friday stated Nayak was among a group of Indian businessmen who discussed raising at least $1 million for Blagojevich's campaign as a way to encourage him to select state Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. for the Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

A federal complaint against Blagojevich, which led to his arrest Tuesday, alleged the governor was looking to gain personally and professionally from his Senate selection.
Nayak, 54, of Oak Brook, became known locally last year when it was revealed he was behind a trust that paid $1.2 million to buy the decaying old Copley Hospital in February 2007. State finance reports show Nayak, through his businesses, donated $12,500 to Weisner's campaign between 2005 and 2007.

In an interview last year, Nayak told The Beacon News he'd been interested in the near East Side building for several years before buying it, and called Weisner a friend.
Ergo said Nayak -- once a member of Blagojevich's transition team -- and Weisner met each other "a couple of years before" the mayor brought Nayak to the table with members of Guiding Light Community Development Corporation, the old hospital's previous owner. The eventual purchase was financed by Mutual Bank, whose CEO is Amrish Mahajan, a top Blagojevich fundraiser.

Nayak plans to open a surgical center and senior living at the site, but a state application to do so has muddled through the process most of this year. It is slated for a January hearing.

Ergo said, to her knowledge, no outside influence has contributed to how long it has taken to get the center approved. Discussions about the project have involved Weisner, as recently as last month, and high-ranking city officials.

The suggestion of Nayak in connection to a pay-to-play deal has Weisner concerned about the "overall impact on this (Copley) property," Ergo said.

Describing Nayak as a property owner with no pending business before the city, Ergo said Nayak's dealings with Weisner have been above board.

"Mayor Weisner indicated Raghu had never asked him to do anything illegal to advance his interests," Ergo said, adding the mayor "found Nayak to be honorable and community-minded."

Nayak, according to reports, sponsored an October luncheon in Schaumburg, as well as a Dec. 6 fundraiser, both of which were attended by Blagojevich. Nayak and Jackson have discussed Jackson's desire to succeed Obama, but Jackson never asked him to do anything, the published reports said.

"I know him as a man of character. I know him as a great friend," Jackson told the Chicago Sun-Times. "I pray for him, and I am confident I didn't ask him to do anything that is suggested in the complaint that would violate the law."

Jackson has been identified as "Senate Candidate 5," who allegedly sent an emissary to suggest a pay-to-play scenario for the Senate seat, the federal complaint stated. A lawyer for Nayak told the Sun-Times his client did not know if Nayak was the emissary referred to in the complaint.

"We do not know who that would be," lawyer Thomas P. Conley said. "Other than that, we don't have any comment."

The Chicago Sun-Times contributed to this story.

Game on: Three file for Aurora mayoral run
AURORA BEACON-NEWS
December 9, 2008 - By DAN CAMPANA Staff Writer

Weisner, Kifowit, Irvin hint at platforms

AURORA -- Mayoral Showdown 2009 got off to a chilly start in a literal, if not somewhat figurative, sense Monday morning.

Mayor Tom Weisner and Aldermen Stephanie Kifowit and Richard Irvin wasted no time in submitting petitions to get

The trio, joined by family and supporters, huddled in and around the Aurora Election Commission's entrance to await the filing period's start.

Once the petitions were in, the candidates laid some early groundwork for what appears to be a three-way contest that culminates April 7.

Weisner, the incumbent, touted a city with positive economic activity even amid the nationwide downturn, a rising quality of life and less crime as highlights of his first term.

"I think it's an overall sense of moving forward," Weisner responded when asked what would resonate most with voters. "I feel there was definitely a need to ... complete a number of things over the next four years."

Weisner plans to run on his record, while expecting Irvin and Kifowit to tout their qualifications for the city's top job. The challengers on Monday offered a hint of where they'll be headed over the coming months.

Kifowit, in her second term as 3rd Ward alderman, expects a race about fiscal responsibility. She says a lot of money has been spent, but few results are apparent.
"I see nothing happening," Kifowit said.

In a call for "true, fundamental change," Kifowit wants better checks-and-balances and separation of powers within city government. Kifowit has also said she wants a city manager form of government in Aurora.

Irvin didn't officially declare himself a candidate until Saturday, but that didn't quell frequent chatter that he was interested in a rematch with Weisner.

"Nothing's changed. I've always wanted to be mayor ... to give back to the community that has given me so much," Irvin said after filing his petitions.

Irvin turned to the people, he said, to find out if there was interest in another mayoral run. What he found was a "groundswell of support." His focus will be on economic development and improving the perception of public safety in Aurora, he said.

An at-large alderman since 2006, Irvin used his recent kick-off speech to proclaim the Weisner administration's failure to plan for the city's future.

Speaking of the future, Weisner said he wouldn't be running if health issues clouded his ability to run for office or do the job itself. The mayor underwent cancer surgery in September, his second such procedure in two years.

"There isn't anything to worry about," Weisner said.

In fact, the mayor supplied a note from his doctor Monday about the success of his treatment.

"I have reviewed all recent scan, X-ray and lab reports. I am pleased to report there is no evidence of residual cancer at this time," Dr. Steven B. Newman of Chicago said in the note.

Asked about what type of campaign to expect, Kifowit said she foresees "going door-to-door, putting a lot of miles on my shoes," while also raising criticism about Weisner's approach.

"I anticipate everything," Kifowit said, explaining she wouldn't be surprised to have her petitions challenged.

"Now it begins," Irvin offered.

The filing period continues through Dec. 15

Dozens seek suburban mayor, council posts as next election season opens
DAILY HERALD
December 8, 2008 - Published: 12/8/2008 10:37 AM | Updated: 12/8/2008 6:50 PM

AURORA
No surprises in city races (5:43p.m.)

The opening of candidate filing for Aurora's spring municipal election yielded few surprises Monday.

The six incumbent aldermanic candidates and the three previously declared mayoral candidates, including incumbent Tom Weisner, all showed up before the doors of the Aurora Election Commission opened at 9 a.m.

Candidates have until the end of business Dec. 15 to file their nominating petitions, but the incumbent aldermen have secured their positions atop the ballot by being the first to register.

A lottery will be held within nine days of the last day of filing to determine if Weisner or his mayoral challengers, Ward 3 Alderman Stephanie Kifowit or Alderman at Large Richard Irvin, will have the top ballot spot.

Ward 8 Alderman Rick Mervine said it was important to be there early to show voters he is serious about the job and also assure top ballot position.

"For me, the work I'm doing is important and I want voters to see that," he said. "Everybody's got their own timetable and mine was to show up early."

Mervine will be challenged in the Eighth Ward by lifelong resident Jason Minalga, a business developer, who filed just before the commission closed Monday evening.
"Our city is being run very similar to the out of control spending we're seeing at the state," Minalga said. "We've got too many friends of the program running things and that needs to change. I'd like a chance to represent the people and help put city in a better spot than where it is today."

Alderman at Large Robert O'Connor, Ward 2 Alderman Juany Garza, Ward 4 Alderman Rick Lawrence, Ward 7 Alderman Scheketa Hart-Burns, Ward 9 Alderman Leroy Keith and Ward 10 Alderman Lynda Elmore also filed Monday. Hal Beebee II also has filed to challenge Lawrence in the Fourth Ward.

In the past, three candidates for any Aurora city hall race would have forced a primary, but changes to the election law now require more than four candidates to require a primary. Without a primary, all the candidates will be on the April 7 general election ballot.

Kifowit believes the three-way race for mayor doesn't favor any single candidate and the contest will be won by the candidate who is able to best relay their message.
"I think there's a pro and a con to everything," she said. "There are many things that I'll be critical about, but not negative or slanderous. There's a bunch of money being spent on projects that are going nowhere."

Irvin said his campaign will focus on the economy and employment.

"For the last four years we've had a mayor focusing on social services, which is fine, but now we need a mayor that's going to bring jobs to Aurora," he said.

Weisner is wrapping up his first term and said the city is doing better after four years under his watch than in previous years.

"Crime is greatly reduced and the quality of life is up," he said. "Overall, there's a sense we're moving in the right direction."

In September, Weisner had surgery to remove colorectal cancer from his liver. It was his second bout with the disease during his tenure as mayor.

"There isn't anything to worry about," he said. "I wouldn't run if I didn't think I'd be able to do the job."
-- Jake Griffin

Three file for Aurora mayor post
AURORA BEACON-NEWS
December 8, 2008 - By DAN CAMPANA Staff Writer

Incumbent Weisner, two aldermen file to be on April ballot

AURORA – No early surprises marked the early hours of candidate filings for Aurora's April elections.

Mayor Tom Weisner, and aldermen Stephanie Kifowit and Richard Irvin, formally joined the race for mayor. Weisner and Kifowith announced their plans months ago, while Irvin jumped in on Saturday after weeks of speculation.

Weisner said he plans to run on his record during his first term and expects his opponents to tout their experience and against his accomplishments since 2005. Irvin described his appeal as someone who went from low-income housing to owning his own law firm over the years in Aurora. Kifowit wants fundamental change in the city, and plans to hit the streets heavily during her campaign.

The seven aldermen facing re-election all submitted nominating petitions during the first minutes of the filing period opening, but none of the expected challengers immediately did so.

The filing period for the April 7 election continues through Dec. 15. No primary elections will take place unless five candidates file for a particular seat.

Irvin announces his second bid for mayor
AURORA BEACON-NEWS
December 7, 2008 - By ANDRE SALLES asalles@scn1.com

AURORA -- Standing in the Grand Boulevard Youth Center where he played as a child, just down the street from the house his grandparents built decades ago, Alderman Richard Irvin kicked off his second campaign for mayor of Aurora Saturday.
And he made no bones about it -- he's running because he believes Mayor Tom Weisner has financially mismanaged the city over the last four years.
"There are those who say we are doing good, we are making progress," Irvin told a group of roughly 60 supporters Saturday afternoon. "To that I say, if we expect mediocrity, we will get mediocrity. If we demand greatness, we will achieve greatness."

Rumors have been swirling for months that Irvin, a native East Sider who owns a law practice on Broadway, has been gearing up for another run at the mayor's office. Irvin lost to Weisner in 2005, but two years later won one of the two at-large City Council positions.

As he did four years ago, Irvin called for "new energy and renewed vision" in the mayor's office. He took aim at some of Weisner's largest projects, including the River Edge Park -- he chastised the mayor for committing millions of taxpayer money without "securing a buy-in from the business community to offset the costs" -- and the new police station on Indian Trail, which will cost around $100 million, with all soft costs included.

Irvin also took Weisner to task for "giving $5 million to a developer to move dirt around for three years," a reference to Kent Shodeen's EastBank project. Shodeen hopes to build a minimum of 900 residential units in high-rise buildings on 34 acres near the waterfront. That project was approved in 2006, but as of yet, Shodeen has not received an all-clear to build from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

Irvin contends that had these projects been managed more tightly, the city would not be feeling the budget crunch as the economy continues its downturn.

"This administration," Irvin charged, "has failed to plan for our future and protect the citizens of Aurora."

Weisner said Saturday he is not surprised to see Irvin jumping into the mayor's race. But he took issue with the alderman's depiction of Aurora's fortunes, touting Aurora's high state bond rating and low unemployment rate.

And he noted that economic development continues despite the economic downturn -- the city recently welcomed Freudenberg Household Products, makers of O-Cedar cleaning products, who will relocate its North American headquarters to the city next year, creating more than 100 jobs. Referencing EastBank, Weisner simply said that some projects take longer than others, and he pointed out that the park grew from ideas presented by the business community.

"The fact is, the economy has slowed down, and that's affecting everybody," Weisner said. "But even there, we're faring better than a lot of communities."

Irvin's entry into the race sets up a rematch of the 2005 campaign, which became heated by the end. Much of the animosity surrounded a flier Irvin's camp circulated that accused Weisner of contaminating the city's water supply. Irvin apologized for the misinformation then, and said Saturday that his campaign will be "classy and above-board and will stick to the issues."

Weisner remains skeptical: "We'll see if this (campaign) rises to a higher level or not."
And what of Alderman Stephanie Kifowit, the first of the three mayoral candidates to announce her campaign? Kifowit said she is "pleased to see Richard supports my platform, and glad to see there's another alderman who sees there are issues with this city."

Though Kifowit and Irvin share some concerns, their approach differs -- Kifowit would like to move to a city manager form of government, which she believes will take the politics out of the day-to-day operation of the city. She said Irvin's entrance into the race doesn't change much, adding that often in races with two well-known candidates, the vote is split between them, leaving the path clear for a third.

The filing period for the April 2009 election begins Monday. All three current mayoral candidates said they would file on the first day.

Irvin in or out of Aurora mayor's race? Alderman says he will announce intentions soon
AURORA BEACON-NEWS
November 27, 2008 - By ANDRE SALLES and Dan Campana

Is Richard Irvin running for mayor?

The at-large alderman is still playing his cards close to the vest, but paperwork filed Wednesday in Springfield points toward him taking the plunge again.

Irvin for Aurora, the committee formed in 2007 to support Irvin's run for the City Council, filed an amended statement of organization on Wednesday. John Aguilar, the man listed on that paperwork as the chairman of that committee, said Irvin is putting his team together.

'To my knowledge, he's running," Aguilar said Wednesday. "He's getting his core people involved."

According to Irvin, the amended D-1 was filed because the Aurora Election Commission requires it, to obtain "the kind of information you have when you consider whether you're going to run for office." He said there were minimal changes from the last D-1, filed in January of 2007.

He also said he has not had any formal discussions with Aguilar about serving on a committee for a mayoral run. Aguilar's name, Irvin said, has remained on the paperwork since 2005. Aguilar backed Irvin up on this, saying he has had some conversations with him, but not met with him to discuss his place in a possible campaign.

Aguilar served as chairman of Irvin's committee in 2004 and 2005, when the Aurora-born lawyer made his first run for mayor. Irvin was defeated by Tom Weisner, but later won election to one of the City Council's two at-large seats.

Irvin would not say whether he is running, but said Wednesday's filing falls in line with preparations he is making, should he opt to run. Earlier this month, Irvin began circulating petitions to "explore a run for mayor of Aurora in 2009," but said these were just his way of taking the pulse of the city, to gauge support for him as a candidate.

"Decisions will be made within the next week or so," Irvin said Wednesday.

The filing period for the April 2009 election begins Dec. 8 and ends Dec. 15.