A Proposal to Change How Aurora is Run Sparks Debate
A local leader in Aurora is pushing for a major change in how the city is run. Alderman Carl Franco has launched a new campaign to replace the current system of government with one managed by a hired professional. This move is designed to shift the city away from its traditional mayor-led system.
Franco, who represents the city's fifth ward, has created a dedicated website and formed an official group to promote the idea. He believes that a city of Aurora's size, with its large population and complex budget, needs a highly trained professional at the helm rather than an elected politician.
Why Move to a Professional City Manager?
The main goal of the proposal is to bring more professionalism and stability to local government operations. Under the proposed system, a city manager would handle the day-to-day operations of Aurora. This manager would be hired by the city council based on their education, training, and experience in municipal management.
Franco argues that running a modern city requires specialized skills. He points out that a professional manager typically holds advanced degrees and certifications in public administration. In his view, this background makes them far more qualified to handle a large budget and complex public services than an elected mayor, who might win an office based on popularity rather than administrative skill. He also suggests that this change would help reduce partisan politics in local government decisions.
The Road to the Ballot Box
To make this change a reality, local voters must approve the transition. Franco wants to place a referendum question on the ballot during a future spring election. However, getting the measure before voters requires meeting strict rules set by state election officials.
To qualify for the ballot, the campaign must complete several steps:
- Gather Signatures: The group must collect at least 1,900 valid signatures from local residents.
- Exceed the Goal: To ensure they have enough valid names, the campaign is aiming to collect double the required amount, or about 3,800 signatures.
- Meet the Deadline: All signatures must be submitted by a late-year deadline prior to the election.
- Current Progress: The team has already gathered more than 300 signatures to start their effort.
Franco has already registered an official campaign committee with the state election board to oversee the fundraising and petition drive.
Who is Supporting the Effort?
The campaign is backed by a group of local leaders and former public servants. The committee includes several notable members who support the transition to a manager-led system:
- Daniel Barreiro, the current alderman for the first ward.
- Emmanuel Llamas, a former alderman who is currently running to fill the fifth-ward seat.
- Bill Catching, the Aurora Township supervisor.
- Sherman Jenkins, a former at-large alderman.
- Robin Weaver, a retired city manager who serves as a senior advisor for an international association focused on local government management.
The campaign is also receiving help from a professional organization dedicated to city and county management. This association has provided educational materials and plans to help cover some of the committee's expenses. Representatives from the group are also expected to speak at local events to explain how manager-led systems work in other communities.
Llamas, who is chairing the committee, recently stepped down from his previous public role to care for his father. He is now running to succeed Franco, who has announced he will not seek a fourth term. While both men support the government change and each other, they emphasize that the election campaign and the government-change petition are entirely separate efforts.
Funding the Campaign
Running a campaign to change a city's charter requires resources. Pages on the state registry show that several individuals, including Franco, have already contributed money. The campaign plans to use its website to collect more donations.
The money raised will be used for several key purposes:
- Paying for legal fees to ensure all petition paperwork is correct.
- Creating and mailing informational packets to residents.
- Running educational campaigns on social media.
- Hosting public events to answer questions from voters.
The website is designed to be a central hub where residents can learn how a city manager system works, sign up to volunteer, and find dates for upcoming public meetings.
The Case for Keeping an Elected Mayor
Not everyone agrees that changing the government structure is a good idea. Aurora Mayor John Laesch has spoken out in favor of keeping the existing system. He believes that having an elected mayor keeps the power where it belongs: with the voters.
Laesch argues that an elected leader is directly accountable to the public. If citizens are unhappy with the direction of the city, they have the opportunity to vote the mayor out of office every four years. In contrast, removing a hired city manager can be a much more difficult and complicated process that does not directly involve a public vote.
Additionally, Laesch disputes the idea that a city manager would remove politics or corruption from local government. He notes that wherever there is a large budget and public funds, there will always be people trying to influence how that money is spent. In his view, having an engaged public and a clear, voter-approved vision from an elected mayor is the best way to run a city.
Upcoming Community Discussions
To help residents understand both sides of the issue, the campaign has scheduled three public town hall meetings. These events will give community members a chance to ask questions and learn more about how the proposed change would impact their daily lives.
The meetings will take place in the evening at two local venues, including the downtown public library on River Street and a local community center on Eola Road. Organizers encourage all interested residents to attend and participate in the discussion before deciding how to vote.