In a very pointed speech in May, Weisner drew clear connections between his health and the decision to seek a second term. A combination of soul searching, a clean diagnosis and a love for his job convinced Weisner that serving another four years as the city's leader was no longer a question, he told a crowd of supporters. Wilson said the campaign does not intend to make a public statement about Weisner's September cancer scare, believing it's enough just to mingle with voters and show Weisner out on the campaign trail. A recent fundraiser that drew about 300 people gave positive vibes about the race. "Events like this tell me the voters are extremely enthusiastic about this race, regardless of what other candidates choose to enter," Wilson said. Tom Weisner, elected mayor of Aurora, IL in 2005, served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Solomon Islands.
Mayor Tom Weisner's campaign made it clear this week that his re-election bid remains on track after his cancer surgery
Aurora mayor: Rumor mill abuzz about possible new challengers
October 11, 2008
By DAN CAMPANA AND ANDRES SALLES dcampana@scn1.com asalles@scn1.com
AURORA -- Mayor Tom Weisner's campaign made it clear this week that his re-election bid remains on track after his cancer surgery last month.
"We're in it to win it," campaign manager Mike Wilson said definitively on Friday.
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Tom Weisner
The campaign has circulated petitions and talked with voters, Wilson said. As far he knows, the mayor's health "will not affect the race whatsoever."
In September, Weisner underwent his second surgery for cancer in 17 months. He had been declared cancer-free earlier this year after six months of chemotherapy, but recent tests indicated an isolated growth on his liver. Doctors were positive about Weisner's prognosis after the surgery, which effectively melted the growth.
As Wilson publicly quelled speculation about Weisner's future, chatter about new challengers joining the mix for April's election has only increased.
Among those names are Alderman Richard Irvin (who lost to Weisner in 2005), Weisner's Assistant Chief of Staff Chuck Nelson and former Alderman Chris Beykirch.
Beykirch denied rumors he might eye a mayoral run, saying he is "100 percent supportive of Mayor Weisner, and it's not even appropriate to speculate. I have no reason to doubt that he's running again."
Nelson squelched the idea because of his off-time work in support of Weisner.
"No, absolutely not," he said. "As far as I know, the mayor's running."
Irvin, however, hasn't reached any conclusions.
"Nothing about my desires to be mayor have changed since 2005," Irvin said. "I haven't made any decisions yet."
Irvin said he has done nothing to initiate a campaign. He and Weisner have discussed the mayor's health privately, he said, and he called for focus on the issue before it becomes a "political free-for-all."
"This is a very delicate situation," Irvin said. "Tom has to make a decision for himself, his family and his future."
In a very pointed speech in May, Weisner drew clear connections between his health and the decision to seek a second term. A combination of soul searching, a clean diagnosis and a love for his job convinced Weisner that serving another four years as the city's leader was no longer a question, he told a crowd of supporters.
Wilson said the campaign does not intend to make a public statement about Weisner's September cancer scare, believing it's enough just to mingle with voters and show Weisner out on the campaign trail. A recent fundraiser that drew about 300 people gave positive vibes about the race.
"Events like this tell me the voters are extremely enthusiastic about this race, regardless of what other candidates choose to enter," Wilson said.
Weisner's two announced opponents -- Aldermen Rick Lawrence and Stephanie Kifowit -- maintained Weisner's health and related plans don't impact their campaigns.
Although Kifowit is "hoping and praying that the mayor recovers," she said his presence in a mayoral contest -- or that of any new candidates -- will not change her main platform: calling for a city manager style of government.
Lawrence has long maintained he's not running against Weisner, saying he seeks the office on Downer Place to fix the city's ills.
The filing period for candidate petitions begins Dec. 8.
