If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If you've been paying attention over the last few months, you've probably heard Mayor Tom Weisner say that phrase a few times. It's the central message of his re-election campaign – the city is on the right track, he says, and the future looks bright. While his two opponents, Aldermen Richard Irvin and Stephanie Kifowit, have hammered him from both sides during this election season, Weisner has stuck to his story. Yes, the national economy is bad, and it's had an effect on local economic growth, but Weisner believes Aurora is poised to take full advantage of a recovering market. Yes, the city has a substantial amount of debt, and yes, taxes were raised to cover the cost of building a new police station, but Aurorans are getting value for their money, he says. Weisner has honed his vision of the city over nearly 20 years, moving up through the ranks. He's headed up various city departments, including emergency management and public properties. This followed four years in the Peace Corps, living and working in the Solomon Islands.
Weisner’s vision: Following through
Weisner’s vision: Following through
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March 22, 2009
By ANDRE SALLES asalles@scn1.com
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
If you've been paying attention over the last few months, you've probably heard Mayor Tom Weisner say that phrase a few times. It's the central message of his re-election campaign – the city is on the right track, he says, and the future looks bright.
While his two opponents, Aldermen Richard Irvin and Stephanie Kifowit, have hammered him from both sides during this election season, Weisner has stuck to his story.
Yes, the national economy is bad, and it's had an effect on local economic growth, but Weisner believes Aurora is poised to take full advantage of a recovering market. Yes, the city has a substantial amount of debt, and yes, taxes were raised to cover the cost of building a new police station, but Aurorans are getting value for their money, he says.
Weisner has honed his vision of the city over nearly 20 years, moving up through the ranks. He's headed up various city departments, including emergency management and public properties. This followed four years in the Peace Corps, living and working in the Solomon Islands.
Now Weisner, 59, is running for his second term, after a first marked by big projects with big price tags. Most visibly, there's that new police station – the total cost is expected to run upward of $120 million, including the new emergency radio system and other associated expenses. Weisner's first budget, unveiled in 2005, included a property tax increase to pay for the construction of that station.
Less visibly, the Weisner administration budgeted millions each year to ramp up the separation of downtown storm and sanitary sewers, which he says has made more development possible. He's borrowed millions to start creating the River Edge Park, which will eventually encompass both sides of the river, in an area just north of downtown.
The city has also has spent about $4.6 million on developer Kent Shodeen's EastBank project, which has been delayed by environmental problems and ongoing negotiations with ComEd. Weisner has been criticized for this, but believes the project will happen, and says partnering with a developer to clean up that property was the best course for the city to take.
If he's right about each of these things, including his belief that a downtown restaurant like Ballydoyle will draw other establishments like it to the city, then Aurora could look very different at the end of a second Weisner term. But with the economic downturn continuing, cutbacks have been necessary – the city instituted a hiring freeze last year, for example, and the River Edge Park project has slowed down while the city seeks financial buy-in from local businesses.
Weisner's opponents have criticized him for what they see as wild spending, but he believes the city has been responsible, tackling projects that have remained undone for too long. The city is "facing a difficult time, but responding appropriately," he said.
Weisner sees a continued reduction in crime over the next four years – statistics released last month show crime numbers at a 30-year low in the city. And he sees new improvements in city services in the future as well.
In short, Weisner believes the city is better off now than it was when he took office in 2005, and will keep getting better if he's re-elected. He's had a tough first term personally – he fought through two bouts with cancer, and lost his son Thaddeus, who died in January 2006.
And even though he's softened his edges, he remains uncomfortable in the spotlight. But he believes in the change he's working toward, and thinks the future he sees for his city is worth it.
"We've made great strides," he said, "but there is much work to be done."
