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Mayor: Aurora alderman should resign after theft conviction

Citing a 2013 shoplifting conviction, Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner is calling for the resignation of an Aurora alderman.

Weisner said he recently discovered Ward 10 Alderman Lynne Johnson pleaded guilty to retail theft after stealing from a Meijer store on Route 59, which is in her district, on Aug. 18, 2013, according to a city news release.

Johnson and a companion, Gregg Dickey, pleaded guilty to retail theft after leaving the store without paying for items valued at $150, the release said. It also cites a police report stating that seven of the items were recovered from Johnson's purse, while several others were placed in grocery bags without being purchased.

Kane County court records show Johnson pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft on Sept. 3, 2013, and was granted supervision. Dickey also pleaded guilty to the same charge. Both paid $300 fines. The pair lived on the 400 block of Plaza Place in Aurora at the time of the arrest, city officials said.

Weisner said he met with Johnson, who is in her first term, earlier Monday and urged her to step down immediately.

“Not only did Alderman Johnson steal from a taxpayer in her own ward, she concealed her crime from her constituents and the City Council for more than 19 months,” he said. “This was not a personal crime without a victim. Her actions have broken the public trust and disgraced the City of Aurora. Based on her deceitful and untrustworthy behavior, there is no doubt in my mind that she can no longer effectively serve the residents and businesses of the city of Aurora.”

Johnson was arrested about six months after being sworn in as alderman. She did not return calls for comment.

Lynne Johnson
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