Aurora library and chamber to sponsor five candidate meet-and-greets
The Aurora Public Library and the Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring informal meet-and-greets for voters to get to know mayoral, aldermanic, park district, West Aurora Unit District 129 and East Aurora Unit District 131 board candidates vying for seats in the April 4 election.
"Today's libraries are sites for civic engagement," said Daisy Porter-Reynolds, executive director of Aurora Public Library. "I'm happy we can provide these opportunities for Aurora residents to speak with the candidates and make informed decisions ahead of election day."
All of the meet-and-greets will begin at 6:30 p.m. and conclude at 8 p.m.
Eleven Fox Valley Park District candidates vying for seven seats have been invited to the first meet-and-greet on Monday, March 20, at the Richard and Gina Santori Public Library, 101 S. River St. This will be the first elected board in the park district's 70-year history.
The candidates (and their districts) are:
• 1st District: Charles Anderson, Aurora; Matt Hicks Jr., Aurora
• 2nd District: Jerry Butler, Aurora; Mary Anne Cummings, Aurora; LuAnne Kelsey, Montgomery; Elizabeth "Beth" Waller, Montgomery
• 3rd District: Cynthia G. Penne, Aurora; Giovanni Santana, Aurora; Holly Scholz, Aurora; Roger Schnorr, Aurora
• At-Large: Alexander G. Alexandrou, Aurora.
The board members will be elected from geographic areas dividing the 65-square-mile park district. One at-large seat will be elected from the entire park district.
On Wednesday, March 22, the meet-and-greet will feature West Aurora school board candidates at the library's West Branch, 233 S. Constitution Drive.
Four candidates are vying for three open seats in that race: Rich Kerns and Christopher Sparks, both of North Aurora, and incumbent Valerie Dykstra and Joseph Grisson, both of Aurora.
The two candidates for Aurora mayor, Richard E. Guzman and Richard C. Irvin, will speak with voters in a casual setting on Monday, March 27, in the Dunham Atrium of the Santori Public Library.
Alderman-at-large candidates Matt Harrington and Robert J. O'Connor, and Ward 10 aldermanic candidates Keith Bradley, Judd Lofchie and Robert H. Paolicchi, will greet the public on Wednesday, March 29, in the Dunham Atrium.
Incumbent city council members in Wards 2, 4, 7 and 9 are running unopposed. Citizens will cast a vote for one at-large council member on their April 4 ballot, as mayoral candidate Irvin's seat is not up for re-election this year. Should Irvin win the election, he would appoint his successor. Should Guzman win, Irvin will remain an at-large alderman.
Also on Wednesday, March 29, East Aurora Unit District 131 school board candidates will greet the public in Rooms 125 and 126 of the Santori Library.
Four candidates are running for three open seats: Dan Barreiro, Anna Ishmael, incumbent Annette Johnson and Bruce Schubert.
Refreshments will be served. Call (630) 264-4125 for information.