Aurora alderman joins mayoral race

Aurora's Fourth Ward is a "perfect microcosm" of the city, Alderman Rick Lawrence says, so it makes perfect sense that his experience there will make him an ideal candidate for mayor.

Lawrence said Friday he will run for the city's top spot in April 2009 and when the dust settles he expects to go toe to toe with incumbent Tom Weisner.

Third Ward Alderman Stephanie Kifowit already announced her candidacy for mayor earlier this month and vowed Friday to be in the race until the end.

Lawrence is scheduled to make his official announcement during a rally at 2 p.m. Sunday at Walter Payton's Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway.

He said Friday he's excited about the momentum and interest that talk of his candidacy already has generated.

"People are pumped up about me running and lining up to help out," he said. "My supporters are awesome."

A 20-year resident, Lawrence said he and his family hit a crossroads six years ago regarding whether they would remain in Aurora. He decided to stay, but only if he could devote time to making the city a better place.

He believes he's accomplished that during his first term in the Fourth Ward -- which is west of the Fox River -- and is ready to take charge of the city.

"We are a microcosm in the Fourth Ward because we've got some of the best neighborhoods and some of the most challenging," he said. "But we all work together to succeed."

His platform, he said, will focus on prudent spending and his ability to be an independent thinker.

"Look at the moves we've made with our downtown development, especially the Eastbank project, and the way we just keep throwing money at useless things," he said of the 26-acre parcel set for mixed retail and residential development next year. "Whether projects will work or not is irrelevant as long as we get a chance to throw money around. And it looks like we're going to keep throwing the money."

He also vows to "respect" the city's police officers by negotiating with them for the contract they have lacked during the past year.

Lawrence bashed Kifowit's primary platform initiative to hire a city manager to run the city's day-to-day business.

"That's the first time I've ever heard someone run for an office or apply for a job by saying they're not qualified to do it and want to hand it off to someone else," he said.

Kifowit disregarded the comment, saying she's poised for Lawrence to "run a slanderous race."

"I'm in my second term as an alderman and I have a master's in public administration that makes me more than qualified," she said.

Weisner was unavailable for comment Friday and has not said whether he will seek re-election.