Weisner confirms run for re-election

Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner confirmed Tuesday he intends to seek re-election in 2009 but his official announcement is not scheduled until May 22.

Weisner said he wanted to make sure the time was right and that he would have the community support behind him before publicly announcing his bid for his second four-year term leading Aurora.

"I wanted to make sure I had a good sense of the community and what they're looking for," he said. "And I've got a pretty good sense of this community so the time is right."

He also wants to see completion of some of the projects begun during his first term, including the new police headquarters, the planned River's Edge Park and installation of an underground fiber optic network linking the city's facilities.

"We're going to talk about those accomplishments during the campaign and we're going to talk about seeing them through and then deciding what else we can accomplish," he said. "Our residents know that when you've got so much on your plate like that, that it takes some time to get those things done."

Two people who would rather not see Weisner lead the completion, Third Ward Alderman Stephanie Kifowit and Fourth Ward Alderman Rick Lawrence, were unfazed by Weisner's decision to join them in the 2009 mayoral race.

"It doesn't faze me at all because I've expected this since I announced I was running," Kifowit said Tuesday. "I'm running my campaign on serious issues and fundamentals. I enjoy the competition so I'm expecting a good, competitive race."

Lawrence also expected Weisner's entry into the race, but said it won't alter his campaign strategy either.

"He's got to run on his record and if you look at it, that's an advantage for me," Lawrence said. "His projects fail and he can't see anything through to the end. We've got two different philosophies on how a city should be run so I'm looking forward to him running this race on his record of not getting anything done."

Weisner, however, said his opponents wouldn't affect his run either.

"I don't do anything based on what other politicians are doing or threatening to do," Weisner said. "What they decide to do has nothing to do with how I'm going to talk about accomplishments we've shared in the last few years and the success we can celebrate in the future."

Those wanting a more detailed description of his platform will have to wait until May 22, when he plans on discussing it in more depth.

His new campaign manager, Mike Wilson of Aurora, said that the announcement would be made during a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. at Piper's Banquets, 1295 Butterfield Road in Aurora.

Wilson said Tuesday that growing up in Wheaton and now living in Aurora has given him the desire to "help Aurora be a better place," by taking on Weisner's campaign.