Riverfront is key for North Aurora candidate

Mark Vogt, a candidate for North Aurora village president, moved to the community 10 years ago because of its appeal as a village on a river. He was raised among lakes in rural northern Minnesota.

"I have the need to live around water, and the Fox River meets that need," Vogt said, adding that he is a fly fisherman. "And I like its hometown village appeal. The Fox River is the best kept secret in the area."

Vogt is running against trustees Dale Berman, Max Herwig and Linda Mitchell in the April 7 election. All four want to succeed incumbent John Hansen, who is stepping down.

Given his love of water, it's no wonder that a key issue of Vogt's campaign centers around the Fox River.

"It's important that we revitalize our riverfront area," Vogt said. "It's a patchwork quilt right now. There have been a few mini-projects. But during the last four years, the focus has been on the Randall Road/Orchard Road corridor and I applaud these efforts. But this is leaving the riverfront to neglect. We have no trees, no sidewalks, no dining, no coffee shops, not even taverns. We could be like Geneva. (The North Aurora riverfront) has the same ambience."

Vogt says that he would involve the entire community in planning, using resources on the Internet.

"It's unfair to think the village board can do all of this," Vogt said. "People must commit to it. Once the planning is done, the village board can step in and go after the businesses that can fill the gaps."

Vogt said his second biggest issue is building a high school.

"We could reach our saturation point of about 20,000 within a decade," Vogt said. "We'd have 3,000 high school students who would have to attend school out of town. We have to start planning now while we still have the land."

According to the U.S. Census Web site, North Aurora had an estimated population of 15,582 in 2007, an increase from 10,585 in 2000.

Vogt, 47, says he believes he has the education, experience and drive needed to "try and solve community problems." He is an information technology consultant and engineer. An Eagle Scout, he served in Africa in the Peace Corps. He and his wife Judith have two daughters.