Authorizing mayoral recalls is a bad idea

Aurora voters will decide on the November ballot whether to support a referendum to allow the recall of an incumbent mayor. A recall would not require the mayor to have committed an illegal act, which state statute already covers.

If the proposal passes, any group seeking a recall would have to gather signatures equal to 20% of the total votes cast in the last mayoral election, or about 4,000 signatures, to send the question to a general election. This represents only about 5% of all registered voters in Aurora.

This is a bad idea, and we urge you to vote no.

Mayors should not be subject to recall simply because a small group is unhappy with the election outcome. This would disenfranchise the majority of voters who expect the winner to serve a full term.

Elected officials need time to govern. The constant threat of a recall could keep them in a permanent state of campaigning, leaving little time for policymaking.

This would not be a “one and done.” Every future mayor would be subject to a recall if a minority is unhappy with an election outcome.

Consider the high cost of conducting a special election. This would add unnecessary expense funded by our tax dollars.

If voters are unhappy with a mayor, they can make that known without a recall. City Council meetings allow public comment. Voters can elect someone else in the next election.

To protect our democracy, we should vote “no” to recalls. We don’t want a small minority of signatures and special elections to overturn our decisions.

Mavis Bates, Kane County Board Member, District 4

David L. Pierce, Former Aurora Mayor

Deb Fisher, Chair, Aurora Democrats

Marilyn Weisner, Former First Lady (Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner)