All Aurora mayoral candidates spar for final time

In their third and final forum together, Aurora's three mayoral candidates tackled a variety of questions Wednesday, ranging from how they would handle global warming to whether directional signs for locating churches should be allowed.

A few hundred people attended the forum sponsored by Aurora's faith-based groups at Wesley United Methodist Church, 14 N. May Street.

Mayor Tom Weisner, Alderman at Large Richard Irvin and Third Ward Alderman Stephanie Kifowit each began the meeting discussing the roles their faiths play in their decision making.

Irvin, who grew up in low income housing on the city's east side and now owns his own law firm, hopes to use his faith to help guide the city's younger citizens into the future.

"I want to give back to the city that has given so much to me and I want to use my belief, structure, moral compass and my faith to make a difference in the community," he said. "I had the opportunity to climb up the ladder and I want to be able to reach back and pull others up that same ladder and take Aurora to the next level."

Kifowit talked of how the church has historically helped the poor and homeless and how that selflessness can build a stronger community.

"Before Hesed House, it was the churches who housed the homeless, before the Interfaith Food Pantry, it was churches who fed the poor," Kifowit said. "Our societal foundation is rooted in faith-based organizations. As a city, and as a mayor, I am aware and I appreciate the role that the faith based community contributed to growing a better society."

Weisner discussed his time at Holy Cross Junior High School and Marmion Academy's Lake Street campus and how his experiences there led him to dedicate his life to public service.

"Each of us, as God's children, are expected to do what we can to serve our neighbors," Weisner said. "As mayor, I have worked with area churches to form powerful faith-based initiatives. And as mayor I have focused on issues that worked to improve peoples quality of life."

From there, candidates went on to discuss a wide range of issues from the city's need for a new downtown library, which they all supported, to why there are so few minorities on the city's police and fire departments.

"I believe we need to have a police force and fire fighting force that represents our community and I understand there are low numbers of minorities," Kifowit said. "We need to reach out to those communities and engage them in those professions."

Weisner conceded that historically race may have played a part in minorities being held back.

"In the past, I think bias was part of that," Weisner said, recounting in 2005 when he appointed William Powell the city's first minority police chief after he had been denied several attempts to be promoted to a lieutenant. "We are making good progress."

Irvin said minority involvement needs to be increased in more than police and fire jobs.

"I believe it would be my responsibility as mayor to ensure that our city staff refects the makeup of our city and it's not just with the fire department or police department," he said. "Right now our city spends $100 million a year on contracts that they award to businesses. Less than 2 percent of them go to women and minorities and that's shameful."

Despite Weisner agreeing to participate in only three forums, Irvin and Kifowit will share the stage two more times before the April 7 election.