Hugo Saltijeral: 2025 candidate for Aurora City Council Ward 1 (2-year term)

Bio

Office Sought: Aurora City Council Ward 1 (2-year term)

City: Aurora

Age: 44

Occupation: Executive director

Previous offices held: Precinct committee person

What is the most serious issue your community will face in the coming years and how should the city council respond to it?

I believe it’s time for our city to reinvest in our families — just as our families have faithfully invested in our community. Our residents deserve more than new places to spend their hard-earned money. What we truly need are innovative solutions that help families keep more of their money in their pockets.

We must focus on reducing the cost of living and creating support systems that ease financial burdens. When we lift up our families, we strengthen the very foundation of Aurora. Together, we can build a future where every resident feels valued, supported, and secure.

How would you describe the state of your community's finances? What should be the top priorities for spending during the next few years? Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed?

Aurora’s financial health is strong, but with that strength comes a responsibility to ensure our budget serves the people who call this city home. If we find ourselves with a surplus, our first instinct should not be to search for new ways to spend — it should be to ask how we can give back to the families and residents who made that success possible.

Our top priority in the coming years must be investing in our people — our families and our children. We need to direct resources toward lowering the cost of living, supporting education, creating safer neighborhoods, and expanding opportunities for those who live and work in Aurora.

This is about building a stronger Aurora for Aurorans — not just creating attractions for visitors or focusing on projects that overlook the everyday needs of residents.

We must also remain vigilant and ensure our spending is both responsible and purposeful. Any areas of excess should be carefully evaluated so we can prioritize reinvesting those dollars back into the households and futures of the people who make Aurora what it is today.

When we strengthen our families, we strengthen our city.

What do you see as the most important infrastructure project the community must address? Why and how should it be paid for? Conversely, during these uncertain economic times, what project(s) can be put on the back burner?

The most important infrastructure projects we must focus on are those that reduce the cost of living for Aurora families and seniors. Access to affordable internet is no longer a luxury — it’s a necessity. We need to work toward lowering costs so every household can stay connected to education, work, and resources.

We should also explore ways to reduce essential service costs, like garbage collection, especially for seniors. Many of our older residents are facing growing financial pressures. If our city isn’t caring for those who built this community, we are falling short.

These investments can be made by prioritizing existing funds and ensuring any budget surplus is reinvested into the daily needs of our residents — not luxury projects or attractions. Projects that don’t directly improve the lives of Aurorans can wait.

Our goal must be simple: Build an Aurora where families can thrive and seniors can live with dignity — without the weight of rising costs holding them down.

Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach an agreement and manage local government? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your city council.

My experience in state government and as a dedicated advocate for families has shaped my approach to policy-making. I’ve worked tirelessly to raise awareness and fight for fairness on legislation impacting our community. Even when outcomes didn’t align with my hopes, I refused to sit on the sidelines. Instead, I chose to collaborate with policymakers to ensure new laws were implemented effectively and with the community’s best interests in mind.

I am a team player. I believe that while we may have differences, our shared goal must always be the common good of our community. Strong legislation — and strong communities — are built when leaders work together.

My style is to listen first, find common ground, and work toward solutions that reflect the needs of our residents. I understand that governing requires compromise, but compromise should never mean losing sight of the people we serve.

When we lead with respect and unity, we build a council that works — and a community that thrives together.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I am the best candidate for Alderman of Ward 1 because I have spent my life working alongside the people of Aurora — families, businesses, schools, faith leaders, and those facing homelessness. I understand the challenges our residents experience because I’ve been in the trenches, working every day to lift up our community.

My work feeding the homeless, supporting working families, partnering with schools, and building bridges with small businesses and faith organizations has taught me that real solutions come from listening to every voice. I’ve worked with legislators to advocate for fair policies and collaborated with neighbors to ensure no one is left behind.

Leadership is about connection — bringing together every part of our community to work toward a future where families can thrive, businesses can grow, and no one falls through the cracks. I believe our city works best when we all work together.

I am ready to lead with heart, humility, and the experience to bring people together. Together, we can build a stronger, more united Aurora.

What’s one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?

One idea I am passionate about is creating a Working Families Support Plan — targeting the often-overlooked, hardworking families who quietly keep our community moving forward. These are the parents working multiple jobs, the caregivers balancing work and home, and the employees in our small businesses, schools, and service industries — who rarely ask for help but deserve to know they are seen and valued.

This plan would focus on lowering everyday costs — like utility bills, garbage collection, and internet access — while expanding child care support, supporting the school's after-school programs, and transportation options to ease the daily burdens families face. We would work alongside businesses, schools, and faith communities to ensure families know what resources are available while advocating for new policies that uplift working households.

Too often, support systems miss those who earn “just enough” to get by but are still struggling. I want these families to know: I see you, and I am fighting for you.

When we support the quiet workers of our community, we strengthen the heart of Aurora.