Voters tap experience for North Aurora board

North Aurora voters on Tuesday opted to go with experience for the village board, selecting two incumbents and one newcomer to fill three open seats.

According to unofficial results and with all 10 precincts reporting, Trustee Mark J. Gaffino finished tops by tallying 633 votes.

Newcomer Michael Lowrey and Trustee Christopher Faber garnered 563 and 532 votes, respectively, to capture the two other trustee seats.

Allen E. Cavender rounded out the field with 301 votes, according to unofficial results.

Gaffino, who was elected to his third, 4-year term, said he was encouraged that voters kept both him and Faber on the board.

Gaffino said his top priority in the next four years would continue to be economic development and supporting existing businesses.

“The last four year the board has done a good job and we all work well together,” Gaffino said, adding the village needs to bring more businesses to town now that the economy is recovering.

“Times have changed and we need to be more receptive to things outside the box and not say no just because it doesn’t fit in our box,” Gaffino said.

Faber said he will work toward a “bigger and broader” plan to develop and redevelop the Route 31 corridor and wants the board to hold a strategic planning session soon to set more long-term goals.

He said he hopes four years from now that the village will have a plan for a new activity center.

“I’m happy with the (election results). I feel like I have some unfinished business and still more to do,” Faber said, adding he wished voter turnout was higher.