What inspired you to run for mayor?

John Laesch decided to run for mayor after witnessing what he saw as a misuse of taxpayer dollars for private development projects. He opposed the $58 million subsidy for the Casino, arguing that a company making $2.75 billion annually shouldn’t be funded by Aurora taxpayers. His campaign is driven by a desire to end these subsidies and shift the city’s spending.

“I feel the need to run for this office, be a voice for the people take our city in a new direction that’s responsive to the Aurora taxpayers,” Laesch said. 

What sets you apart from your opponents?

John Laesch emphasizes his independence, environmental focus, and analytical approach as key reasons he stands out in the mayoral race. He refuses to accept donations from individuals or corporations seeking business with the city, ensuring he remains free from outside influence. Laesch prides himself on doing thorough research, using his experience as an intelligence analyst in the Middle East to uncover local goverment conflicts.

“I’m very well researched, I look into every issue to come up with solutions that are working elsewhere, and to be able to read between the lines when agenda items come forward,” Laesch said.

What are your top three priorities for Aurora?

John Laesch prioritizes climate action, economic development, and ethics reform. As a green builder, he has improved his home’s energy efficiency by 80% and wants to expand similar opportunities citywide. His second major focus is bringing higher paying jobs to Aurora. He criticizes the city’s practice of subsidizing low-wage industries, such as restaurants and casinos, arguing that funds should instead be directed toward sustainable industries. Lastly, Laesch pushes for ethics and campaign finance reform to end Aurora’s “pay-to-play” system. He suggests that publicly funded elections will level the playing field. 

“I would focus on bringing better paying jobs, and that way working families could afford to take the families out to dinner periodically,” Laesch said. “This isn’t going to be easy it’s going to be hard work, it’s going to require having a clear agenda and being very diligent.”

What inspired you to run for mayor?

Judd Lofchie explains that his decision to run for mayor was driven by his frustration with Aurora’s challenging business environment, which he has experienced firsthand while helping multiple businesses open in the city. He described the delay a restaurant faced when they had to wait 13 months to receive a building permit when it should take only two or three months. Having worked in business development for 30 years, Lofchie believes he knows how to organize these processes and make it easier for businesses to succeed. While he emphasizes that reform wouldn’t require drastic measures he is confident that meaningful changes can be made, and his experience gives him the knowledge to fix these inefficiencies.

“I’ve been doing it for 30 years, and I know how to fix it,” Lofchie said. “There are some changes we need to make, and I know how to do it.”

What sets you apart from your opponents?

Judd Lofchie argues that the government should be run more like a business, emphasizing the need for strong financial judgement in leadership. He points out Aurora’s significant budget shortfall, highlighting a gap between revenues and expenses that will burden future generations. He stresses the importance of understanding financial statements, cash flow, and the city’s seasonal cash shortages. From his experience as an alderman and his 30 years of doing business with the city Lofchie believes his deep relationships and financial expertise will help him to address these fiscal challenges effectively.

“Our biggest problem in Aurora is we’re financially in trouble. We’re a billion dollars in debt and 500 million in unfunded pensions,” Lofchie said. “I know how to make payroll and I know how to do 401K. I’m the only one who has real business and management experience.”

What are your top three priorities for Aurora?

Judd Lofchie emphasizes fiscal responsibility, aiming to reduce wasteful spending and improve financial stability, especially by maintaining a strong bond rating. He highlights the importance of reducing borrowing costs, stating that a lower bond rating can increase the cost of borrowing, as seen in the example of a casino project. He also advocates for easing restrictions on businesses and residents. Additionally, Lofchie is passionate about supporting high school students through scholarships for community college and vocational schools.

“I’m on the East Aurora School Board, so I pushed hard and got us to build a Vocational Center, a $40 million Vocational Center, for kids in case they don’t go to college,” Lofchie said. 

What inspired you to run for mayor?

Thedoros Mesiacos, with 12 years of experience as an alderman, is dedicated to ensuring tax dollars are spent responsibly and effectively. He believes that Aurora’s growth should come from strengthening neighborhoods rather than top-down development. Mescioa emphasizes the importance of supporting the city’s youth, focusing on providing them with opportunities for growth and development to ensure a strong community.

“Aurora is strong when our neighborhoods are strong, our kids need to know that we’re there to help them,” Mesiacos said. “They don’t need a handout, they need a hand up.”

What are your top three priorities for Aurora?

Thedoros Mesiacos is committed to stopping tax increase on residents, having voted against two tax increases in the past two years. Mesciacos advocates for fiscal responsibility, stating that there is a need to tighten the belt while ensuring that investments are made wisely. He stresses that both kids and parents need to see that their tax dollars are being spent effectively. He prioritizes leaving the city’s youth with a strong foundation. He raises money and transfers it over to a management company called the Community Foundation to provide scholarships to students.

“it’s a balance, not only helping kids that want to go to college, but kids that don’t want to, and they know that they have that support, because not everybody can afford some of the fees required to go to vacation or trade school,” Mesiacos said.

What inspired you to run for mayor?

Jazmine Garcia initially didn’t plan to run for mayor, however, it has always been a dream of hers to be the first Latina president of the Untied States. With her background in urban planning, Garcia worked for a general contractor and practiced in the construction and development industries that she deemed incorrect. Driven by her desire to expose local corruption and make a statement Garcia saw running as an opportunity to make change. She quickly gathered 6,000 petition signatures in just one week, but faced a petition challenge from Irvin and legal battles. 

“I have a lot of influence that can affect the campaign and a lot of people are resonating with my with my messages because I am very radical and unapologetic,” Garcia said.

What sets you apart from your opponents?

Jazmine Garcia, the youngest candidate, embraces a “brat” platform inspired by the Charli xcx, unapologetically connecting with the community through her real life experiences. She understands the struggles of living paycheck to paycheck, having family members at risk of deportation, and navigating tough circumstances. Garcia’s personal connection to the Latino community and her involvement in volunteering has strengthen her connection to many residents. She believes in speaking up on challenges people face and remaining authentic.

“I’m the only candidate that most people can relate to, I just always keep it real,” Garcia said. “I think that’s why people resonate so well with my message because I do speak light to a lot of these awful lies.”

What are your top three priorities for Aurora?

Jazmine Garcia’s would focus on sustainability, public spaces, and transportation. She plans on enhancing the Fox River with more green spaces and recreational activities, including kayaking and boating. Garcia is passionate about improving public transportation, suggesting that merging local systems so transportation could be more accessible to residents. She also emphasizes participating in sustainable environmetal pracitces, such as promoting local agriculture. Garcia wants more immediate, impactful changes, rejecting greenwashing and pushing for climate solutions for the future.

“We need to keep the Fox River open and accessible for people, so I would partner up with the park district to do that because we definitely need to prioritize the park districts,” Garcia said. “It is also for our mental health, people love being in public spaces, and that’s also when you meet the most people that are different from you as well, it’s just very healthy.”