Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner announced Thursday he will step down as mayor Oct. 30, about six months before the end of his third term.
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In a written announcement contained in an email, he cited declining health as a reason for leaving early.
“I have been dealing with cancer most of my three terms as mayor,” he said. “Despite regular chemotherapy, I have been able to fully function with our ‘strong mayor’ form of government, which unlike most cities, includes the day-to-day management of city operations, as well as the other duties most mayors perform. I have recently begun to feel that I cannot continue to perform at the level I expect of myself and I do not wish to remain as mayor if I can’t.”
The mayor said he had “both the honor and the stimulating challenge of leading Illinois’ second largest city through the Great Recession.” He credited an exceptional city staff with his successes and said he has worked with City Councils “composed almost entirely of good and honest people who had the best interest of all of Aurora’s people at heart.”
He also thanked the people of Aurora “who have made me so proud of this city.”
Carie Anne Ergo, Aurora’s chief management officer, did not have details about when the mayor made his decision, or what specifically might have changed in his situation to prompt his decision. She said he let all the staff know his intention “within the last 24 hours.”
“He doesn’t want to get into a lot of personal details,” she said.
As word spread Thursday of the mayor’s decision, comments came from throughout the community.
Alderman Tina Bohman, 1st Ward, said she was “saddened” that the mayor had to make a decision based on his health.
“I would have liked to see him finish his term out, but I understand health takes precedence,” she said.
State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, D-Aurora, one of four candidates who has declared plans to run for mayor in the April 17, 2017, election, released a statement saying she was “deeply saddened” that the mayor is stepping down early because of health considerations.
“Tom has been a dedicated and successful public servant for the majority of his adult life,” she said. “I am proud to have had the opportunity to work with Tom over the years helping to improve the quality of life for the people of Aurora. More importantly I am privileged to be able to call Tom a friend.”
West Aurora School District 129 spokesman Tony Martinez said Weisner’s announcement caught the district by surprise. He had been “very instrumental” in helping the district purchase former Advocate Dreyer Medical Clinic buildings, which will become a district campus comprising a new administrative office, early childhood center and career and technical education center.
The district surprised Weisner with an announcement last year it would name the new technical education center after the Weisner family. Martinez said Weisner has been a leader in Aurora’s Pathways to Prosperity project, which focused on giving students the skills to enter local industries.
Martinez expressed concern for Weisner’s health, and said the district hopes his stepping down doesn’t change West Aurora’s relationship with the city.
“It is going to be kind of different, maybe,” he said. “We just don’t know who we’re going to be dealing with, because Mayor Weisner definitely was a great supporter of education.”
East Aurora School District 131 board president Annette Johnson said Weisner supported the district’s creation of its Fred Rodgers Magnet Academy and helped the district access the building for the school. Now, he has been “accommodating” as the district begins more than $70 million worth of construction, helping solve issues as they arise.
“It is my concern that he won’t be there,” Johnson said. “He was really a forceful figure in Aurora. He could get things done.”
The mayor pro-tem is Alderman Robert O’Connor, at large, who runs meetings when the mayor cannot attend. But he does not automatically succeed a resigning mayor.
The mayor’s replacement would have to come from the City Council, according to state law. The city’s legal department is studying exactly what the procedure would be, and will have a full report and recommendation for the council at its Sept. 6 Committee of the Whole meeting.
“The council will choose from among its own members,” Ergo said. “Legal is reviewing just how that selection would take place.”
Weisner’s term is up in April 2017. There are two sitting aldermen who have already announced their intentions to run for mayor in that April 17 election. They are Richard Irvin, at large, and Michael Saville, 6th Ward. The other two announced candidates are Chapa LaVia and Rick Guzman, one of Weisner’s top aides.
Ergo said Weisner did want to make it clear he would not support the appointment of declared candidate to take over as mayor. He added that he would urge the council to get in writing a guarantee from whomever is appointed that he or she would not file to run for mayor.
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Bohman said “it would inappropriate for either one” of the two aldermen who have declared their candidacy to be appointed. But she also pointed out that she is unsure who is willing or able to serve the final six months of the term. When asked, she said she is “not interested.”