Aurora Alderman Proposes City Manager Government to Enhance Professionalism
Aurora Alderman Carl Franco, 5th Ward, has launched an initiative to change Aurora's form of government from a mayoral system to a city manager system. Franco argues that a city manager, typically a professional with a degree and certification in city management, would bring more professionalism and less partisan politics to the city, which he believes is crucial given Aurora's significant budget and population. He has formed a committee and launched a website to advocate for this change, aiming to place a referendum question on the April 4, 2027, ballot. To achieve this, he needs to collect at least 1,900 signatures by December 1, 2026, and is targeting double that amount. The initiative is supported by the International City/County Management Association, which has provided literature and plans to reimburse the committee for some expenses. However, Aurora Mayor John Laesch opposes the change, arguing that an elected mayor provides direct accountability to the people and that a city manager system would n... 
