Who’s Running For Mayor In Aurora? 3 To Face Off In April

AURORA, IL — Less than six months after heading to the polls to elect their representatives at the national, state and county levels, voters in Aurora will be tasked with choosing their city's next leader during the April 2021 election.

Three people met the requirements to appear on the ballot as candidates for Aurora mayor.

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A lottery conducted Wednesday set the order the candidates will be on the ballot, with incumbent Mayor Richard Irvin to be listed above his two challengers.

Tenth Ward Alderman Judd Lofchie will be the second candidate listed on the ballot, with John Laesch listed third.

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The order in which candidates’ names appear on the ballot is usually determined by the order nominating petitions are submitted to the City Clerk’s office.

Irvin, Lofchie and Laesch filed their nominating petitions at the same time — as soon as the filing window opened — prompting the lottery drawing Wednesday at Aurora City Hall.

Lofchie announced his bid for Aurora mayor in July, with his campaign focused on bringing “much needed fiscal responsibility” to City Hall. Lofchie opposes Irvin's intent to move Hollywood Casino Aurora from downtown to near the Chicago Premium Outlets, which Lofchie has said could cost the city up to $50 million.

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He is a well-known advocate for homeless residents in the Aurora area, having launched StreetWise in 1992 to offer them jobs and services.

Laesch, a former school board member, launched his campaign in mid-September. While declaring his candidacy for Aurora mayor, Laesch said he wants to transform the city into an “epicenter” for green-collar jobs in the alternative energy industry.

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During his time on the East Aurora District 131 board, Laesch advocated for paying all district employees a living wage and creating a gender-neutral bathroom in response to students' requests.

Irvin was the last of the three candidates to officially enter the race, announcing his campaign in late September. Irvin, who served in the U.S. Army during the Gulf War has focused his platform on public safety, economic development and education.

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After graduating from Northeastern Illinois University’s law school, Irvin worked as a prosecutor in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s. He left that role to lead the Aurora Community Based Prosecutor Unit for the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Irvin was elected to the Aurora City Council in 2007, a decade before winning a close race to become the city’s 57th mayor. He is the first Black mayor in Aurora’s 163-year history.

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