The race is now on to be Aurora’s next mayor.
Incumbent Tom Mrakas has formally filed his nomination papers, making the run to Aurora’s top job a three-way race with local business owner Phiona Durrant and Living in Aurora blog writer, editor and photographer Anna Lozyk Romeo*.
In a statement, Mrakas said now that the 2018-2022 council term has wound down for the summer, it’s time to focus on the future.
“It has been my honour to serve you as mayor this term,” he said. “I have spent the past four years working to do what you elected me to do: work hard for the residents and businesses of our town. My focus has always been the job at hand; the day-to-day work that needs to get done to keep our community moving forward in a positive direction.
“The past four years have been filled with wonderful opportunities and extraordinary challenges – and this council has much to be proud of. We have seen once-in-a-generation initiatives such as moving forward with the Town Square, but we also had to work together to navigate the impact of the pandemic on our lives and businesses and other worthwhile initiatives. Both prove that leadership that gets things done is leadership that works with, and for, our community.”
Work ahead, he said, requires leadership “that is focused on community first,” and Mrakas said he was “proud” of his record of “working collaboratively with council and residents to build our community together.”
“From strategic developments to bringing day businesses to the core, furthering the revitalization of our downtown to support for local businesses that are the lifeblood of our community; from fostering the further growth of arts and culture initiatives to the protection of our built and natural heritage; my vision remains firmly on community building — maintaining our small-town charm while continuing to provide the amenities our residents expect.
“Over the next two months, as our attention moves to the municipal election and next term of council, if I am honoured to once again be your mayor, I look forward to continuing to work together with Council and residents to get things done for our town – not only for the present, but for our future.”
Brock Weir is a federally funded Local Journalism Initiative reporter at the Auroran
*Editor's Note: This LJI article was edited to add the name of Anna Lozyk Romeo, who registered as a candidate for Aurora mayor Aug. 19.
