And then there were three.
Fourteen aspirants applied to fill the Aurora Ward 7 aldermanic seat left vacant due to the unexpected death of longtime alderwoman Scheketa Hart-Burns.
City ordinance calls for mayor Richard Irvin to appoint the person who will complete the remaining term until the next general election in April 2025. The full City Council must approve the appointee.
After interviews with applicants, mayor Irvin announced earlier this month seven finalists, of which one withdrew due to schedule conflicts. The remaining six introduced themselves during an Aurora City Council meeting, met with other Council members during a private reception, and attended public events with ward residents.
Mayor Irvin recently announced the final three candidates under consideration for the position.
Although the final three candidates have different levels of political, civic, and employment experiences, the one common thread is all were born and raised in Aurora and knew first-hand the city-wide impact of the history-making alderwoman who held the seat for 32 years.
The final three candidates are East Aurora School Board member and community volunteer, Alex Arroyo, entrepreneur and victim rights advocate, Diana Barajas Gonzalez, and insurance underwriter and political science major, Brandon Tolliver.
Mayor Irvin will make his final recommendation for a vote by the Aurora City Council at a special meeting Tuesday, Sept. 5.
—City of Aurora government