By Dan Hites –
I am not a politician, this being my first time running for elected office. I am a candidate for Aurora Sixth Ward alderman. For 35 years I have been an entrepreneur and real estate developer; opening and running businesses as assorted as nightclub, radio station, restaurants, paintball park, art gallery, and more, plus numerous others which I have assisted. My main joy, though, is buying and redeveloping beautiful old buildings and then working with the community to bring up the surrounding neighborhoods. I have successfully done this on a worldwide basis, first in Wicker Park, Chicago; then in Sochi and St. Petersburg, Russia; Sofia, Bulgaria; and here in downtown Aurora.
My successful renovation of four buildings and the Downer Place redevelopment plan we put together has created an urban oasis that the city is quickly building on. Our plan called on and we instigated the removal of meters, conversion to two-way streets, widening of the Downer Place sidewalks and placement of garden areas. My marketing plans for my buildings and my personal interest in the arts has led to the blossoming of the creative community downtown- my buildings housing the majority of the arts community and a center many of their activities.
The direction of the Sixth Ward needs to be changed. And the first step is in bringing in new blood, new ideas, and new energy through electing a new alderman.
My platform, available at Danhites.com, addresses these problems by zeroing in on: Revitalizing our neighborhoods and downtown; reducing taxes and regulations; and bringing ethics and openness back into the government. There are many detailed ideas in my platform, the highlights being several programs that will reverse the downward slide of the Sixth Ward; establish an arts and entertainment district for the downtown, bring additional financing into the neighborhoods; and especially the historic districts, incentivize Millennials to move into needy areas; plus a promise not to vote for any contract that does not ultimately reduce the burden on the residents of my Ward.
My ideas and energy already have changed a small portion of the Sixth Ward. I would like your vote in order to bring them to the remainder. Vote April 2!