June 15th, 2008 - The Beacon News - Author: Dan Campana

Aurora mayor candidates building their game plans

AURORA -- Nearly a year's worth of campaigning starts with planning, and all three of Aurora's mayoral candidates appear deep in that process these days.

Outside of walking Aurora's neighborhoods to court voters, they're not all doing the same things.
Putting together campaign staffs, designing voter outreach strategies and raising money are just part of the game plans being drawn up by Mayor Tom Weisner and his challengers, Aldermen Rick Lawrence and Stephanie Kifowit.

With a primary election looking unlikely, the mayoral election is slated for April. Before then, candidates will have to collect signatures to get on the ballot, a process that should get going in the early fall.

Between now and then, Kifowit and Weisner have fundraising and strategies on their minds. Lawrence, however, is not divulging much about his campaign.

"Right now, we're setting the groundwork, the foundation," Kifowit said.

That includes coordinating volunteers, money and strategy before things ramp up later this summer. Kifowit is currently working to raise $25,000 by month's end to add to approximately $10,000 already in her coffers. Knowing money is a part of, but not the only facet, of the process, Kifowit is trying to reach supporters to create a partnership not based on how much they can donate.

"You have to connect with the average voter. The average voter doesn't have $500," she explained. "The core value is to reach out to the voters."

Raising cash for his campaign has been one priority since Weisner announced his re-election bid on May 22.

"Interest is piqued," campaign manager Mike Wilson said of seeking contributions after the announcement.

Fundraisers are scheduled for June 25 and June 30, the latter hosted by Chicago-based law firm Schain, Burney, Ross & Citron. Wilson explained that the city's proximity to Chicago and having "some statewide influence" make it reasonable to hold a campaign event outside Aurora.
"I think there are people who want to meet the mayor," Wilson said.

The law firm has contributed nearly $7,700 to Weisner since 2005, and received close to $25,000 in payments for legal work for the city during that same time period.

From a broader perspective, Wilson is enjoying the "luxury" of 10-plus months before the election to put together a plan. Accustomed to short turnarounds on previous campaigns he's worked for, Wilson has used his first month on the job to meet with supporters and friends from the local political scene as he gets acclimated to Aurora. He also doesn't expect trouble finding volunteers.
"It seems there a lot of people willing to work for the mayor," Wilson said.

Additionally, where those folks work will be determined, in part, by past election results that will form a "targeted plan for the precincts we need to walk," Wilson said.

Lawrence isn't as open about certain aspects of his strategy to unseat Weisner, although he noted the neighborhood work has already begun.

"I know exactly what we're going to do," he said without elaboration.

Lawrence describes a campaign primarily using volunteers. He recently parted ways with a campaign chairman who had connections to the DuPage County GOP.

"I want things to go more grass-roots than by party," Lawrence said. "I'm more about Aurora."

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