Ron Woerman: 2025 candidate for Aurora City Council At Large

Bio

Office sought: Aurora City Council At Large

City: Aurora

Age: 57

Occupation: Restaurant operator

Previous offices held: Alderman At Large since 2021

What is the most serious issue your community will face in the coming years and how should the city council respond to it?

I believe there are two major issues facing Aurora today. Workforce housing and speeding.

1. The lack of workforce housing, rising home prices and increasing rents continue to be a burden not only in Aurora but nationwide. Supply shortages and rising costs of land, and materials continue to push up the costs of building. To increase the housing supply we need to continue to support workforce housing projects in Aurora. We have completed a number of projects that added 50-plus affordable units. As new housing projects come to Aurora, we should consider requiring the design to include workforce housing.

2. Speeding is the No. 1 complaint I hear from residents. Our police officers to a fantastic job of keeping our city safe but they can't be everywhere. I think drastic measures need to be taken to reduce the speeding and make our streets safer. We need to research the possibility of using automated speeding ticket technology to monitor our roads and issue tickets to motorists who are exceeding posted speed limits. I realize this could be controversial to some but I feel this would fix the problem immediately.

How would you describe the state of your community's finances? What should be the top priorities for spending during the next few years? Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed?

Our finance department and the mayor’s office do a fantastic job keeping Aurora in a strong financial position. We have a balanced budget for 2025 that continues to improve the residents of Aurora quality of life. The budget includes new fire stations, increased staff for police and fire, upgrading water and sewer lines.

Our top priorities should be the continued investment in our senior services program and continue to seek commercial investment on our city.

I can't say enough great things about the senior services department the mayor’s office created a few years ago. The services offered like Rideshares, snow shoveling, and lawn maintenance make a huge impact. These are amazing programs and we need to continue to assist our seniors.

The mayor’s office continues to seek commercial development in the city. We have seen unprecedented growth. This growth brings new revenue to the city and allows us to continue to provide additional services to our residents.

I don’t believe we have areas that need to be curtailed however we should continue to focus on green initiatives such as sustainable building practices and upgrading our vehicle to EV technology.

What do you see as the most important infrastructure project the community must address? Why and how should it be paid for? Conversely, during these uncertain economic times, what project(s) can be put on the back burner?

We need to continue to replace and update our water and sewer lines. This will be paid for with money allocated each year in the city budget along with state and federal grants.

Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach an agreement and manage local government? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your city council.

Throughout my career, my experience in a group setting particularly when determining policy, has always been rooted in collaboration, communication and a results-driven approach.

My belief is government functions best when leaders work together to find common ground while staying focused what’s best for the community and improves the quality of life.

I believe being clear about policy goals, fostering respectful dialogue, and listening to all perspectives ensures an informed decision is made. While differences of opinion are inevitable, I work to find solutions that balance viewpoints and move the city forward.

This approach has been effective throughout my work career and I believe it works when making decisions on city council.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

When I took office in 2021, my goal was clear: to improve the quality of life for our residents. Four years later, the results speak for themselves.

I have supported initiatives that keep our community safe by ensuring our police and fire have the necessary resources they need.

I have supported the expansion of senior services and youth programs, strengthening the support for residents of all ages. I have continued to support smart responsible growth both downtown and throughout or city ensuring a thriving city for years to come.

Equally important, I have remained committed to open and transparent communication, keeping residents informed, engaged and involved in the decisions that shape our community I have made it a priority to listen to concerns and act on them.

Local government has the greatest impact on our residents’ quality of life, and that's why my focus remains on the issues that matter most to our community. I will continue to prioritize local needs, work hard to deliver real results, and always seek ways to improve the quality of life for all who call Aurora home.

What’s one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?

We need a huge campaign to encourage residents to use social media, email, and video platforms so they can engage in local government.