One of five candidates running in the Feb. 27 primary for 1st Ward alderman in Aurora has the backing of the retiring three-term incumbent.
Ald. Tess Wackerlin last week endorsed Lynda Elmore, 53, a private consultant who designs employee benefit plans and is treasurer of the Stonebridge Community Association.
Wackerlin said Elmore’s business experience would be an asset on the City Council. She also noted Elmore lives in the DuPage County section of the ward, where rapid growth is taking place.
“She understands the need to sometimes negotiate issues out and to reach an agreeable compromise to resolve concerns,” Wackerlin said.
“I also believe that she knows the issues that should not be compromised.”
Noting that three of 10 aldermen are women, Wackerlin added: “I feel strongly that the 1st Ward seat should continue to be held by a female. If we lose the diversity on the council of female members, we lose a little of our ability to see another perspective.”
Wackerlin four years ago defeated a challenger by 33 votes in a ward that straddles DuPage and Kane Counties. In recent years, the ward has been the focus of several zoning controversies.
“Tess has served the city well for 12 years, and I am very honored she has endorsed me,” Elmore said.
The other candidates in the race are William C. “Bill” Bonifas, 67, retired director of claims for Farmers Insurance Group; Marice P. Gravenhorst, 48, a member of Citizens Against Power Plants in Residential Areas and special education teaching assistant at Leyden High School in Northlake; Martin E. Hess, 58, a Prudential Doss Real Estate broker, member of the 1st Ward Committee and president of the Aurora Tri-County Association of Realtors; and Miguel “Mike” Saltijeral, 75, a retired Caterpillar Inc. welder and Democratic precinct committeeman who has done extensive community volunteer work.
The two top vote-getters in the primary will face off in the general election April 3.
