Both of the candidates running in the Nov. 7, 2023, general election for Aurora City Council Ward V — Incumbent Angela Lawson (nonpartisan) and Chris Rhodes (nonpartisan) — completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office.
Here are the candidates’ responses to the question: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Lawson:
“Public Safety- It is essential that public safety keeps pace with growth and assures the safety of our residents. This means bringing down the crime rate by engaging with residents, local businesses, and community leaders in crime prevention efforts. ensuring that we have a public safety infrastructure plan to address the needs of residents and businesses.
Affordable housing- Although Aurora is more affordable than many of our neighboring cities and has been a model for the number of affordable housing units we have built, we still have to address the issues of many of our residents being overburdened with rising rents and housing prices and to have housing options that meet the needs of all household incomes.
The development of a balanced transportation system to accommodate the current and future growth of our city through various transportation options, connectivity planning, and investments in street infrastructure and maintenance of our current roads.”
Rhodes:
“Affordable Housing and Smart Development
– Developer Allocation: Require developers to allocate a percentage of new projects for affordable housing units.
– Zoning Revisions: Revise zoning laws to promote mixed-use developments, better utilizing our urban spaces and offering a variety of housing options.
– Public Housing: Allocate city funds to create and sustain public housing options, ensuring every Auroran has a stable home.
– Responsible Redevelopment: Implement practices in older neighborhoods to safeguard against gentrification that erases community character.
– Address the Housing Gap: Actively work to increase the overall housing supply, which will ease the burden on both the rental and property markets, benefiting everyone in Aurora.
– Comprehensive Public Transit: Advocate for a transit system that’s not just reliable and frequent, but also inclusive, serving all corners of Aurora including marginalized areas.
– Walkability and Cyclability: Let’s make our city’s urban areas safe and enjoyable for walking and biking. This not only connects our community but also makes it more eco-friendly. …”
Click on the candidates’ profile pages below to read their full responses to this and other questions.
We ask all federal, state, and local candidates with profiles on Ballotpedia to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Ask the candidates in your area to fill out the survey.
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