Aurora City Council mulls election code changes
At the Monday, July 11 study session, Aurora City Council members agreed to move forward with proposed changes to the city’s municipal election code.
The first would eliminate a candidate’s requirement to file a bank statement with annual reports of contributions or expenditures. Aurora City Clerk Karen Goldman said at the study session the bank statements do not provide any substantial information about a candidate’s finances as they do not list to whom checks are issued or the purpose of a check.
The measure would also eliminate the requirement that a daily $50 fine be imposed for each day any report required by the election code is late. The final change would make 60 days from the day of an election as the final date a name can be withdrawn from a ballot for a candidate who withdraws from a race. The measure still needs approval at a regular city council meeting.
Cop probationary period amendment unlikely until spring special election
At Monday’s regular city council meeting, a measure seeking a charter amendment vote to amend probationary periods for new police officers was tabled as council members debated the merits of putting the question on a special municipal election in the spring versus this November’s general election.
Council members particularly were concerned that tabling the measure would not allow them to reconsider it in time to possibly add the question to the November ballot. The motion to table passed 6-5, with council members Marsha Berzins, Barb Cleland, Francoise Bergan, Bob Roth and Renie Peterson opposed.