Aurora’s New Mayor Charts a Greener, Fairer Path Forward

Aurora Mayor John Laesch is wasting no time defining the tone of his administration, laying out a vision centered on green job creation, financial transparency, and community-first policymaking. In his first on-camera interview since being sworn in, Laesch spoke candidly about the challenges ahead and his plans to address them.

A Focus on Green Jobs and Economic Equity

Laesch, a former Navy veteran and union carpenter, is positioning Aurora as a leader in Illinois’ growing green economy. His administration is working to bring a state-funded workforce training hub to the city, aimed at equipping residents for jobs in energy efficiency and renewable infrastructure. He cited personal experience—retrofit work on his own home—as a model of what’s possible for Aurora families.

“We’re not talking about forced retrofits,” Laesch assured. “We’re talking about helping people save money and improve their homes, while creating good-paying jobs right here in Aurora.”

Programs will focus on making older homes more energy-efficient, easing the burden on homeowners’ utility bills, and beautifying neighborhoods in the process.

Managing Inherited Projects with Accountability

Despite his opposition to the downtown casino’s relocation, Laesch said he is committed to managing the fallout constructively. His administration is overseeing the deconstruction of the downtown site and infrastructure upgrades near the new location on the I-88 corridor. He emphasized collaboration with Penn Entertainment and community stakeholders to determine the future of the vacated downtown site.

A New Tone on City Incentives

Breaking from the past, Laesch made clear that corporate giveaways are over.

“We’re done with million-dollar deals that don’t benefit our residents,” he said. Instead, city incentives will be tied to living wage jobs and used to support small business upgrades, like outdated electrical systems or ADA compliance.

He’s also pushing for incentive clauses that ensure employers receiving public support pay workers fairly—starting with new downtown businesses that reflect the values of equity and sustainability.

Fighting Corruption, Promoting Transparency

A vocal critic of past practices, Laesch is preparing ethics reform legislation modeled after Chicago’s $1,500 donation cap for companies doing city business. He’s working with legal experts to position Aurora as a statewide leader in municipal ethics and campaign finance integrity.

He also highlighted the city’s underreported financial pressures and several unresolved legal cases. To address this, the mayor announced plans for city-wide listening sessions and more transparent budget reporting.

A Hands-On Approach to Leadership

Since taking office, Laesch has been meeting one-on-one with department heads to align city operations with his administration’s goals. Staffing changes are already underway, especially in sustainability, where he’s looking to bring in new leadership with experience launching green initiatives.

“I want to be engaged and inclusive,” he said. “That means taking input from city council and residents and building trust through action.”