Aurora Councilmembers would rather pull the strings of a faceless bureaucrat to operate the city and budget taxpayer dollars than give voters that direct power to elect a mayor to do the full-time job as the city administrator.
To no one’s surprise, we hasten to add.
Leading the charge in opposition is Aurora Council’s socialist Democrat, Juan Marcano, one of two challengers to Mayor Mike Coffman in the November election.
It’s important to note, the change in administrative government from a city manager system of government to a mayor-council system would not take effect until a new mayor is elected.
Anyway, a resolution authored by Marcano to keep their power vested in a city manager responsible to no one except council, instead of a direct electorate vote to hold the mayor and council responsible, passed the council.
Coffman also was not surprised, The Gazette reports:
The current system is working “great” for members of the council, but not for the people of Aurora, Coffman said.
“We are a rudderless, leaderless city,” Coffman said. “I get that they want the current system to continue, but it’s just not getting the job done.”
Coffman added:
“Now that we have the urban challenges of race, poverty and crime, I don’t think it fits,” Coffman said. “I think you need an elected official that is directly accountable to the residents of the city. We don’t have a leader that can help move a vision forward.”
Critics of accountability are opposing the ballot measure in a court challenge.
The measure is expected to be on the ballot in November so voters can have the final say, as it should be in all things.