NEWS RELEASE

East High Social Studies department to host forum for Aurora mayoral candidates on February 15

AURORA, IL – High school students from Aurora will moderate a forum for Aurora mayoral candidates on Wednesday, February 15, from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. The forum will take place at East Aurora High School auditorium, 500 Tomcat Lane, Aurora.

The focus for the forum will be on youth and youth issues. Students from government classes will be developing a list of questions for the candidates.

Three of the four candidates for mayor are committed to participate, including Richard E. Guzman, Richard C. Irvin, and Michael B Saville.

Representative Linda Chapa LaVia will not attend, as her office said that she would be in Springfield. A spokesperson from her office will attend and read a statement on behalf of Representative Chapa LaVia.

Students from all four Aurora high schools, including East Aurora, West Aurora, Waubonsie Valley, and Metea Valley will be moderating the forum.

The forum is open to the public and those attending will have the opportunity to submit questions as they enter. Forum hosts will be screening questions submitted by the public.

“Our government professional learning community (PLC) came up with the idea as a way to incorporate more local government into our curriculum,” said Julie DeNood, Social Studies teacher at East High. “The students are very excited about this evening and their participation in the election process.”

The forum, which is hosted by Aurora high schools in partnership with Mikva Challenge, comes in advance of the primary for the mayoral election on February 28. The two top finishers will face each other on the April 4 ballot.