Page 4 THE AURORAN, Thursday, November 3, 2022 | Thank you to all the Aurorans who participated in Aurora’s elections 2022, and a heartfelt thanks to those who voted for me. Congratulations to all the candidates that ran. Congratulations to the elected Mayor and Ward Councillors; I know you will do your best to serve our community. Also, I would like to extend a sincere thank you to everyone for all the help and support. It has been an honour and privilege to be surrounded by so many knowledgeable, genuine, and engaged residents who truly care about Aurora’s well-being. A special thank you to my family for being so incredibly supportive.
Having said all that, on the day of municipal elections, October 24, a person openly endorsing Mayor Mrakas wrote to me, “If you are successful, I look forward to seeing your platform delivery and how you work with other members of Council and staff to achieve what is best for the Town.” No doubt that was my plan, given my vision for Aurora was very clear: to strive for a resilient community where we truly value diverse perspectives to encourage inclusivity and engagement. The message continued, “If you are not, I hope you choose to stay involved, serve your community in other ways that reflects your platform so that in four years Aurora is better for your commitment, a commitment that will give you an even stronger base on which to run in the future.”
Did you know that the majority of candidates tend to walk away from political engagement right after the elections? During the term 2014–2018, I started to be politically engaged in our community. During the term 2018–2022, I continued to raise awareness about local issues despite the non-inclusive political environment I experienced on social media under the current Mayor. From my perspective, my run for Mayor resulted in a loss but not a failure. My only failure would be if I stopped being politically engaged today. So, what do you think I will do?
Lastly, to the residents of Aurora, regardless of the roadblocks you may experience, please continue to stay politically engaged and always remember it is also your responsibility to hold the Mayor and the elected Ward Councillors accountable. Stay in touch.
Anna Lozyk Romeo
Published in The Auroran
