Four candidates for mayor of Aurora will face off Jan. 12 at a candidates forum at the Aurora Public Library.

Candidates Linda Chapa LaVia, Richard E. Guzman, Richard C. Irvin and Michael B. Saville were invited to attend the forum organized through a collaboration of the Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Aurora Public Library, Fox Valley PAC, Quad County African American Chamber of Commerce and the Aurora Regional Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Economic issues are expected to be among the topics of the event, scheduled for 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12, at the library’s main branch, 101 S. River St. For more information, visit AuroraProsperity.org.

The forum will be moderated by Alicia Schatteman, assistant professor of public administration at Northern Illinois University.

Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner stepped down in early November, due in part to his long battle with cancer. The City Council selected longtime Alderman-at-Large Bob O’Connor to serve as mayor for the balance of Weisner’s term.

The absence of an incumbent opened a window of opportunity for candidates seeking the top post in Illinois’ second-largest city. All the candidates have government experience. Chapa-Lavia is state representative of the 83rd District, Guzman has served as Weisner’s assistant chief of staff since 2011, Irvin has served as alderman at large since 2007, and Saville is alderman of Aurora’s Sixth Ward, winning re-election multiple times since he was first appointed in 1985.

SOURCE: Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce news release