Six candidates seeking three seats on Aurora City Council

Six candidates are vying for three seats on the Aurora City Council in the General Election set for Nov. 5. 
The candidates who will be competing for the three open four-year seats on the board include incumbents Wayne Roblee (Ward 1), Mark Dunn (Ward 3) and Nancy Lohrmeyer (Ward 2), though Lohrmeyer will be listed on the ballot as a write-in candidate. Three other Aurora residents threw their hat in the ring during the past two weeks as write-in candidates, including Jannelle Seim in Ward 1; Esther Bergen in Ward 2; and Carl Smith in Ward 3.
The News-Register provided questions to the candidates asking them to share information about themselves, why they are seeking a position on the city council and asking for details as to their plans to help the city should they be elected or re-elected. The candidates and their responses are presented by ward, in alphabetical order:

Wayne Roblee
Tell us a little about yourself.
I am a candidate for the city council seat in the first ward of Aurora in the Nov. 5th General Election. I graduated from Aurora High School in 1965 and worked for IBM Corp. in Lincoln and Kansas City before returning to Aurora in 1977. After working in a family business for nine years, I joined International Sensor Systems as the marketing manager and later was president until my retirement in 2021. 
My wife and I raised our children in Aurora and have been active in many organizations. For the last 16 years that involvement has also included serving on the city council.
Why are you running for this office?
I am running for re-election for the same reason I ran in 2008 and that is to preserve and improve the quality of life for our citizens and promote economic growth for the community. 
What personal strengths and talents do you bring to the position?
My business experience and knowledge of Aurora’s history, its growth and successes over the years as well as its failures have all contributed to my strength as a member of the council.
What, in your view, are the top three priority issues facing the Aurora City Council?
In my opinion, the priority issues we face in the near future include maintaining and funding our infrastructure in the area of safety, health, affordable housing (not available housing), and competing for a skilled workforce in key areas.
In order to accomplish these goals I will encourage better communication with community groups, organizations, and individuals to get input on reducing costs and improving city government.
Participation in advertised public meetings and requests for input at city meetings have not been well attended and I will ask for ways to increase this participation. I will also ask for more committee meeting reports and progress reports at regular council meetings.
The post-COVID business and economic environment has been difficult for our entire nation and the small city governments such as Aurora are no exception. If we all work together with a positive attitude, I believe things will get better and these times will bring us closer together rather than drive us apart.

Jannelle Seim
Tell us a little about yourself.
My husband, two boys (15 and 13), and I have lived in Aurora since 2011. We moved here when I took a position as a probation officer in the community, a job I did for nearly 6 years.  In 2016, I started with Hamilton Telecommunications and I currently serve as the Chief Administrative Officer. I have served as the president of Aurora Housing Development Corporation since 2018 and also serve on the State Chamber Foundation Steering Committee. My husband farms with his family in Merrick, Hall, and Howard counties and supports me in all of the community activities I pursue. I have a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s degree in management with an emphasis in leadership. 
Why are you running for this office?
Aurora is an incredible community and I feel strongly that everyone has to do their part to make sure it continues to thrive. I have always known that I would throw my hat in the ring for city council at some point and the recent discussions around the city’s budget and spending pushed me to do it sooner than I expected. As a result of the lack of transparency, the community is struggling to trust its local government right now. We have too much potential and too many important things going on in our community right now to be fractured. I am running to help bring greater transparency to our city government with the hope of restoring that trust so we can focus on sustaining our growth and being a community where people want to raise their families.
What personal strengths and talents do you bring to the position?
I am adaptable, tenacious, and not afraid to ask questions or ask for help. I have held a variety of positions over the last 20 years, including in non-profit, for-profit, education, and government work, each providing me with experiences that I believe will help me with this position. I have a deep understanding of corporate governance and a passion for economic development. I have experienced firsthand the power of the economic development efforts in this community and how these volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that Aurora will continue to grow when many communities in rural Nebraska are on the decline. My economic development work has allowed me to build relationships across the state and leverage those relationships to the benefit of Aurora.
What, in your view, are the top three priority issues facing the City of Aurora?
(1) Reduce local spending; (2) increase accountability; and (3) ensure transparency. We are currently on a path with our budget and spending that is not sustainable even into the next year. We are not in a position to sit and wait until next year to see what the budget will be before we take action; we need to look right now at what we can do to decrease spending in preparation for next budget year. I believe doing so and bringing the community along for these tough decisions, will naturally increase accountability and ensure transparency.     
What goals do you hope to accomplish while serving on the council?
The immediate need is to dive into the city budget and determine how we can slow or reduce the unsustainable spending trajectory. Long term,  I hope to restore the trust between the public and the local leaders by working with my peers to ensure more transparency in the workings of the city, including spending and budgetary needs, as well as opening the line of communication between the public and the council. I also hope to mend relationships between the city and local leaders, though not elected, who are equally as important to making Aurora a thriving community.

Esther Bergen
Tell us a little about yourself.
My maiden name is Esther Juzyk. I grew up in Alberta, Canada and when I was a teenager in 1987, my parents moved our family to Aurora to be near our Berck relatives who were living in Aurora, Marquette and Hordville. After returning twice to Canada to continue my music studies, I taught dozens of piano students and have accompanied and performed countless times and in many places. In the early 1990’s I worked at what was then the First National Bank in Aurora, and later at a non-profit organization in Indianapolis, serving in a managerial position. Craig Bergen and I were married in 1994 and we relocated to the Chicago suburbs, living there for 13 years. We moved to Aurora in 2007, opening a truck and auto repair shop here in town and are currently in our 17th year of business. My role in the business is bookkeeping and handling a variety of administrative tasks. We have seven children and seven grandchildren and are active members of Faith Community Church.
Why are you running for this office?
I am running for City Council because I care immensely about our wonderful town and the people in it and I want to see us prosper. We moved here desiring a wholesome community for our children to grow up in, and also because we hoped to open and operate a business in a rural setting. My three brothers are local business owners and all recommended Aurora as an affordable place with a wonderful customer base.  We have found that to be true and are so thankful that we chose to move here. 
Recently I have become increasingly concerned about the state of the city’s finances and how this will affect both businesses and individuals in the future if changes are not made. Our spending is far outpacing our revenue and we need to bring that back into balance. 
What personal strengths and talents do you bring to the position?
My passion is to protect and help people and I enjoy networking with others to meet needs and accomplish tasks. I have 16 years of business finance experience that I believe will be useful in addressing concerns with our city budget and spending.
What, in your view, are the top three priorities facing the City of Aurora?
The City of Aurora is at a crisis point financially and I would say that the top priority is to bring the city’s spending back into line with its revenue. Due to inflation, individuals and private businesses have had to learn to be more disciplined with their finances in order to cover basic expenses and the city is going to have to do the same. Another key issue is our nearly depleted reserves. Tapping into cash reserves for routine spending is not a sustainable practice and has left us exposed and vulnerable. These reserves will have to be bolstered if we are to return to a stable position.  The need to hold the line on property tax increases is another critical issue. Both homeowners and renters are affected when levies rise, causing housing to become even less affordable. 
What goals do you hope to accomplish while serving on the council?
I would like to work with others on the council in an open and straightforward way and to help rebuild the trust that has been lost with the community. This will happen when agenda items are publicly and candidly discussed in open meetings before being voted on and when decisions are made with input from local citizens. My desire is to see Aurora thrive and to return to a financially sound position.

Nancy Lohrmeyer
Tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Nancy Lohrmeyer, born and raised in Hamilton County.  I’m married to Eric, and we have two grown children. As a seven-year member of the Aurora City Council that didn’t even realize I was up for re-election until after the filing deadline, I am a write-in candidate. I enjoyed 20 years on the Aurora Planning Commission. I’m a graduate of the Aurora Public Schools, Kearney State College, and the 1996 Hamilton County Leadership Tomorrow class. I have worked as a licensed insurance agent for 34 years. 
Why are you running for this office?
I’m running because taking care of others is very important to me. Helping this community do its best for its citizens is very rewarding and challenging. This position is a good fit for me as I have the interest in serving my community, experience working with others, and the basic knowledge of city operations. I encourage others to step out of your comfort zone and also run for office. It is not an exclusive club.
What personal strengths and talents do you bring to the position?
For this council position, I bring the ability to listen, question, make logical decisions, and explain processes. I enjoy learning and appreciate the experience and skills of others. I am open-minded, honest, lousy at keeping secrets, and willing to look at new and non-traditional solutions. As a council member, I am able to cooperate with others and willing to make concessions when needed to make positive progress.
What, in your view, are the top three priorities facing the City of Aurora?
First, the increasing city budget is a huge issue that will be hard to get under control. There’s no simple solution and it may involve actions we don’t care for. For example, a city sales tax. We need to listen to each other with respect on this and avoid ‘knee-jerk’ reactions. The city has limited sources of income: property taxes and sales taxes. As a community, it’s important to remember as things change, we need to change.
Another top priority is Aurora’s system of streets.  With new subdivisions being built, upgrades are needed to provide safety and ease of traffic flow.  One solution is focusing on public safety rather than developer’s profits. This can be done by making access roads for commercial uses, limiting the need for driveway access to major and minor streets.  These safety issues expand to not only traffic safety but pedestrians. Along with the changes to the streets, new sidewalks and trails will need to be created.  
The third priority would be water. Our community has been spoiled with our access to abundant and clean water sources. We have realized this is becoming more of a challenge. Communities around us in Hamilton County are finding this is an expensive and important resource. Aurora must continue to be good stewards of this asset.
What goals do you hope to accomplish while serving on the council?
My goals while on the council include earning back the trust of the community, creating a better relationship with the press, and educating the community about the basics of local government.  Our system of government was not set up to benefit the elected officials, it was set up to take care of all its citizens. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out and ask. If you don’t like the direction it is headed, get involved. This can be as simple as contacting your council member by text, email, phone call or meeting for coffee and a respectful exchange of ideas.  

Mark Dunn
Tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Mark Dunn.  I grew up in Falls City, Neb., and graduated from Falls City High School.  After high school I attended the University of Nebraska at Kearney and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. My wife, Micayla, teaches 7th grade at Aurora Middle School and we have three children. I am a co-owner of GPSHO, LLC where I am a safety specialist assisting other companies with OSHA compliance and safety training requirements. My family and I have lived in Aurora since 2010 and I have served on the city council since 2020.
Why are you running for this office?
I am running for re-election as I have a passion for serving others, including the community. I see the potential it has for the future while respecting the traditions of the past.
What personal strengths and talents do you bring to the position?
I feel that I am a fair, level-headed, and open-minded person who is willing to listen to other perspectives. I can focus on the big picture and act in the best interests of all stakeholders.
What, in your view, are the top three priorities facing the City of Aurora?
I feel like some of the greatest issues the city is faced with are continuing to provide the excellent quality and quantity of services currently available to the community while controlling costs; improvement of aging infrastructures while also implementing new infrastructure for growth of the city; and ensuring a safe, vibrant, and cohesive community for all ages to thrive.
What goals do you hope to accomplish while serving on the council?
My goal on the council is to maintain the quality services and amenities while maintaining fiscal responsibility to the public.

Carl Smith
Tell us a little about yourself.
My wife Shelley and I have lived in Aurora for the past 17 years. I have a degree in accounting from Kansas State University. I obtained my CPA certification while working for a public accounting firm. Shortly after starting our family, I changed employment to an agricultural cooperative in Larned, Kan.  After several career opportunities, we moved here from Dodge City, Kan. I began at Aurora Cooperative as a controller in 2007 and am now the CFO. We have three daughters and a son.  The year we moved to Aurora, we had second grade and preschool students. We chose to live in Aurora so I could be working at a place where I could be home for lunch while the kids were young. Today all have graduated from Aurora High School and our son has returned to Aurora to work and live. I’m an avid runner and if you’ve ever had to swerve to miss someone running in the dark, you have probably met me.
Why are you running for office?
My family has enjoyed living in Aurora and we have met many great people while here. I’d like to give back to this community and now feels like a good time as our kids have left the house. With the recent budget hearings, there were many who attended and did not speak. I’m running for them and their voice to be heard. I’m running because I want Aurora to continue to be a great place to live and work.
What personal strengths and talents do you bring to the position?
As CFO of Aurora Cooperative, I bring my background in large-scale financial management. Throughout my life, I have had many experiences of living in other small communities, which I feel is a strength in understanding the dynamics of rural life. I’m good at gathering the facts and approaching things with reasonableness and fairness. I like to listen and get input from others before making final decisions. I bring my energy and endurance as a distance runner along with my genuine care for this community and its residents, many who are my friends and neighbors.
What, in your view, are the top three priority issues facing the City of Aurora?
The availability of childcare, the continuation of promoting our community for housing and business development, and a well managed budget are top priorities. The need of additional childcare for working parents is affecting more families and employers. Not only is this a struggle for working families, but it’s also a hinderance for city growth that will need to be addressed to move both community and business development forward in Aurora. This is something I’d like to see solutions found for and I believe the city may be a part of that solution. 
Aurora has shown over the years to be a progressive community with good housing and business development that many smaller towns do not have. Partnering with other organizations and the Aurora Development Corporation are key to continuing this path. I believe this will continue to be important for the City of Aurora.
The attendance at the recent pink post card meeting and the budget hearing shows the community concern on city expenditure growth. In the end, the levy was cut based on public comment, however the underlying expenditures did not change.  This has pushed the need to reduce spending or raise the levy even further to the next budget cycle. This is an issue that will need to be addressed over the next year to set the city on a steady path of growth.
What goals do you hope to accomplish while serving on the council?
If I were elected, I want to help provide input and guidance and have the city in a better place, especially financially, when I’ve finished serving on the council. Aurora has a great school system which residents and newcomers to the community seek. Aurora is a smaller town that provides great job opportunities and a great environment to raise a family. A science museum, history museum, movie theater, swimming pool and youth center are a few of the great things Aurora has to offer residents and guests. It’s important that the city is on a path to support and partner with future growth opportunities when they become available to keep this community thriving.