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New and returning faces on Council looking forward to getting to work

October 29, 2026   ·   0 Comments

Aurora residents elected a dynamic new Council on Monday night, with four first-time Councillors joining two long-time incumbents – with the majority of representatives at the table now women.

Councillor-elect Lauren Hanna, a first-time candidate, secured Ward 1 with 1,899 votes. Reflecting on October 26’s Election Night, she said she was grateful for all the support she received from volunteers, friends, neighbours, and Ward 1 residents as a whole.

“I really am humbled by the process,” she says. “I’m not only honoured to step into the role to serve the Town in any capacity, but I am reminded more than ever that building community takes a village, and so did my campaign. There were so many different people who were involved in one way, shape, or form, and it really makes you appreciate that we’re all in this together.”

Looking ahead to the start of the new Council term next month, she says she will be “good to my word” in listening to and engaging with residents and “making sure that we’re all working together to make it an even better Town than it already is.” She adds both she and challenger Rocco Morsillo worked hard to engage voters and the way she campaigned is reflective of how she intends to serve on Council.

“I’m really excited about the new faces around the table, the fresh perspectives that will be there, and the opportunity that creates for a new wave of collaborative leadership in the Town,” she says. “I’m really hopeful that we can really work together to advance the Town’s best interests and have really constructive and respectful dialogue and debate around the table. I think it’s really amazing that there are four women on Council…. That to me is really an important demonstration of the Town believing in strong women and their voices around the table. I’m really excited for that.”

Over in Ward 2, Councillor-elect Angela Daust is also looking back on a campaign focused on resident engagement and says one of her first orders of business will be to present 25 pages of input she received from residents at the door, outlining the wants and needs of the Ward to her fellow Council members.

“I just want to make sure [residents are] heard on Council, and that was my main objective,” she says. “That’s why my platform was ‘Your Strong Voice on Council’ because all residents want is to be heard.

“I want to say thank you to everybody who, first of all, voted for me, and also for all the support I had from residents, from my family – it’s overwhelming to think that being a [first-time] person campaigning that I would have so much support. I was really overwhelmed.”

Looking back over the campaign, she notes “a lot of rhetoric” over the use of Strong Mayor Powers and says Council cohesion going forward could show that “it won’t be necessary for that to be used in the future.”

“If we can come to conclusions where we can work together and actually move decisions forward without the use of those powers, I think it will make for a much more functional Council,” she says.

Listening will also be key for Ward 3 Councillor-elect Nikki Alber, who will take over from long-time Councillor Wendy Gaertner. In a statement, Alber thanked all those who took the time to vote, thereby “helping shape Aurora’s future.”

“To all the candidates who put their names forward, thank you for your dedication to our Town and for running a great election. Putting yourself forward takes courage, commitment, and countless hours, and I am grateful to everyone who stepped up,” she said.

“To my family, friends, volunteers, and supporters: thank you for your encouragement and for the time and energy you gave throughout this campaign. This would not have been possible without you. To every resident of Aurora, whether we met at your doorstep, spoke at an event, or have yet to connect, I look forward to listening, learning, and working hard on your behalf. I am proud to call Aurora home and honoured to have the opportunity to serve you.”

A familiar voice was returned in Ward 4 with four-term Councillor Michael Thompson earning a fifth from voters.

“It’s always an honour and a privilege to represent the residents of Aurora, and specifically Ward 4, and I feel very blessed and fortunate tonight,” he told The Auroran after the ballots had been counted. “I hope what really resonated for them was my record of results. I’ve been on Council for 16 years now. I’ve always tried to do my best for Aurora, the community, the neighbourhoods, and let some common sense and practical judgement guide my thoughts along the way. I’ve been very fortunate to be on Council as a group to accomplish some wonderful things, and I trust that the people saw my record and felt that I’ll continue to do positive things for the Town.

“I think we have a great opportunity over the next four years to do some wonderful things, and I’m looking forward to collaborating with each and every [elected member].”

That excitement is shared by first-time candidate, and now-Councillor-elect Jessie Fraser, who will replace John Gallo in Ward 5.

“I think it’s a group of very, very strong, intelligent, well-informed people. Yes, there’s a lot of diversity in our opinions or preferences or things that we value as more important, but that’s what it’s supposed to be like,” she says. “We all just want what is best for Aurora. We just may have different ideas about how we land there, but this is how it is supposed to work. There are supposed to be differing opinions and different priorities and a well-functioning Council is able to deal with that. We are meant to disagree on some things and agree on other things. We are meant to problem solve together and discuss and debate, [and] respectful, constructive dissent can be productive. Debate and discussion lead to positive change, and I think that the people around the table are capable of that, all of us.”

The fact the incoming Council will have four women at the table, she adds, will “add an interesting new dynamic” to the proceedings.

“I’m honoured and grateful, obviously, that the community has put their trust in me to be their Councillor. I’m really excited to get to work. I want to thank everybody who voted, no matter who they voted for, for taking the time to show how important Aurora is,” she says.

Looking over the course of his fourth successful campaign, Ward 6 Councillor-elect Harold Kim said that while it was a “harsh campaign,” he was “relieved that a positive message about what one is going to do for the residents and the Town still resonates.”

“It’s not about creating wedge issues and what’s wrong with the Town or what’s wrong with a certain person or Councillor. It just reinvigorates my faith in people that good news and the truth still sells,” he said on Monday night. “Relationships are not built on social media or through email. It’s through face-to-face contact. I had the good fortune of 12 years of building relationships. I’m very encouraged by the voting results and I’ll keep on doing the same.

“When I first came to Council in 2014, I sensed divisiveness, and I think I remember at one time, I spoke on Romans: 8, about many hearts but one body. I’ll continue to espouse that, but you know what? I think you have to win every Council member over. This is about the Town. It’s about the residents. It’s not about us. It’s not about personalities. It’s about doing what’s best for residents, and if we focus on that, we’ll find the common denominator.”

By Brock Weir
Editor
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

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