The Alderman from the 9th Ward

What is your name? Leroy Keith
What is your hometown?
I am originally from Highland Illinois, which is located about 30 miles east of St. Louis, MO

Why did you decide to run for Alderman in Aurora IL?
When I first moved to Aurora, the area where we live was still very new. The City was growing so fast, that it was very hard for the Alderman responsible for our area to keep up with all of the demands. I was a member of my neighborhoods Home Owners Association and I felt like the City of Aurora wasn't helping us with many of our issues. As a result of the 2000 census, a new 9th Ward was created and I decided to run for the position to at least have some ability to control the future of the far southeast portion of Aurora.

What do you enjoy about being Alderman of the 9th ward?
I enjoy helping people the most but I also enjoy the challenge and seeing the results of the hard work of many people who live in the 9th Ward.
What are your main responsibilities as Alderman and what goals do you have for your term?
Being an Alderman is actually two different jobs. The job as a member of the City Council is legislative part of our City Government. We give the Mayor his ability to do his job, we create ordinances, we pass the annual city budget and we act as the check and balance for the day to day operations of the City. The job as a Ward Alderman is somewhat like a liaison between the residents of the ward and the City. If a resident is having a problem with a city service, then I should be receiving a call to try and find a resolution to the problem. My goals are also two-fold. For the City as a whole, my goal is to see our downtown redeveloped. It may cost us a little money now, but in the log run we will see the financial benefits long into the future. I look at Naperville and see what they have done with their little creek that runs through their city, and then look at the Fox River that we have running through our City. My goal for the 9th Ward is to get Eola Road widened between Keating Drive and Montgomery Road. That has been my primary goal for the last seven years. We haven't made near the progress that I would like to have seen but there has been progress. We are starting to buy the necessary right of way needed to widen the road. Even with the property purchases, it will most likely be five more years before the road is actually widened. It all depends on having the necessary revenue to do the work.
What is your favorite thing to do in Aurora with your Family?
Ride the many miles of bicycle paths
If you had to eat the same food for the rest of your life what would that be and why?
Probably pizza but a good grilled hamburger would be a close second.
Why is the 9th ward awesome?
The 9th Ward is a very diversified ward. We have people of every culture, race and religion that you can think of. The people who participate in their churches, their children's school PTAs, their children's school activities and sports, their home owner associations and their neighborhoods make the 9th Ward awesome.
Have anything else to add?
I love to ride motorcycles and will often ride through the neighborhoods in the 9th Ward, so people should not be surprised when some guy wearing a leather jacket and a bandanna stops in front of their house and introduces himself as their Alderman.

Do you have a blog or website?
I believe that a good communications network is the key to success in anything that you do, when it involves a large number of people. For that reason, six years ago I created the 9th Ward Web Site at http://www.9thward.net/ I use the web site to communicate with the residents of the ward. Important information is often posted to the web site and when the information is vital to the residents, I will send all registered members of the web site an email. It is important that people make an effort to stay in touch with their neighborhoods, their community and the City of Aurora. The 9th Ward Web site will help do just that.

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My husband encouraged me to start asking 'local celebrities' for interviews. I was hesitant and thought they might not be interested. But Alderman Keith was very willing to be interviewed and wrote back with some great answers. My next goal is to get the mayor :)