City Welcomes New Mayor, Councilor, Planning Commissioner and HRB Member

Mayor Kris Sallee and Councilors Brian Asher and Tara Weidman officially took their oaths of office during the Aurora City Council’s Tuesday, January 8 meeting. All three won their races in the November general election.

Sallee had previously served on the council in Position 1. That seat is now filled by Weidman, who was a member of the Planning Commission. Asher was re-elected to a four-year term for council Position 2.

The council also voted unanimously during the meeting to appoint Stephen Mikulic to a three-year term on the city’s Historic Review Board (HRB). That position had been vacant for most of the last year.

Mikulic has a background in property management. His professional experience includes a stint as a portfolio manager for up to 15 office and multi-family complexes, with leasing responsibilities for vacancies in office and retail buildings, and he has been a licensed real estate associate broker. Mikulic is also a past chairperson of the Building Owners and Managers Association’s codes and operating committee.

“Filling the vacant position on the HRB has been a priority of mine since I started working for the city last March,” City Recorder W. Scott Jorgensen said. “We wanted to make sure we took the time to find someone who would be the right fit. I’m pleased that the HRB recommended that the council appoint Mr. Mikulic to that position. I think his background will provide an important perspective for that body as it continues its important work of preserving Aurora’s unique historical heritage.”

Mikulic has a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science from Portland State University and a Masters of Art in Teaching; Language Arts and Communication from Lewis and Clark College.

The council voted in December to appoint Cindy Riley to the position on the Planning Commission that had formerly been held by Weidman.

Riley’s professional background includes 17 years of multi-national internal audit experience, as well as forensic accounting and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigations. Prior to her retirement, she worked as a director of internal audit at Mentor Graphics in Wilsonville.

“Aurora is fortunate to have dedicated volunteers serving on its city council, planning commission, HRB and park committee,” Jorgensen said. “I feel that the new mayor, councilor, commissioner and HRB member will be great additions, and look forward to working with them all to help the citizens of this town build a brighter future for generations to come.”