Council debates Civic Center Authority appointments as mayor seeks board diversity and fundraising expertise

Deputy Chief of Staff Nicholas Rashard Thompson presented a slate of nominees to the Aurora Civic Center Authority at the Committee of the Whole on June 2, outlining the administration’s goals of expanding audience diversity and strengthening finance and fundraising capacity on the board.

Thompson said the slate was chosen to "prioritize different artistic expression" and to bring "financial expertise and philanthropic networks" to the board, naming nominees including Diane Lance (municipal finance expert, CPA), Christopher Childris (philanthropic business leader), Nastasha Pruny (creative director) and reappointments such as Gina Moga and Jonathan Hilton.

Several aldermen raised concerns about the selection process and the board’s ability to raise private funds. "The color is green and if these people can't bring in the money this is bad for AKA," Alderman Franco said, emphasizing that fundraising underwrites programming and that the authority should maintain fiscal stability. He asked for explicit evidence that nominees could deliver significant fundraising results.

Mayor Lash and Thompson responded that the slate balances experienced members with new voices and that the city has already provided one‑time investments and grants to stabilize AKA; the mayor denied any plan to remove existing leadership, saying, "Absolutely not. I think Tim Raider is doing a great job." Thompson said the appointments were developed after town halls, surveys and interviews and that a public meet‑and‑greet and executive session with candidates is scheduled for June 9 so councilmembers can question nominees in more depth.

Chairman Ed Bug and others described the appointments as intended to broaden audience reach across neighborhoods and to improve the authority’s long‑term fiscal model. Council discussed logistics — whether to vote on multiple appointments as a slate or separately — and many aldermen requested that future rounds present nominees individually when multiple new appointments are proposed.

The committee placed the resolution on unfinished business to allow further review, and committee leadership said the council will meet the nominees in executive session on June 9. Thompson said the city will provide resumes and background materials and that staff will work with the Civic Center Authority on governance and fundraising plans.

Why it matters: the Civic Center Authority oversees multiple performance venues, programs and an operating budget that requires a combination of earned revenue and philanthropy; changes to the board shape future programming, outreach and fundraising strategy. The council debate reflected tension between preserving a successful subscription audience for the Paramount and expanding programming and partnerships to better reflect Aurora’s demographics.

Next steps: nominees remain under consideration; the council scheduled a private meet‑and‑greet on June 9 and asked staff to provide additional written materials and, where requested, survey results and fundraising plans that supported the selection rationale.