Aurora Alderman Carl Franco says he will step down after three terms

Alderman Carl Franco of Aurora’s 5th Ward said he will not seek another term, describing the choice as a personal commitment to family and a planned handoff to a new generation of leaders. Franco, a three-term alderman and retired air-traffic controller, told host John Zagloul he had told his family he would probably serve two or three terms and feels “it was time.”

Franco framed the decision as part of a larger effort to prepare younger people for public life: “I told my family when I ran, I said, I'll probably do if elected, I will do 2, maybe 3 terms,” he said. He also cited the emotional toll of modern politics and the effect it can have on families as a factor in stepping back. Franco said he plans to remain active in the community and continue mentoring potential successors. The interview closed with Franco thanking constituents for the opportunity to serve and saying he was proud of the work done in the ward.