Aurora Alderman Announces Resignation, Citing Family Reasons

An Aurora city councilman is considering resigning next month, saying he needs to focus on serving his family instead.

Emmanuel Llamas

First Ward Councilor Emmanuel Llamas announced Tuesday in a live video on the city’s YouTube channel that he would resign effective August 1.

Llamas said his father was diagnosed with stomach cancer in March, underwent surgery in May and is currently undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. He said he is his father’s primary caregiver 24 hours a day and is balancing that responsibility with his responsibilities to his wife and children, ages 3 and 5 months.

“It’s clear that something has to be given up and sacrificed,” Llamas said.

Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin thanked Llamas for his time on the council and announced he is accepting applications for a replacement. Applications will be accepted starting Wednesday through July 13, he said.

Whichever candidate is nominated, he or she will remain in office until the April elections.

Llamas has been in office since 2019 and has been re-elected in 2023.

The news comes a week after an Aurora resident accused Llamas, once again, of not actually living in Ward 1.

Resident Ray Hull presented aldermen with documents at a June 24 council meeting that he says prove Llamas lived in Ward 5. Hull first raised the allegation in May 2023.

The allegations were also presented to Kane County District Attorney Jamie Mosser, who confirmed she is investigating.

Hull and Alderman John Laesch alleged that Llamas, who listed his address as 960 N. Lincoln Ave., actually lived on Verona Ridge Drive.

County land records show Llamas and his wife purchased the Verona Ridge property in March 2023. Llamas was elected to his second term in April 2023.

Llamas denied the allegations when asked about them by the Daily Herald in May 2023.

“I did purchase a property in Ward 5. I also purchased a property in Ward 6 in January 2021. And I intend to continue purchasing properties and investing in the City of Aurora,” Llamas wrote in response to an emailed question. “I did not sell my home in Ward 1. I did not move out of Ward 1.”

He owns the Lincoln property with a Mary Llamas.

Hull said he has documentation showing that when Llamas filed for a homestead exemption on the Verona property, he checked a box indicating the property was his primary residence. The current property tax bill shows he has an $8,000 homestead exemption.