Angela Daust, a neighbourhood advocate with three decades of municipal experience, has officially registered as a candidate for Aurora Ward 2, saying her campaign will prioritise sustainable development, fiscal responsibility and more democratic local governance.
From volunteer to candidate
Daust filed her nomination on July 29, entering a contest that already includes candidates Marco Di Girolamo and Brynn Lansdown. A resident of Ward 2 for more than 29 years, she described her decision as a natural progression from years of community advocacy and municipal involvement.
Her professional career was spent at the City of Toronto, where she recently retired after about 30 years in roles involving policy development, public engagement, research, risk assessment and contract management. She says that background gives her a practical understanding of how elected officials, municipal staff and residents need to work together.
“We need to evolve for the future, and I think it needs to be done in a considerate fashion so that all parties are made comfortable with what is going forward.”
Local roots and community work
Daust and her husband moved from Toronto to Aurora when they were starting a family, attracted by the town’s community atmosphere, schools and commuting options. They bought and restored a 120-year-old home in Ward 2, a project she says preserved a piece of Aurora history.
Her civic engagement extends beyond her own property: she has appeared before town council representing residents on development matters and currently serves as a citizen volunteer on the town’s environmental advisory committee. She has also served on the Yonge Street revitalization sub-committee.
Campaign priorities and local concerns
At the heart of Daust’s platform is a focus on “considerate, sustainable growth”. She told reporters she wants development that respects existing neighbourhoods rather than proposals that she believes increasingly “push the envelope” of what residents consider acceptable.
Daust singled out three pillars for her campaign:
- Considerate, sustainable growth — balancing new development with neighbourhood character and resident input
- Fiscal responsibility — careful stewardship of municipal finances and prudent budgeting
- Democratic governance — strengthening resident engagement and transparency at the municipal level
She emphasised that municipal government is the level that touches residents’ daily lives most directly and argued that decisions taken at town hall should reflect broad public input.
Race dynamics and what to watch
The Ward 2 contest will test how voters prioritise growth and fiscal issues as Aurora continues to manage development pressures and infrastructure needs. With at least two other declared candidates — Marco Di Girolamo and Brynn Lansdown — the campaign is set to bring those debates to the fore.
| Candidate | Ward | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Angela Daust | 2 | 30 years municipal experience; long-time resident and volunteer |
| Marco Di Girolamo | 2 | Declared candidate |
| Brynn Lansdown | 2 | Declared candidate |
Daust’s campaign is likely to appeal to residents who seek measured development that preserves neighbourhood character, combined with rigorous oversight of municipal spending. How those messages resonate alongside competing platforms will shape the Ward 2 contest as Aurora moves toward the municipal election.
Residents watching the race will be keen to see how each candidate addresses the balance between accommodating growth and protecting established communities, as well as what concrete proposals they bring forward on the town’s fiscal plan and resident engagement.
As the campaign progresses, voters in Ward 2 can expect public debates and further opportunities to hear directly from the candidates on planning, budget priorities and how to strengthen local democracy.
