Ted Mesiacos was born on the east side of Aurora to working class immigrant parents from Greece. His Mom was a proud member of the seamstress union and his Dad was a Machinist, who still found time to volunteer to help other immigrants find housing and work. After his Mom passed away when he was young, Ted was taught by his Dad the values of service & hard-work.
Proudly, Ted's education began with Our Lady of Good Counsel Elementary School, followed by Waldo Middle School and East Aurora High School. Ted went on to earn his Bachelor degree in Architecture from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, and a Master degree in Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois Chicago.
Since 2006 Ted Mesiacos has been the owner and operator of his own architectural design firm with an office in Aurora, IL. He holds licenses with the State of Illinois as an Architect and Interior Designer.
First elected in 2013, Ted is serving his 10th year as Third Ward Alderman in the City of Aurora. He has served on the Government Operations (GO), the Building, Grounds and Infrastructure (BGI), and the Finance Committees. Currently, he serves as the Vice Chairperson on the Infrastructure and Technology (I&T) Committee and the Public Health, Safety and Transportation (PHST) Committee.
Ted was also proud to be one of the only Alderman to vote against one of the Mayor's recent property tax increases.
Ted also served on the Fermilab Community Advisory Board. Ted currently serves on Congressman Bill Foster’s Immigration Advisory Committee and Board of Directors for Upper Illinois River Valley Development Authority. Prior to his election, Ted was a member of the Aurora Plan Commission, Aurora Zoning Board of Appeals and the Rotary Club of Aurora.
As a life long resident of the 3rd Ward Ted and his wife, Kate (a former SD 131 School Teacher) are raising their two young children right next door to the home Ted's father purchased in 1960.
As Mayor, Ted will prioritize the education & safety of every resident in Aurora - regardless of their neighborhood. As the son of a single Dad, he knows how hard it is to make ends meet and will not stop fighting as Mayor to make life more affordable for his neighbors and his community.