Valas Makes Aurora Mayoral Run Official

Tuesday, January 29, 2019 at 7:57 AM

By Mike Perleberg @mikedup84

The Great Crescent Brewery owner has filed to run for the Democratic party's nomination.

Dan Valas will seek the Democratic nomination for Aurora mayor in 2019. Photo provided.

(Aurora, Ind.) - An Aurora brewery owner is officially running for mayor.

Dan Valas and his family own and operate the Great Crescent Brewery in Aurora. He filed on Friday, January 25 to seek the Democratic Party nomination for Aurora mayor in the May party primary election.

As of Monday, he was the only Democrat in the race. Valas, who has lived in the area since 1994, had announced his intention to run for mayor back in November, but had not yet determine which party, if any, he would align with.

“After living here for the past 24 years he recognizes areas where improvements could be made in important areas of growth, cost control, and working with other cities within Dearborn County,” a new release from Valas’ initial announcement last fall stated.

Current city councilman Mark Drury has filed to run for the Republican nomination for Aurora mayor. He is also unopposed in the primary election, as of Monday.

But there is the chance either Valas or Drury could have some primary competition. Candidates for office in Indiana’s 2019 municipal primary elections have until noon on Friday, February 8 to file.

Aurora Mayor Donnie Hastings, Jr. is not expected to run for re-election this year. He has been in the mayor’s office since 2004.