Aurora councillor and mayor square off over council salaries

Councillor Wendy Gaertner and Mayor Tom Mrakas became involved in a strained conversation after a report found the city’s compensation structure for sitting politicians was below market value

Published May 29, 2026  •  Last updated 20 minutes ago  •  2 minute read

Aurora Mayor Tom Mrakas. The mayor and councillor Wendy Gaertner were involved in a dispute about saalry at the town's city council meeting earlier this week. Photo by Re-Elect Tom Mrakas website

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An exchange over councillor compensation was a topic of discussion at the Aurora council meeting on Tuesday night.

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Councillor Wendy Gaertner and Mayor Tom Mrakas became involved in a strained conversation after a report found that the city’s compensation structure for sitting politicians was below market value, compared to that of other municipalities.

“Now that we have had two salary reviews about council compensation, both findings say that Aurora councillors are extremely underpaid and, Mr. Mayor, I believe in various forms of media and maybe in person, you said that council members were “greedy” for wanting a raise,” Gaertner said. “I would say that you’re completely wrong on that.”

‘I never used that word’

Mrakas strongly denied ever using the word, “greedy.”

“I never used that word,” he said. “But I would expect an apology on that, councillor.”

Gaertner refused to back down from her original statement.

“You expect an apology from me for calling us greedy,” she replied. “Absolutely not, I believe that you should apologize to me.”

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As the exchange ran its course, the mayor told Gaertner he would cut the microphone if she did not apologize. The councillor never apologized, and Gaertner was allowed to continue.

“I find you very interesting, Mr. Mayor,” Gaertner said.

“I find you very interesting too,” Mrakas responded.

“Good, we agree on that then,” Gaertner replied. “We agree on something.”

Underpaid, in comparison

In comparison to three nearby municipalities, the Aurora council members earn less than Whitchurch-Stouffville, Newmarket and East Gwillimbury councillors.

Aurora councillors currently earn a base salary of $42,165 annually. Newmarket’s councillors earned $55, 894 in 2025; five of Stouffville’s councillors earn a base of $56,740; and East Gwillimbury’s councillors earned a base of $47,200 in 2024.

Mayor Mrakas earns a base salary of $114,647; Newmarket Mayor John Taylor received a base pay of $121,132 in 2025; East Gwillimbury’s mayor, Virginia Hackson, earned $75,398 in base in 2024 and Stouffville Mayor Iain Lovatt received a base salary of approximately $115,594 in 2025.

All salaries listed above were before other forms of renumeration were added. In some cases, current-day salaries were not made available.

Overall, councillors seem to align on compensation closer to market rates and would support “fair and equitable compensation reflective of the responsibilities, expectations, and demands” of elected office.

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