Richard Irvin (Illinois politician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Richard Irvin
Mayor of Aurora
In office May 9, 2017 – May 13, 2025
Preceded by	Bob O'Connor
Succeeded by	John Laesch
Personal details
Born	(1970-03-29) March 29, 1970 (age 55) Aurora, Illinois, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Education	Robert Morris College (BA) Northern Illinois University (JD)

Richard C. Irvin is an American lawyer and politician who was the mayor of Aurora, Illinois. He served as mayor from 2017 until 2025, when he lost his campaign for re-election to John Laesch. Irvin is a veteran of the Gulf War and has also worked as a teacher and a prosecutor. In 2022, he ran for the Republican nomination for Governor of Illinois.

Early Life and Education

Richard Irvin was born and grew up in Aurora, Illinois, where he was raised by his single mother. He graduated from East Aurora High School. After finishing high school, he joined the U.S. Army and served in the Gulf War.

After his military service, Irvin went to college. He earned a bachelor's degree from Robert Morris College. In 1998, he received a J.D., which is a degree needed to become a lawyer, from the Northern Illinois University College of Law. He also worked as a substitute teacher in his old school district and as a professor at Robert Morris College and Northern Illinois University.

Career in Law

After law school, Irvin worked as a prosecutor for both Cook County and Kane County. A prosecutor is a lawyer who represents the government in court cases against people accused of crimes.

In 2001, he became Aurora's first community prosecutor. This was a special role created to help police build better relationships with people in the community. He worked on finding solutions to neighborhood problems. As part of this job, he joined a U.S. Department of Justice program called “Weed and Seed.” This program aimed to reduce crime in certain areas while also helping to improve them with new projects and social services.

Irvin also took action to make a large apartment complex safer. The complex had a reputation for crime, but after he got involved, residents said the area was much cleaner and safer. In 2003, Irvin left his job as a prosecutor to open his own law office.

Political Career

Early Campaigns

In 2003, Irvin ran for mayor of Aurora for the first time. He was supported by Republican politicians, while his opponent, Tom Weisner, was supported by Democratic politicians like then-Senator Barack Obama. Weisner won the election.

In 2007, Irvin was elected as an Alderman At-Large for the Aurora City Council. He was the first African American to be elected to this city-wide position. An alderman is a member of the city council who helps make decisions for the city.

He ran for mayor again in 2009 but lost to the incumbent mayor, Tom Weisner.

Mayor of Aurora

In 2017, Irvin ran for mayor of Aurora a third time and won. He was sworn in on May 9, 2017, becoming the first African-American mayor in the city's history. He campaigned on promises to reduce crime and improve schools.

On April 6, 2021, Irvin was re-elected for another four-year term. In this campaign, he focused on bringing new businesses and jobs to the city.

On April 1, 2025, Irvin was defeated in a close election by Alderman-at-Large John Laesch.

Responding to Major Events

In 2019, after a mass shooting in Aurora, Irvin expressed his sadness. He said, "It's a shame that mass shootings such as this have become commonplace in our country."

Following the deaths of two young people in Aurora in 2019, Irvin announced that his administration would focus more on creating mentoring programs for the city's youth.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Irvin declared a state of emergency in Aurora. He supported the governor's stay-at-home order and encouraged people to wear masks to stay safe.

In May 2020, during the protests over the murder of George Floyd, there was some unrest in downtown Aurora. Irvin condemned the destruction of property and put a curfew in place to keep the city safe. He also supported police reforms, such as requiring officers to wear body cameras.

2022 Pride Parade

In 2022, a disagreement arose about the city's pride parade. The organizers asked that police officers not march in uniform while carrying weapons, hoping to make everyone feel more welcome. In response, Mayor Irvin announced he would not attend the parade and withdrew the city's official float.

The city then canceled the parade's permit, stating there were not enough police officers to provide security. After legal challenges and a new pay offer for officers, enough police signed up to work, and the parade was allowed to go on.

Campaign for Illinois Governor

In January 2022, Richard Irvin announced he was running for Governor of Illinois. He sought the Republican nomination to run against the incumbent governor, J. B. Pritzker, a Democrat. His running mate for Lieutenant Governor was State Representative Avery Bourne.

His campaign was supported by Kenneth C. Griffin, a wealthy businessman. However, other Republican candidates questioned Irvin's party loyalty because he had voted in Democratic primary elections in the past. A primary election is a vote where party members choose their candidate for the main election.

Irvin's campaign ended when he lost the Republican primary election. He came in third place, and State Senator Darren Bailey won the nomination.

Electoral history

See also

• List of mayors of Aurora, Illinois