Richard C. Irvin is an American lawyer, politician, and the mayor of Aurora, Illinois. In 2022, he sought the Republican nomination for Illinois Governor.
While seen as a conservative at the beginning of his political career, as Aurora mayor he adopted policies much more in line with Democrats, before again reversing himself on a number of issues when he ran for governor.
Early life and education
Irvin was born and raised in Aurora, Illinois, the son of a single mother. He is a graduate of East Aurora High School. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the Gulf War. Irvin graduated with a B.A. from Robert Morris College and in 1998, he received a J.D. from the Northern Illinois University College of Law. He served as a substitute teacher in the East Aurora School District and as an adjunct professor at Robert Morris College and Northern Illinois University.
Law career
After graduating from law school, Irvin served as an assistant state's attorney for the Cook County State's Attorney's office and the Kane County State's Attorney's office. In 2001, Irvin was named Aurora's first community prosecutor, an alternative law enforcement strategy designed to improve police relationships with residents and develop solutions to drugs, prostitution, and other quality of life crimes. As community prosecutor, Irvin joined the U.S. Department of Justice's “Weed and Seed” program, which aimed to both aggressively combat crime in specified areas, but also provide redevelopment and social services. Irvin also successfully pressured the owners of Woodlands Apartments, an apartment complex notorious for violent crimes, drug sales, and prostitution, to improve security of the complex or be shut down. A year after Irvin's intervention, residents said the complex was "pretty much cleaned up." Irvin was removed as community prosecutor in late 2002 and he resigned from the Kane County State's Attorney's office in 2003 to open his own law office.
2003–2016 political activity
In 2003, Irvin announced he would run for Mayor of Aurora after incumbent mayor David Stover announced that he would not seek a third term. While the race was officially non-partisan, Irvin was supported by prominent Republican politicians and conservative organizations, and his opponent Tom Weisner had the support of Democratic politicians, including then-Senator Barack Obama. Weisner also had the support of eight of Aurora's twelve aldermen and raised nearly three times the amount of money as Irvin. In April 2005, Weisner defeated Irvin with 60.8% percent of the vote.
In 2007, he won election as Alderman At-Large on the Aurora City Council, the first African American elected to the position.
In 2008, Irvin announced he would run for mayor again and challenge Weisner. Irvin criticized Weisner for enacting tax increases during his first term, including a 7.5 percent property tax increase, and pledged to roll back property taxes if elected mayor. In April 2009, Weisner defeated Irvin and fellow alderman Stephanie Kifowit and won re-election.
Mayor of Aurora
In 2016, Weisner stepped down, citing his health. Irvin, state representative Linda Chapa LaVila, alderman Michael Saville, and Weisner's assistant chief of staff Richard "Rick" Guzman ran to replace him. Following the February 28, 2017 primary, Irvin and Guzman advanced to the April 4 general election. Irvin campaigned on controlling crime and improving education, and narrowly defeated Guzman with 53% of the vote.
He was sworn in on May 9, 2017, becoming Aurora's first African-American mayor.
On April 6, 2021, Irvin won re-election to another four-year term, defeating Alderman Judd Lofchie and union carpenter John Laesch with over 57% of the vote. Irvin made economic development central to his campaign.
Violence and crime
When five people were killed in a mass shooting in Aurora in 2019, Irvin reacted by saying, "It's a shame that mass shootings such as this have become commonplace in our country [and] that a cold and heartless offender would be so selfish as to think he has the right to take an innocent life. But we as a society cannot allow these horrific acts to become commonplace."
Following the shooting deaths of 15-year-old Jasmine Noble and 20-year-old Juanya Booker in Aurora in 2019, Irvin said his administration would put a renewed focus on youth mentoring programs. This included city promotion of such programs.
