By IrvinBourne.com
Mayor of Aurora, Richard Irvin announced his candidacy Monday, Jan. 17, to be the next governor of Illinois. A decorated war veteran, former prosecutor and mayor of the second largest city in the State, Irvin brings a strong record of proven leadership that has been missing from Illinois under JB Pritzker. State representative Avery Bourne of downstate Morrisonville will be Irvin’s campaign partner in her bid as lieutenant governor. Together, they are committed to being tough on crime, fighting to cut taxes, and cleaning up the corruption that has plagued State government from the Madigan-Pritzker machine.
As the great grandson of a slave who was freed because of Abraham Lincoln, Irvin’s life is the embodiment of the American dream. Born to a single mother and having grown up in the projects of Aurora, Richard was the first in his family to graduate high school. He has dedicated his life to service, a decorated war veteran, a prosecutor who was tough on criminals, and mayor of the second largest city in Illinois. During his tenure as Aurora’s mayor, he cut wasteful spending, sparked economic growth and brought property tax relief to residents. Irvin would be the first African-American nominee of either party to win the gubernatorial nomination.
“Where JB Pritzker has failed in Illinois, I have succeeded in Aurora,” Irvin said. “If we can do it in Aurora, we can do it for all of Illinois. Let’s take Illinois back and restore it to the Land of Lincoln. As the next governor of Illinois, I will be tough on criminals, put our state on a sound fiscal path that doesn’t rely on tax hikes and fight the corrupt politicians who have run our State for decades.”
Avery’s roots run deep in Illinois. Growing up in a farming family she learned the value of hard work and the importance of leaving a place better than she found it.
Avery was the youngest person to serve in the Illinois legislature when she took the oath of office in 2015. Since then, she has worked every day for a better State where families can live, businesses thrive, and voters and citizens can take control of their government.
“As Richard’s partner, I look forward to righting JB Pritzker’s wrongs in ruling our State with unilateral authority,” Bourne said. “We will fight to restore parents’ rights and encourage local control because we believe all residents and communities of Illinois should have a seat at the table.”
Learn more about Richard and Avery’s fight to #takeitback at IrvinBourne.com.
• See statement from the Bailey Campaign for governor at https://thevoice.us/candidate-darren-bailey-on-irvin-announcement.