The last time Richard Irvin’s name was on a ballot was in 2022, when he launched an unsuccessful bid for governor in the Republican primary. Now Irvin, the incumbent mayor in west suburban Aurora, faces four challengers in a bid to remain at the helm of Illinois’ second largest city.
Aurora voters head to the polls Feb. 25 for the suburb’s mayoral primary. The top two vote-getters will face off in the April 1 general election. The number of candidates on the ballot dropped to five on Monday after Jazmine Garcia, a development coordinator for construction company KWCC Inc., opted out of the race.
Irvin served on the Aurora City Council for a decade before being elected mayor in 2017 with about 56% of the vote, winning again in 2021 with 54.17%. During his failed bid for governor in 2022, he touted the success of businesses in the city and declining crime rates — though crime rates fluctuated during his tenure — as reflections of his leadership.
His four challengers are:
• At-large Ald. John Laesch. who has said he favors building single-family homes over apartment buildings, and wants to create a city Department of Sustainability to help start green energy initiatives. He also said he plans to use public funds to establish high-speed public broadband internet and invest in crime prevention and youth mentorship programs.
• Ald. Ted Mesiacos (3rd), current vice chair of Aurora’s Infrastructure and Technology committee and member of its Public Health, Safety and Transportation committee. Mesiacos wants to use federal funding to build homes on vacant city lots, but has cautioned against outpacing neighboring cities on affordable housing. He also said he wants to vary city contractors more while developing a design standard for downtown, in addition to making the city’s police presence more visible.
• Former 10th Ward alderperson Judd Lofchie, a local businessman and attorney, would ease restrictions on local businesses and speed up permitting processes. He also has backed the launch of the Aurora Promise scholarship, which would provide free community college or vocational training for graduating Aurora high school students.
• Karina Garcia, president of the Aurora Regional Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, has said she supports Aurora becoming a sanctuary city, citing her own experience as an immigrant without legal status when she came to the U.S. from Mexico City at age nine. She became a citizen in 2015. She would streamline city support for local businesses and those trying to start a business, while creating affordable housing to help fuel a future entertainment district downtown.
Lofchie and Laesch lost to Irvin in the 2021 mayoral race, each winning less than half the 54.17% Irvin garnered.
Many of the candidates have also proposed campaign finance reform measures, including banning contributions from city contractors and vendors, after accusing Irvin of giving city contracts to friends and donors, WTTW has reported. A non-binding referendum Laesch introduced on the issue was kicked off the ballot last month after the Aurora Electoral Board — which includes Irvin — determined not enough signatures had been gathered in support of it.
Voters can vote early Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Kane County Clerk’s Office in Geneva, 719 S. Batavia Ave. Building. B, or its Aurora satellite office at 5 E. Downer Pl. On Election Day, polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. A list can be found here.