One Aurora - Richard Irvin for Mayor 2005

>Petka Cites Crime Concerns in Endorsement of Irvin

Beacon-News | February 8, 2005 | By David Garbe

AURORA — State Sen. Ed Petka broke with his own personal tradition Monday in announcing his support for Richard Irvin in the race for Aurora's next mayor.

Petka, a Plainfield Republican whose Senate district includes Aurora's near-East and near-West sides, said this is the first time he has ever endorsed a mayoral candidate anywhere in his district since taking office in 1993.

"In many ways, (Irvin) is a breath of fresh air," Petka said. "He's not just running around mouthing the traditional platitudes."

Petka said he believes Irvin's law enforcement background and zeal for reducing Aurora's crime rate sets him apart from the other candidates...

...for full article, click here | see press release

>Rapping for Richard

Irvin campaign song:

Aurora teenagers write lyrics about community rather than gangsta life

Beacon-News | February 8, 2005 | By Dave Parro

AURORA — It would be easy for Morris Spearman to mimic some of today's popular rappers and sing about gangs, murder and life on the street.

Spearman's father was shot and killed before he was even born, and he's been around Aurora long enough to know teenagers who have been gunned down. And he's met plenty of other young rappers who sing about a glorified thug life, even if they've never experienced it themselves.

But that's not Spearman's style. In fact, he and his cousin are going in a different direction with their talents, writing lyrics and rapping about the positives of community and how to best clean up Aurora.

Known as "Out Sold," the two Aurora kids aren't the typical rap duo.

"I sing about my life and the world and kids, what I've seen and been through," said T.J. Ratz, the older of the two 15-year-old cousins. "Making the world a better place."

Their latest song, called Richard, advocates Richard Irvin as the next mayor of Aurora. In Irvin, the two teenagers see a role model — a black man from Aurora who grew up in public housing and overcame difficult circumstances to become a successful attorney and candidate for the city's top elected position...

...for full article, click here

News Articles Available to View
Irvin Aquafies Aurora
Irvin puts emphasis on reusing old assets
Irvin for Aurora Launches Next Billboard
Veteran Richard Irvin Leads OneAurora Team at Memorial Day Parade
Improving Our Gateways

Irvin Aquifies Aurora

Speaker Dennis Hastert talks to Richard Irvin, the next Mayor of Aurora at the July 4th parade. The OneAurora Team distributes thousands of free and cold purified water bottles to hot spectators at one of the largest parades in Aurora's history. Aurora gets a taste of the future.
See more pictures...

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Irvin Puts Emphasis on Reusing Old Assets

Economic development: Aurora mayoral candidate wants to employ eminent domain downtown

AURORA BEACON-NEWS
June 17, 2004 - By Dave Parro

AURORA - Standing in front of the abandoned Chicago Northern Railroad depot on South Broadway, mayoral candidate Richard Irvin Wednesday outlined his economic development plan to revitalize the city.

Using the dilapidated 1923 structure and the surrounding 17 acres as an example of wasted opportunities, Irvin promised to aggressively pursue development of the site and similar properties throughout Aurora. The old train station was abandoned in 1986 when the downtown commuter station was moved to the Aurora Transportation Center on North Broadway.

"We've got to use properties like this spread through the city that are remnants of Aurora's greatness," Irvin said.

One of the main elements of Irvin's plan, and perhaps the most crucial to its success, is forcing owners who sit on vacant property to develop or sell the eyesores. If they won't comply, the city should take the property through eminent domain and turn it over to a developer who is willing to invest in it, he said.

Redeveloping downtown is crucial to the city's success because it will bring big businesses to Aurora, Irvin said. A full-time city lobbyist who travels to Springfield and Washington would bring back resources to aid the process, he said.

"We've got to actually go out there and force things to happen," Irvin said. "We can't just sit on our hands."

Eminent domain is commonly used for taking property for public uses, such as roads, but confiscating land for private development could be more difficult to prove to a judge as a higher and better public use.

As Aurora learned during the failed RiverCity project, which included the train depot, taking land for redevelopment isn't easy. The city sought quick-take power from the state to acquire some of the property for the $450 million project, but the General Assembly would not grant the authority.

City spokesman Bill Catching said Aurora has rarely used eminent domain because the cases can be tied up in court for years, and prospective developers don't stick around that long. Quick-take authority allows a city to immediately take possession of property, but it has to be approved by lawmakers on a case-by-case basis.

While the city has the power to use eminent domain, land acquisition is still costly.

"Typically, we have shied away from using eminent domain," Catching said.

Environmental attorney Jeff Jeep, who Irvin contacted because he has helped other cities redevelop old manufacturing sites, said Aurora does have the ability to use eminent domain to take contaminated property such as the train depot land. The law holds previous owners responsible for cleanup if the property is held by the city, he said.

Irvin's opponents in the spring 2005 city election - Tom Weisner, Bill Wyatt and Angel Hernandez - each have listed economic development as a top priority in their campaigns, but none of them have specifically mentioned using eminent domain as a main tool. Wyatt said Wednesday that condemnation isn't always effective and should be used only as a last resort.

"Before you start throwing words like that around, you have to sit down with the owner and negotiate," Wyatt said.

Irvin, a private attorney, said it wouldn't be easy to take property, but the city has to at least attempt it in some cases for the sake of redevelopment.

"The reality is that we have to try it," Irvin said. "We can't just let it sit there and let it be blighted."

Other elements of Irvin's economic development plan announced Wednesday include forming an economic development advisory committee, forming an education committee for work force development and building better relationships with county and other nearby governments.

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Irvin for Aurora Launches Next Billboard

Richard Irvin and the OneAurora Team welcomes thousands of visitors to Downtown Alive by launching another billboard in downtown Aurora along Galena Boulevard.

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Veteran Richard Irvin Leads OneAurora Team at Memorial Day Parade

Under bright skies, Richard Irvin, war veteran and 2005 candidate for Mayor, leads energetic OneAurora Team through the streets of downtown Aurora, distributing thousands of balloons to children.
See the pictures...

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Improving Our Gateways

June 21, 2004
Aurora Beacon-News

There was an anonymous comment in Openline that was titled Keep Farnsworth Clean, and stated as follows: "I just wanted to comment on the city of Aurora's main entrance on Farnsworth Avenue. I don't understand why the city doesn't spruce up Farnsworth Avenue. The trees are overgrown and the sidewalk is all overgrown with weeds. You would think the city would want to clean this up because it's one of the main arteries in Aurora."

I absolutely agree with the writer's sentiment. It is important to have pride in our great city. Part of that pride comes from something as simple as appearance. Farnsworth Avenue is one of the few major gateways into our city and its appearance creates the first impression of travelers coming into Aurora.

A woman from St. Charles once told me that if she got a flat tire in Aurora, she would ride through on her bare rim before stopping in "that" city. Her image of Aurora is that it is very dangerous, and its appearance looks as though it breeds crime.

Our city is so much more than a haven for gang banging and drug dealing. Nevertheless, the perception that young lady had is shared by many.

If we are going to change the image and perception of this city we must change and improve everything that lends to that image and perception. Our gateways must be beautified to show all travelers to and from that we are proud of Aurora.

As mayor of Aurora I will work closely with the Economic Development team, to fire up the current comprehensive plans for improving our gateways and turn plans to reality. I will take bold action to deal with all of Aurora's root cause problems; from overgrown weeds to overgrown crime.

Richard C. Irvin, Candidate for mayor of Aurora

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