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February 9, 2022

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Growing List of GOP Leaders Across Illinois Join Irvin-Bourne Campaign as Co-Chairs 

AURORA– The Irvin-Bourne campaign today announced over 50 additional GOP leaders and activists across Illinois who are joining the campaign as co-chairs. The announcement comes as Mayor Richard Irvin and Rep. Avery Bourne focus on escalating crime, high taxes and corruption plaguing Illinois under Governor JB Pritzker’s reign. 


The newly released list of endorsements adds to the growing list of support Irvin has garnered statewide. Law enforcement officers including McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally are voicing their support today, noting the importance of the June 28th primary for the future of Illinois. 


“This election is too important to sit on the sidelines,” said Kenneally. “For months I have been worried about whether our party has what it takes to defeat Governor JB Pritzker. From taxes and spending to corruption and crime, Pritzker has been wrong for Illinois, but the right leader who can win had not emerged, until now. Mayor Richard Irvin is a veteran, former prosecutor and successful local government leader in our state’s second largest city. He has what it takes to beat Pritzker, and most importantly, he is a leader who can turn our state around.” 


Policies put in place by JB Pritzker have only exacerbated the significant challenges facing Illinois, causing more families and businesses to flee the state. “People have lost faith in Illinois and are leaving in droves,” said Andy Van Meter, Sangamon County Board Chairman. “We need new leaders who will put Illinois families first; not dig deeper into taxpayer pockets to reward insiders. Mayor Irvin is the type of leader who will produce balanced budgets, increase public safety, and root out corruption. In just a short time, he has led a turnaround in Aurora, our state’s second largest city. His running mate, Rep. Avery Bourne, has been a conservative force in the House Republican caucus and locally in Central Illinois for years. Richard and Avery are the leaders we need to turn our state around.” 


Richard Irvin and Avery Bourne, have proven success at the local and state levels and give Illinois an opportunity to mirror that success using the right solutions. Working with Representative Bourne in the Illinois House, State Representative David Welter (HD75) is advocating for her leadership as part of the ticket that will take back the state where it needs to be.


“We need common sense solutions to fix our most pressing problems in Illinois,” said Rep. Welter. “We don’t need last ditch efforts ahead of the election, like the gimmicks Governor Pritzker is proposing. Illinois residents, families, and businesses need serious relief from out of control taxes and over spending. Richard Irvin has an inspiring record as Mayor of Aurora and the bipartisan credentials to make the changes we need to move our state forward. His running mate, Rep. Avery Bourne, has been a leader in our Republican caucus from day one, and I know she’ll be the conservative warrior our state needs as Lieutenant Governor. Richard and Avery will make a great team, and I’m confident they have what it takes to get it done.” 


In contrast to Pritzker, the Tax-Hiker-In-Chief for Illinois, Richard Irvin is focused on reducing spending and providing real relief for residents, something that families across the state are desperate for as the cost of living and doing business in Illinois continue to rise.


“While Governor JB Pritzker has led the charge on raising taxes, Richard Irvin is a proven leader who has made the tough spending cuts and has put money back in the taxpayer pockets,” said Jacob Harris, Fayette County Board Vice Chairman. “He is motivated to confront the dire fiscal situation our state is in and will ensure focus on the issues Southern Illinois families are concerned with: high taxes, out of control crime, and an overreaching executive who has minimalized local control.” 


The growing list of support for Irvin and Bourne includes the following leaders throughout Illinois: 


  • Rick Ahlgren, Retired Lieutenant (Aurora Police Department) (Kane County)
  • Jim Allmon, Sangamon County Coroner (Sangamon County)
  • Meghna Bansal, Wheatland Township Trustee (Will County)
  • Krishna Bansal, President, US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce (Will County)
  • Peter Bensinger, Former Administrator of US DEA, Former Chair of the ICJIA, Former Member of Interpol Representing the US DOJ (Lake County)
  • Chris Beykirch, Former Aurora Alderman (Ward 8) (DuPage County)
  • Larry Bomke, Former State Senator, Former Sangamon County Board Chairman (Sangamon County)
  • Ken Briley, Grundy County Sheriff (Grundy County)
  • Larry Brouk, Retired Chief of Police (Forest View) (DuPage County)
  • Roger Claar, Former Mayor of Bolingbrook, Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee (CD11) (Will County)
  • Geoff Cooker, Former Police Sergeant (City of Cary) (McHenry County)
  • Bill Cotter, School Board Member (District 181) (DuPage County)
  • Rodney Craig, Hanover Park Mayor (Cook County)
  • Mike Downey, Kankakee County Sheriff (Kankakee County)
  • Lucio Estrada, Elgin Township GOP Precinct Committeeman 11, Secretary Kane County GOP Young Republicans, Fmr GOP nominee for Kane County Board (Kane County)
  • John Fahy, Retired Elgin Fire Chief and Former Kane County Board Member (Kane County)
  • Jack Garcia, Director of Public Safety (City of Burbank), Former First Deputy Director (Illinois State Police) (Cook County)
  • Chad Gessner, Under-Sheriff (Kankakee County Sheriff's Office) (Kankakee County)
  • Jacob Harris, Fayette County Board Vice Chairman (Fayette County)
  • Karen Hasara, Former Springfield Mayor, Former State Senator, Former State Representative (Sangamon County)
  • Gwen Henry, DuPage County Treasurer (DuPage County)
  • Keefe Jackson, Aurora Police Deputy Chief (Retired) (Kane County)
  • Patrick Kenneally, McHenry County State's Attorney (McHenry County)
  • Bruce Kettelkamp, Christian County Sheriff (Christian County)
  • John Lawson, Retired Roselle Police Officer, Schaumburg Township Assessor (Cook County)
  • Paul Lencioni, St. Charles Alderman (Ward 3) (Kane County)
  • Gary Manier, City of Washington Mayor (Peoria County)
  • Mike McCoy, Chief of Police (Washington), Former Peoria County Sheriff (Peoria County)
  • Brian McFadden, Sangamon County Administrator (Sangamon County)
  • Brad Mills, Sangamon County GOP Central Committee, Coordinator (Sangamon County)
  • Joshua Morrison, Fayette County State's Attorney (Fayette County)
  • Michael Murphy, Retired Chief of Police (Barrington Hills) (Cook County)
  • Pat O'Brien, Former Assistant State’s Attorney Cook County and Cook County Circuit Judge (Cook County)
  • Drinda O'Connor, Sangamon County GOP Foundation, Treasurer (Sangamon County)
  • Paul Palazzolo, Sangamon County Circuit Clerk (Sangamon County)
  • Dr. Hina Patel, South Barrington Trustee (Cook County)
  • John Perkins, Former Chief of Police (Huntley), Former Deputy Chief of Police (Aurora) (Kane County)
  • Matthew Rasche, Naperville Township Assessor (DuPage County)
  • Wayne Rosenthal, Former State Representative (HD95) (Christian County)
  • Evelyn Sanguinetti, Former Lt. Governor (DuPage County)
  • James Schackmann, Sangamon County GOP Central Committee, Springfield Coordinator (Sangamon County)
  • Jim Schielein, Lee County Board Member (Lee County)
  • Darlene Senger, Former Illinois State Representative (HD41) (DuPage County)
  • Autumn Sheppard-Blandi, Dundee Township Clerk (Kane County)
  • Adam Shores, Grayslake Trustee (Lake County)
  • Steve Sloan, Stark County Sheriff (Stark County)
  • Mary Frances Squires, Sangamon County Board, Former Chairman (Sangamon County)
  • Bruce Stratton, Sangamon County GOP Central Committee, Secretary (Sangamon County)
  • Cliff Surges, Kane County Board (Kane County)
  • Eric Thomas, Retired ISP, Master Sergeant (Will County)
  • Jeff Thorsen, McHenry County Board Member (McHenry County)
  • Frank Vala, Sangamon County GOP Foundation, Board Member (Sangamon County)
  • Andy Van Meter, Sangamon County Board Chairman (Sangamon County)
  • David Welter, State Representative (HD75) (Grundy County)
  • Thomas Wilbeck, McHenry County Board Member (McHenry County)
  • Robert Windon, Former Barrington Trustee and Former Assistant State's Attorney McHenry County (Lake County)
  • Bob Wunsch, Former Oswego Chief of Police (Kendall County)


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