West Central Reporter

Former Sawyerville resident Christopher Hicks — a former multiple office candidate — is slamming Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin. 

Irvin recently opted out of the Central Illinois Republican Governor Candidate Forum.

“I would never support garbage candidates like conman Irvin and trashcan Bourne who are masquerading as Republicans while secretly helping Madigan," Hicks, who has now left Illinois for Colorado, told West Central Reporter. "Irvin is part of a recruited GOP slate ran by a network of Republican operatives who are also connected to former Sen. Mark Kirk’s GOP Senate campaigns.”

The forum, which is slated for Monday, April 25 at Five Points Washington, will only be participated by Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia), Gary Rabine, Paul Schimpf, Jesse Sullivan and Max Solomon.

"I suspect career Democrat Richard Irvin will be very popular among the establishment and weak-kneed Republicans who voted with Madigan and Pritzker to raise your taxes," Bailey said when Irvin announced his entrance into the race.

Irvin's campaign is criticized by conservatives citing his previous Democratic Party backing.

"Through fake tears she screamed at the entire House Republican Caucus to just 'wear our masks,' screaming specifically at me, 'Just put on your f---ing mask,'" Bailey wrote of an incident when State Rep. Avery Bourne (R-Pawnee), Irvin's running mate for lieutenant governor, cursed Bailey in May 2020 for refusing to wear a mask on the Senate floor.

The running mates have been branded "Madigan's favorite Republicans" for supporting Gov. J.B. Pritzker's COVID-19 regulations.

Ken Griffin, a billionaire, has endorsed Irvin's campaign. Jim Durkin, the minority leader in the Illinois House of Representatives, has endorsed him.

Homer Township Supervisor and Will County Board Member Steve Balich, political strategist Chris Robling and GOP activist James Jones have also called out the Aurora mayor for skipping the Central Illinois Republican Governor Candidate Forum.