Mayor Richard Irvin | irvinbourne.com
Mayor Richard Irvin | irvinbourne.com
Aurora Mayor and GOP gubernatorial hopeful Richard Irvin's campaign expenditures are being scrutinized.
"GOP Candidate Richard Irvin's D2 campaign filing shows a $21,283 expense to Strive Strategies this quarter," WTTW’s Paris Schutz said on Twitter. "That's the political consulting firm run by Irvin's former mayoral campaign chairman, Dennis Cook.”
Cook is part of what WTTW describes as a “web of politically-connected companies and individuals” that were working on a project to redevelop Copley Hospital. The Democratic Governors Association called that project “pay-to-play” and called out Irvin over the ethical issues presented.
"Cook also runs a PAC called Build 'R' Future, that has donated to the Democratic Kane County Judicial campaign of Irvin's former law partner, Brittany Pedersen," Schutz added. "@wttw has reported extensively on politically connected contractors in Aurora donating to Irvin, the PAC, and Pedersen."
Irvin's ex-wife — Crystal Rollins — was hired by JTE Real Estate Services, a company involved in the Copley Hospital project owned by Michael Poulakidas, Irvin’s former campaign treasurer. Poulakidas’s company stands to make $15 million on the deal. Poulakidas and Cook are rumored to share office space.
“'Aurora taxpayers are on the hook for tens of millions in tax incentives to two other development companies that have donated thousands to Irvin and political funds connected to him,' a WTTW News review of public records found," Democratic Governors Association reported.
Cook has also been paid off by other companies doing business with the city of Aurora. WTTW reports a Cook-controlled political action committee received money from JH Real Estate Partners after the business was given two grants of $1.5 million each by the city of Aurora.
The Irvin-Bourne campaign website touts "Irvin is an indefatigable public servant who leads with passion, persistence, and personal responsibility," and that he "will fight tooth and nail to bring honest and good government back to Illinois.”
Alerts Sign-up