Peoria Standard

Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin will be notably absent from an upcoming Central Illinois Republican gubernatorial candidate forum.

The forum will present an opportunity for GOP candidates to speak to conservative voters.

"The Tazewell County Republican Party in cooperation with the Peoria County Republican Party and the Woodford County Republican Party will host the Central Illinois Republican Governor Candidate Forum at Five Points Washington, 360 N. Wilmor Rd., Washington, IL from 7pm – 9pm, Monday, April 25th, 2022," according to the event's Facebook page.

"The candidates who will be attending this forum are Senator Darren Bailey, Gary Rabine, Paul Schimpf, Jesse Sullivan, and Max Solomon."

"This is a critical time for our communities, the state of Illinois and the United States of America. It is vital we have all the information necessary to send the best person to the Governor's Mansion. Do we have a person in this pool of candidates who can unseat Governor Pritzker?"

"This forum will highlight what all these candidates bring to the election. The format for the candidate forum will include moderator questions and questions generated from the audience. Candidates will have an opportunity for both an opening and a closing statement and will be timed for their answers. This event is free and open to the public."

"To RSVP go to www.tazewellgop.org/forum."

"Free admission and open to the public. Those with RSVPs will be seated starting at 6:30 pm. Without RSVPs, seating as available will start at 6:50 pm. The program will start promptly at 7:00 p.m."

"For more information regarding these candidates and regarding the June 28th primary election, please visit www.tazewellgop.org/be_informed."

Irvin’s campaign has been discredited by conservatives who point out his past support for Democrats.

Bailey in particular had words for Irvin.

"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 once declared "Dr. Ezike Day" in honor of Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike.

Ezike suggested state residents who want to prevent the spread of COVID among family members should wear masks in their own homes. She was later ousted from the job.

In addition to his support for Ezike and her mask policies, Irvin’s running mate for lieutenant governor, State Rep. Avery Bourne (R-Pawnee), may dog his campaign.

Bourne once cursed at Bailey for refusing to wear a mask on the Senate floor in May 2020.

"Through fake tears, she screamed at the entire House Republican Caucus to just 'wear our masks,' screaming specifically at me, 'just put on your ***king mask,’" Bailey wrote of the incident.

Irvin and Bourne have been called "Madigan’s favorite Republicans" for backing Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s COVID mandates.

Billionaire Ken Griffen is supporting Irvin's campaign. Jim Durkin, the minority leader of the Illinois House of Representatives, also has endorsed him.