35 Stories That Support Calling Mayor Richard Irvin "Corrupt" (Condensed Version)
Whether Aurora is on the brink of another Irvin administration or poised for a new chapter under Laesch, one thing remains clear: the community must not waver in its demand for ethics reform.
(Dear Reader, I strive to provide transparency in my articles by including receipts for the information presented, ensuring you can verify my work. However, given the length of this article, I have streamlined this version for ease of reading. If you’d like to explore the receipts accompanying each story, please refer to the sister post titled “35 Stories That Support Calling Mayor Richard Irvin ‘Corrupt’ (Extended Version))
In 2009, mayoral candidate Richard Irvin emphasized ethics reform as a cornerstone of his campaign, often criticizing his predecessor, Mayor Weisner, for alleged pay-to-play politics. By 2017, during his third campaign for the mayoral seat, Irvin even floated the idea of local campaign donation limits.
“If Weisner were truly interested in reform, he would have done something back in 2007 when he took $155,000 from people who do business with the City.
Richard Irvin has made ethics reform the hallmark of his campaign for Mayor. When Richard is Mayor, he will end pay for play and hold himself - and those around him - to the highest ethical standard possible”
However, after assuming office in 2017, Mayor Irvin swiftly abandoned his stance on campaign donation limits. In 2019, while Mayor Irvin and the City Council were drafting a new ethics ordinance—which city staff acknowledged did not "substantively change the ordinance”— then 10th Ward Alderman Judd Lofchie advocated for the inclusion of campaign donation reforms. Despite his efforts, Lofchie received no backing from Mayor Irvin or his allies on the Council.
Earlier this year, mayoral candidate John Laesch and volunteers from Working Families Aurora submitted a petition, containing thousands of signatures from Aurora residents, to place an advisory referendum on campaign donation limits on April’s election ballot.
However, the referendum was rejected by an election commission led by Mayor Irvin, after an objection was filed by Irvin ally and 8th Ward Alderwoman Patty Smith. Before overseeing the decision to throw out the referendum, Mayor Irvin publicly supported Smith’s objection in a campaign letter to his supporters.
Flipping the Script: Irvin Swaps Roles in Aurora’s Political Discourse
Irvin’s opponent in the upcoming April election, current Alderman-at-Large John Laesch, has centered his campaign on ethics reforms, with a strong focus on campaign donation limits. This dynamic essentially reverses the role that Irvin played in his 2009 and 2017 mayoral runs, with Laesch heading a campaign of ethics reforms, and Irvin battling accusations of pay-to-play politics.
Laesch has long been a champion against corruption, tirelessly advocating for a brand of politics that prioritizes people over profits. However, should he win the race in April, he will inevitably face the same pressures that have swayed Irvin and countless other elected officials before him.
Whether Aurora is on the brink of another Irvin administration or poised for a new chapter under Laesch, one thing remains clear: the community must not waver in its demand for ethics reform. Complacency is not an option.
Aurora residents, keep speaking up. Keep showing up. Keep fighting for meaningful change.
While campaign donation reform may seem like a daunting challenge at the state or national level, it is well within reach in local politics. As former Alderman Judd Lofchie aptly reminded the City Council, “We’re the second-largest city in Illinois, and we should be a leader in these things.”
Unveiling the Evidence: 35 Stories That Question Mayor Irvin's Integrity
1) Scientel Solutions
The tale of Scientel Solutions, a telecommunications company, is one of the few examples of corruption that has been well covered by news outlets, largely due to its close ties to Mayor Irvin’s gubernatorial funder, Citadel’s Ken Griffin.
For those unfamiliar with the Scientel saga, here are the key points:
In 2017, soon after Mayor Irvin's election, Scientel approached the city with a proposal to construct a new data tower near I-88 and Eola Rd. Initially, the city council rejected the request, citing the proximity to a recently built data tower by CyrusOne across the street.
Following a donation to the Mayor and a commitment to relocate Scientel's headquarters to Aurora, Mayor Irvin exerted pressure on council members to approve the tower proposal. The resolution was brought back to the council and approved several months later.
Subsequently, CyrusOne filed a lawsuit against the City of Aurora, claiming that Scientel's new tower would disrupt the operations of their own recently constructed data tower.
Bloomberg News aptly dubbed the conflict 'The Gazillion-Dollar Standoff Over Two High-Frequency Trading Towers,' emphasizing that these towers were crucial for major Wall Street firms engaged in stock trading. The firms that managed to relay their data to the New York Stock Exchange the fastest would gain a significant financial edge over their competitors.
In their lawsuit, CyrusOne asserted that their tower was intended to level the playing field among financial firms by having all companies share the same tower. This approach was meant to eliminate the previous practice of firms mounting their satellites on poles along Eola Rd in an attempt to gain a trading advantage.
Crain’s Chicago Business later confirmed in their article “Why Ken Griffin Picked Richard Irvin For Illinois Governor” that the data tower Scientel sought to construct was intended for use by Ken Griffin’s trading firm, Citadel. This implied that Scientel’s data tower would have provided Griffin’s financial firm with a substantial advantage over competitors relying on the CyrusOne tower.
As part of the lawsuit settlement, Citadel was prohibited from using the Scientel tower for their trading activities and instead set up operations at the CyrusOne tower alongside their competitors.
Despite this setback for Ken Griffin, Scientel Solutions had already relocated their headquarters from Lombard to Aurora, and the relationship between Scientel and Mayor Irvin remained strong.
Alongside donations totaling tens of thousands of dollars from Scientel, its founder Nelson Santos, and its employees, to Mayor Irvin, the company has secured millions of dollars in technology and security contracts with the City of Aurora. These contracts encompass various services, including the purchase and maintenance of over 500 CCTV surveillance cameras and IT network support.
Mayor Irvin has also indulged in luxurious vacations with Scientel's founder, Nelson Santos, over the years. Notably, this includes a private jet trip to Florida with his girlfriend, Laura, as confirmed by Crain’s Chicago Business.
In total, Mayor Irvin has received nearly $100,00 in campaign donations from Scientel and its employees. Additionally, nearly $100,000 more has been contributed to the Build R Future PAC, managed by Irvin’s longtime Mayoral campaign manager, Dennis Cook. This PAC, which ceased operations in late 2024, has supported Irvin and several of his city council allies over the years. As the PAC was closing down, it funneled its remaining $38,746 over to Mayor Irvin’s campaign in September 2024.
Notably, Scientel Solutions has also made contributions to several of Mayor Irvin’s allies on the City Council, including donations totaling nearly $20,000 to Alderman-at-Large Ron Woerman. Smaller contributions have been made to former 1st ward Alderman Emmanual Llamas, 2nd ward Alderwoman Juany Garza, 5th ward Alderman Carl Franco, and 10th ward Alderwoman Schweta Baid.
“You’d never guess that wealth and power in America converge here, at the intersection of Diehl and Eola roads, off Interstate 88, west of Chicago. But not everything is as it seems in Aurora, Illinois” - Bloomberg, April 21, 2022
2) CY LLC (DBA 180 Engineering)
CY LLC coordinates Aurora’s temporary employment program for various departments within the city. They also provide professional development and training services for the IT division. Previously, the City of Aurora sourced contract employees through the Robert Half staffing agency but approved the switch to CY LLC in November 2018.
According to a presentation given to the city council, the company also works with Scientel Solutions.
Notably, on the same day the city council approved the resolution to switch services to CY LLC, Nelson Santos, the owner of Scientel Solutions, and his wife, Karen, donated $10,000 to Mayor Irvin.
Following this, beginning in September of the following year, Mayor Irvin started receiving regular contributions from CY LLC. To date, these donations, including those from CY LLC’s CEO, Joe Coletta, have exceeded $23,000.
According to OpenCorporations.com, SAC wireless was previously listed as an agent of CY LLC. SAC Wireless is a subsidiary of Nokia who, along with Scientel Solutions, is involved in a Public-Private Partnership scheme with the City of Aurora around the Irvin administration's “Smart City” initiative.
3) Smart City Capital / Ice Miller LLP
In August 2018, The Mayor’s Office proposed a contract with Smart City Capital for the installation of digital kiosks across Aurora. The kiosks were intended to serve dual purposes: providing information from the city and featuring advertisements from national and local businesses. While the City Council initially delayed approval to allow time for the final negotiations, they ultimately approved a five-year agreement with Smart City Capital in October 2018.
Earlier that year, in May 2018, Bart Murphy, a partner at Ice Miller LLP a law firm serving as outside counsel for the Mayor’s Office on the partnership with Smart City Media– made a $250 donation to Mayor Irvin. This contribution coincided with the city beginning discussions with Smart City Capital regarding potential partnerships tied to the Irvin administration's proposed “Smart City” initiative.
In connection with the evolving partnership with Smart City Capital, and as part of the Irvin administration's ambition to establish Aurora as a regional tech hub, the City of Aurora launched 605 Innovation District in Downtown Aurora in July 2019, an initiative that now appears to be defunct.
During the district’s launch, Oscar Bode, the CEO of Smart City Capital, delivered a speech and was featured alongside Mayor Irvin on the district’s website as a key stakeholder in its plans. Guest speakers at the district launch event also included Scientel Solutions President, Nelson Santos.
Notably, one month prior to the launch, Gary Blachman, another partner at Ice Miller LLP, made a $250 donation to Mayor Irvin.
In the Spring of 2020, the City of Aurora’s relationship with Smart City Capital was poised to expand as the city was exploring a $300 million Public-Private Partnership with the company, which aimed to incorporate several smart city initiatives. As news outlets began reporting that the deal was nearing its final negotiations, Oscar Bode, the Smart City Capital CEO, made its only donation to Mayor Irvin, contributing $1,000 in July 2020.
When the Smart City Capital Public-Private Partnership was presented to the city’s Infrastructure and Technology Committee, the committee told city staff not to pursue any such partnerships until it was recommended by the committee, and the full City Council.
According to the city’s Corporate Counsel, Richard Veenstra, during a February 2021 City Council meeting, the Smart City Capital discussions ultimately broke down, resulting in the termination of the proposed Public-Private Partnership.
Despite the collapse of the deal, and explicit instructions from the Council committee not to proceed with any similar agreements, the Irvin administration continued collaborating with Ice Miller LLP to develop a framework for a Smart City Public-Private Partnership.
City staff justified this continued work with the expectation that the city would eventually pursue a similar partnership in the future. The decision sparked a heated exchange between former Alderman Judd Lochie and Mayor Irvin when a $115,000 payment to the law firm appeared on the agenda for City Council to approve.
Ice Miller LLP has not made any further contributions to Mayor Irvin.
4) Strive Strategies
Strive Strategies is a political consulting firm in Oakbrook owned by Dennis Cook. Mr. Cook has served as Mayor Irvin’s campaign manager since his 2017 run for Mayor, and oversaw the recently closed political action committee, Build R Future PAC.
One year following his election, Mayor Irvin and his administration worked to dissolve the Aurora Election Commission, which was responsible for overseeing elections in the city. The dissolution transferred the responsibility of elections from the commission to the local counties.
“Others defend the commission as a convenience to Aurora voters, and a hedge against politics and the possibility of playing games with the elections” - Chicago Tribune, March 15, 2018
The move significantly increased Mayor Irvin’s influence over the items that appear on the ballot each election cycle, as he now serves as the head of a three-person board responsible for overseeing any objections filed against candidates or ballot initiatives.
This position grants Mayor Irvin the authority to impact what candidates and resolutions voters will see on their election ballots. In this year’s election cycle, the board threw out an advisory question on campaign donation limits that would have appeared on the April 2025 ballot after an objection was brought by 8th ward Alderwoman Patty Smith.
Strive Strategies played a pivotal role in the effort to dissolve the election commission, overseeing the dissemination of information to persuade voters to approve the closure of the original election commission.
Following the approval from Aurora voters, Strive Strategies assisted the city in the process of dissolving the commission, earning the firm $27,500 in fees.
An additional payment was made to the firm in 2021, for the printing and silk screening of items for the Aurora Alderman’s office. It is unclear if this service was executed at the behest of the Mayor or an Alderman.
Notably, the firm has also supported the campaigns of several of Irvin's closest allies on the City Council. This includes acting as the campaign treasurer for 8th ward Alderwoman Patty Smith, and working on the campaigns for Alderman-at-Large Ron Woerman, former 1st ward Alderman Emmanual Llamas, 5th ward Alderman Carl Franco, 7th ward Alderman Brandon Tolliver, and 10th ward Alderwoman Schweta Baid
5) Fox Valley Developers
Referred to as a local “dream team” by David Dibo, the Executive Director at the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, Fox Valley Developers encompasses a complex web of businesses, partnerships, and sub-entities. This network includes several individuals with close ties to Mayor Irvin and Alderman-at-Large Ron Woerman. Alderman Ron Woermann was also a founder of the group prior to stepping down once he was elected to the city council in 2021.
The official Fox Valley Developers Group includes:
-Michael Poulikidas: Owner of JTE Properties/Real Estate Services, a close ally of Mayor Irvin and former treasurer to his election campaign, who also employs Irvin’s ex-wife Crystal Rollins. Michael also owns O’Malley’s Pub, which houses John’s Beef n Beer, where Alderman-at-Large Ron Woerman is a general manager. Additionally, he co-owns Spartan Ale House with Alderman Woerman.
-Russell Woerman: Owner of KWCC Construction and brother of Alderman-at-Large Ron Woerman
-Dr. Stathis Poulikidas: Brother of Michael Poulikidas
-Jason Konrad: Owner of Konrad Construction
-Paul Konrad: Former WGN weather anchor and brother of Jason Konrad
The group also works under the below sub-entities:
-80 S River St LLC: Setup as part of the redevelopment of the former West Aurora School District admin center
- Fox Valley Apartments: Setup as part of the redevelopment of the former Todd & Lincoln Schools
-S Lincoln Ave Development Corp: Setup as part of the redevelopment of the former Copley Hospital
-Metro West Developers: an offshoot group that also includes Aurora Wiring & Fixture Company.
Other Groups:
-Kluber Architects is also a sub-contractor to the Fox Valley Developers, working on several of their redevelopment projects including work on the Old Copley Hospital project.
-The group is represented by public relations firm Culloton & Bauer Luce (formerly known as Culloton Strategies)
In addition to their numerous questionable connections to Mayor Irvin and current Alderman-at-Large Ron Woerman, including involvement in political campaigns, the employment of Irvin’s ex-wife, and joint business ventures, Fox Valley Developers and its associated entities have donated almost $60,000 directly to Mayor Irvin’s campaign and another $35,000 to the Irvin-linked PAC Build R Future.
In return, the group has become one of the Irvin administrations favored developers for projects across the city, earning them more than $24 million in redevelopment incentives, tax-sharing agreements, and city contracts.
Notably, the development group has also donated to the campaigns of several Irvin allies on city council including Alderman-at-Large Ron Woerman, former 1st ward Alderman Emmanuel Llamas, 5th ward Alderman Carl Franco, and 8th ward Alderwoman Patty Smith.
6) Cordogan, Clark, & Associates
Initially a ‘behind the scenes’ player during the Irvin administration, Cordogan and Clark was awarded a contract for the design and construction of the new Aurora Fire Department headquarters in October 2023.
Since then, they have received over $1 million in payments.
Prior to 2023, the company was involved in projects with other key figures tied to Irvin’s pay-to-play schemes, including the design and construction of the Eola Rd headquarters for Scientel Solutions and partnering with the Fox Valley Developers group on the Todd and Lincoln school housing development.
Additionally, the group is expected to be involved in the proposed ‘APEX’ entertainment district near the Outlet Mall and incoming Hollywood Casino announced by Mayor Irvin in January.
In total, Cordogan and Clark and its employees have donated more than $27,000 to Mayor Irvin and received almost $1.3 million in payments from the city, with more payments expected in connection to the new fire station.
7) DAC Developments
Readers of Uncover Aurora will recognize the name DAC developments from the previously released investigation regarding the group's riverfront luxury apartments in Downtown Aurora.
The development group, owned and operated by the family of disgraced political fundraiser and infamous Chicago slumlord, Tony Rezko- convicted on corruption charges in connection to the 2008 arrest of Governor Blagojevich- has been another obvious example of pay to play with Mayor Irvin.
Documents published last month have provided the clearest view yet of the connection between Mayor Irvin’s campaign contributions from the group, and work performed by city employees to help advance the development. From the project's initial proposal to its groundbreaking ceremony, whenever the Rezko family needed assistance from city staff to advance their profitable venture, they strategically donated to Mayor Irvin.
Following an additional $10,000 in donations on March 5th, 2025 from Geneva Captial, the bank backing the project, and ENC Construction, the construction company involved, Mayor Irvin’s campaign contributions tied to this development now total nearly $30,000. At the same time, DAC has received substantial support from the city to get their development off the ground, including approvals for $12.6 million in taxpayer funding. To date, at least $11.1 million of that funding has been distributed.
8) Windfall Group (Pacific Square LLC)
Eddie Ni, whose Chinatown scheme was a key part of the corruption charges against House Speaker Michael Madigan, owns the development company Windfall Group.
Uncover Aurora’s initial investigation into The Windfall Group's pay-to-play practices with Mayor Irvin revealed a pattern of donations linked to the group's purchase and redevelopment of the Pacifica Square Plaza on New York St and Route 59.
A subsequent investigation delved into the pay-to-play connections related to the developers previously planned West Bank Apartments in Downtown Aurora.
Emails obtained via FOIA requests indicate that the city eventually soured on the West Bank apartment project, which now appears to have been shelved, according to sources familiar with the project.
Despite the setback in the city’s relationship with the developer, the connection remains strong as Eddie Ni’s daughter, Judy, who is also employed with the Windfall Group, now sits on the Board of Directors for the city’s new regional economic alliance, where Mayor Irvin also serves on the Executive Committee.
Collectively, The Windfall Group, along with its employees, lawyers, business partners, and subcontractors, have contributed over $45,000 to Mayor Irvin's campaign. In return, they have received more than $2.1 million in incentives and funds through their tax-sharing agreements with the city so far, with millions more expected to be paid out in the future.
Note: The Schain Banks law firm, which represents the Windfall Group, began employing Aurora's Corporate Counsel, Richard Veenstra, in November 2022. Since then, the City of Aurora has restructured Mr. Veenstra's position into a contract role, issuing payments directly to the Schain Banks law firm for his city-related work.
9) Del Galdo Law Group
Del Galdo Law Group, a law firm that describes itself as "one of the most prominent political firms in the state," and whose founder holds deep ties to disgraced House Speaker Michael Madigan, has provided legal services to the Irvin administration over the years for many of the city’s redevelopment deals.
The law firm has been involved in many of the deals plagued with "pay-to-play" allegations between developers and Mayor Irvin. These deals include:
The Pacifica Square (formerly known as Yorkshire Plaza) deal with The Windfall Group
The Hobbs building deal involving JH Real Estate
A deal with Fox Valley Developers involving the old West Aurora School District building
The Keystone Lofts and Lofts on Broadway deal with Urban Equities Properties
The development deal with DAC Developments
In addition to their involvement in these controversial city dealings, the law firm has engaged in a similar pattern of campaign donations to Mayor Irvin.
In December 2017, the firm made their first donation of $1,000 to Mayor Irvin, coinciding with the city's initial enlistment of the firm for legal services. The first payment to the Del Galdo group was issued in February 2018.
The firm continued to donate $1,000 annually to Mayor Irvin until 2021, when the donation amount was reduced to $750. The 2021 donation was the last known contribution from the group, although payments to the firm continued until January 2024.
In total, the law firm donated close to $5,000 to Mayor Irvin's campaign and received nearly $200,000 in payments from the City of Aurora.
Notably, the firm also represented Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard during her contentious battle with the Dolton Village Board following numerous lawsuits and corruption claims before eventually dropping Henyard as a client due to non-payment.
10) Urban Equities Properties (Urban Equity Partners)
Urban Equities Properties, a developer based in Rockford, Illinois, redeveloped two historic Downtown buildings, the Keystone Building and the Terminal Building, into luxury apartments.
As part of the redevelopment deal for the Terminal building, initially described as a deal for “market rate” apartments, the City of Aurora sold the building to the developers for $1 and allocated $1.2 million in taxpayer incentives to the project. The original agreement included $675,000 in taxpayer funding, but the city later increased this amount to $975,000 and agreed to forgive an additional $200,000 in interest tied to city-funded construction loans.
Furthermore, the city established a Tax Increment Financial (TIF) district encompassing the building, providing additional tax benefits to the developer.
For the Keystone building, the city entered a redevelopment deal that provided the company with an additional $1.2 million in incentives, including $1 million in city grants and $200,000 in loan interest forgiveness for the $1.7 million in construction loans the City of Aurora also provided the developers for the project.
The deals for the Keystone and Terminal buildings were approved by City council in February 2019, and the City of Aurora paid out the construction loans for the projects in May and June 2019. The following December, Urban Equities Properties made their first donation to Mayor Irvin, contributing $1,000.
Urban Equities Properties contributed to Mayor Irvin one more time after this with a $175 donation in September 2023.
11) TW Cafe (Silver Oaks Cafe)
“Our community makes the difference. We buy into that, and they buy into us, so we are loyal to our customers, to the City of Aurora, and to the Mayor, as they are loyal to us.”
- TW Cafe Representative, Planning Commission Meeting 09/25/2018
In September 2017, city staff presented to the City Council their concerns regarding the Hollywood Casino’s declining revenue, attributing the growth of video gaming terminals as a significant factor in the revenue loss. In response, in March 2018, the City Council approved new regulations for video gaming terminals, including the adoption of a rule prohibiting more than one licensed location within a half-mile radius of another.
In May 2018, two months after the enactment of the new video gaming regulations, Silver Oaks Cafe, the owner of Tracy’s Gaming Cafe and TW Gambling Cafe, both situated along Route 59 near the Fox Valley Mall, made its first contribution to Mayor Irvin’s campaign, donating $500.
Steve Dellis, the owner of Silver Oaks Cafe, planned to open the second gambling parlor– TW Cafe. However, TW Cafe was only 0.2 miles away from Hooters, which also operates gaming terminals. This proximity violated the recently implemented regulations that required a minimum separation of a half mile separation between establishments offering video gaming.
On August 7, 2018 Steve Dellis submitted a petition to the City of Aurora for a gambling license for TW Cafe. City staff promptly moved to approve the application, submitting a request for approval to the City Council the following week. The council then referred the petition to the city’s Planning Council, a requirement under the new regulations.
When the petition made it to the city’s Planning Commission, following review by the Planning Council, Commissioner Ken Cameron posed the question to Steve Dellis “Why should we violate the new ordinance? What reasons do you have for making us decide, on a new ordinance, to violate it the first time out of the box?” In response, a representative for TW Cafe stated, “We have a really darn good menu, but for us to do that it just makes more sense. It pays our rent.”
Another commission member, Carol Tidwell, pointed her question to city staff “I would like to understand the rationale behind staff’s recommendation for this given the recent ordinance and the fact that this does not comply with that.”
Despite facing tough questions by the Planning Commission, the application advanced with a 6-3 vote and was approved by the full City Council on September 25th.
One week later, on October 2nd, Steve Dellis made a donation of $1,000 to Mayor Irvin.
Silver Oaks donated one more time to Mayor Irvin one week after his re-election for Aurora Mayor in April 2021, contributing $2,000.
12) Barnes & Thornburg
Barnes & Thornburg, a prominent lobbying firm, has been representing the City of Aurora since approximately August 2021. Their primary role involves managing various matters between the city and federal government agencies, including the IRS and the Census Bureau, as well as representing the city on the Federal Relations Council.
Notably, the firm made a $5,000 donation to Mayor Irvin in December 2021, just a few months after their professional relationship with the city began.
According to OpenSecrets, the amount of money the city has spent on federal lobbying has surged since retaining Barnes & Thornburg in 2021. The city's lobbying expenses increased from a negligible amount to more than $150,000 in 2024. City expense reports indicate that approximately $312,000 was paid to the firm from 2022 to 2024, matching the total reported by OpenSecrets based on data from the Senate Office of Public Record.
13) Verizon Wireless
In 2018, Verizon Wireless entered into a lease agreement with the City of Aurora to utilize space on a city owned communications tower off of Diehl Rd. The agreement allowed Verizon to install equipment used for transmitting and receiving phone signals in the area.
The resolution for the agreement was initially held as the city’s IT department wanted to review various issues regarding the placement of the equipment on the tower.
Following additional city review, the resolution to approve the agreement was passed by the City Council in October 2018. On October 2, 2018, the same day the resolution passed the Committee of the Whole and was confirmed to be headed for final approval the following week, a Verizon-affiliated group known as the ‘Verizon Good Government Club - Illinois’ made a $1,000 donation to Mayor Irvin.
This was the first and last time the group donated to the Mayor.
14) Peerless Industries (Peerless-AV)
Peerless Industries is a local manufacturer of audio/video devices and mounting solutions, overseen by company President, John Potts.
In May 2024, Mr. Potts made his first donation of $500 to Mayor Irvin. Less than two months later, the City of Aurora purchased an 85” touch screen display and wall mount from the company. This purchase was followed by another $1,800 donation directly from the company in August.
No further donations have been made to Mayor Irvin, and no additional purchases have been made from Peerless Industries.
15) Panattoni Development Company
Panattoni Development Company completed the construction of a new warehouse along Sullivan Rd in January 2025.
The project, which required the city to approve a zoning change from conditional use office zoning to “Office, Research and Light Industrial” zoning, first went before the City Council for approval in August of 2018.
Following that August approval of the preliminary development plan, the company donated $1,000 to Mayor Irvin in March 2019.
This is the first and only donation the company has made to the Mayor.
16) TinkRWorks / APS Academy (APS Data Tech)
After being elected in 2017, Mayor Irvin brought his stepbrother, Michael Pegues, from Wall St. back to Aurora to be the City’s Chief Information Officer (CIO). Mr. Pegues, after being introduced to TinkRWorks CEO, Anu Mahajan, began collaborating with TinkRWorks to oversee a program for youth in the city to learn coding and tech.
In July 2020, TinkRWorks CEO, Anu Mahajan, donated $1,000 to Mayor Irvin’s campaign account. Three months later, in October 2020, TinkRWorks was awarded a $100,000 contract for a STEAM pilot program. The following April, a week after Mayor Irvin re-elected, TinkRWorks’ Anu Mahajan donated another $1,000.
Since 2020, TinkRWorks has earned more $500,000 in relation to its STEAM contract.
In addition to donating to Mayor Irvin directly, the company also partnered with APS Academy, a business owned by another major Irvin campaign donor, Harish Ananthapadmanabhan of JH Real Estate for its STEAM programs.
Mr. Ananthapadmanabhan, and his business partner, Jay Punukollu, have donated more than $20,000 to Mayor Irvin and another $48,000 to the Build R Future PAC. In turn, their real estate ventures have garnered millions in incentives from the city. Additionally, members of Aurora’s IT department, led by CIO Michael Pegues, worked with APS Data Tech (APS Academy), at no cost, to develop the city’s recently launched tourist app, which is owned by APS Data Tech.
In 2024, APS Academy took over the Aurora STEAM contract as the sole provider of services, and signed a 5-year agreement with the City of Aurora for $2.52 million.
City of Aurora CIO Michael Pegues sits on the Board of Directors for APS Academy.
17) Marketplace.city
Marketplace.city is a startup specifically focused on assisting state and local governments in acquiring technology products and services.
The company signed a deal with the City of Aurora in late 2019 for a pilot program to handle the city’s IT procurement services, making Aurora the first city to utilize the service for comprehensive, end to end procurement. This partnership has since become a significant highlight in the company’s marketing strategy.
The City of Aurora renewed this program in December 2021, with the City Council approving a 3-year agreement with the company. This renewal followed a $500 donation from the company’s CEO and Co-founder, Chris Foreman, in June 2021.
The next donation from Mr. Foreman came near the end of that 3-year agreement, a $500 contribution in September 2024.
The 2021 agreement included the option to renew the contract for an additional two years at the end of the 3-year period, which means the City Council would not be required to approve the 2024 extension if initiated. It is unclear whether the contract was indeed renewed at that time.
Notably, the company does not charge the city for its procurement services. Instead, it levies a fee on the winning vendors amounting to 7% of their contract value. This business model raises potential concerns, as the company's financial incentive may prioritize recommending vendors with higher-cost services.
18) Big Belly Solar
The City of Aurora initiated a search for "Smart" waste bins to enhance the efficiency of garbage pickups at Phillips Park. These bins are designed to provide real-time data on when a pickup is necessary, as opposed to adhering to a standard schedule. This approach aims to reduce the costs associated with unnecessary pickups during slower seasons.
In 2023, the City of Aurora enlisted Marketplace.city's assistance in procuring a vendor for the "smart" bins project. According to project details provided in the proposal to the City Council, the city had initiated the search for these bins in 2019. However, the project was put on hold due to shifting priorities related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the project hold period, in February 2021, a vendor for smart waste bins, Big Belly Solar, donated $1,000 to Mayor Irvin. Subsequently, Big Belly Solar was awarded a $800,000 contract with the City of Aurora in 2023. So far, $121,000 has been paid out to the company.
Notably, the two other companies that were considered for the contract, Nordsense Inc and Wastequip, have not donated to Mayor Irvin.
19) Progressive Energy Group (PEG)
Progressive Energy Group, an energy consulting company, signed a deal with the City of Aurora in 2019 to act as the city’s exclusive energy consulting and procurement partner.
PEG assisted the City of Aurora in selecting Eligo Energy as the city’s energy aggregator the same year. The contract with Eligo Energy was extended in June 2021, two months before PEG made their first donation to Mayor Irvin, contributing $800 in August 2021. An additional donation for $1,000 was sent in December 2021.
The next donation from the company was a $1,000 contribution received in March 2023, coinciding with the company’s collaboration with the Irvin administration to identify a lessee for city land for solar energy projects.
Weeks before the PEG proposal to award a lease agreement to SunCode LLC was submitted to the city’s Building, Zoning, and Economic Committee, the company made an additional $800 donation to Mayor Irvin. The proposal was approved on August 8, 2023, and was followed by another $250 donation from PEG in November 2023.
The next donations to Mayor Irvin were received in March and August 2024, with PEG contributing $500 and $800, respectively. One month after the August donation, in September 2024, an amendment to the SunCode LLC lease agreement was presented to and approved by the City Council. Following this, the company’s founder, Arnie Schramel, made a $500 donation to Mayor Irvin.
20) SunCode LLC
In September 2023, Aurora’s City Council approved a lease agreement with SunCode LLC for the construction of three solar energy fields through Aurora - two at the Aurora Municipal Airport and one at a landfill site at Rte 25 and Sullivan Rd.
The bidding process for this project was managed by Aurora’s energy broker, Progressive Energy Group, which received proposals from six companies: US Solar, SunCode Energy, NexAmp, Forefront, 548 Energy Solutions, and GNRE Energy.
According to campaign records, only one company, SunCode LLC, made a campaign donation to Mayor Irvin, contributing $1,000 in April 2023, just three months before the resolution was presented to the city’s Building, Zoning, and Economic Development Committee, the initial step prior to full City Council approval.
An amendment to the lease agreement was presented to Aurora’s City Council a year later, in September 2024. According to discussion at that City Council meeting, the purpose of the amendment was to add language which would assign SunCode LLC the responsibility of coordinating with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in relation to the development.
SunCode LLC made an additional $2,500 donation to Mayor Irvin on March 5, 2025.
21) Duke Realty
In May 2019, Duke Realty, headed by its Vice President of Leasing and Development, Susan Bergdoll, submitted a petition to Aurora’s Planning and Zoning Division requesting the city to terminate an ordinance that defined a part of company owned land along Duke Parkway on the far east side as a public right-of-way.
Prior to the petition submission, Susan Bergdoll made two donations to Mayor Irvin for $1,000 in March and another $1,000 in April 2019.
Mrs. Bergdoll made one additional donation to Mayor Irvin for $250 in June 2020, seemingly unrelated to any city business. This marks the last time Bergdoll or any Duke Realty associate has donated to Mayor Irvin.
22) Mega Fun Park
In March 2021, Mega Fun Park, an indoor amusement center located on the city’s west side, submitted an application to the City of Aurora seeking approval for a liquor license to permit on-site alcoholic beverage sales to customers.
Less than two weeks before submitting the final application, Lewandowski made his first donation to Mayor Irvin, contributing $1,000. The liquor license was then recommended by city staff and approved by the City Council in April 2021.
Pawel Lewandowski donated to Mayor Irvin one more time in April 2023, contributing $500.
23) Community Digital Displays
At the December 17, 2024 City Council meeting, Aldermen approved a 20-year lease agreement with BRT Outdoor Inc. to install digital signs throughout the city.
Under the agreement, the signs will be provided at no cost to the city and will be funded through advertising sales to local and national companies. The company will not be required to pay rent to the city for leasing the space but will instead provide a free 10-second advertising slot for city communication or event promotions.
The first sign is planned for installation at Aurora’s Municipal Airport.
Eight months prior to the City Council’s approval of the deal, as the company initiated discussions with the city, the company’s Site Development and Municipality Relations Manager, Bill Przyblyski, made a $250 donation to Mayor Irvin.
24) Storage of America / SFI Properties
In June 2022, the City of Aurora entered into a cost-sharing agreement with Storage of America, a storage facility company based in Indiana, and SFI properties, the owner of the old Carson Pirie Scott building on Lake St, to turn the former department store into a new storage facility. The agreement, worth 45,000, represented one third of the total construction cost of the redevelopment project.
The agreement was approved despite significant pushback from neighbors who felt that the city could do better than turning the building into a storage facility and feared the move would turn the once bustling shopping center into a “dead” zone. Around 40 people showed up to the City Council meeting asking the city to delay the approval for one year to allow the residents time to search for alternate options for the space.
Despite the concerns, and requests from neighbors to collaborate with the city for a better use of the space, the City Council passed the agreement in a 6-6 vote, with Mayor Irvin casting a rare tie breaking vote to move the resolution forward.
Six months earlier, in December 2021, as the city was negotiating the agreement with the two parties, Storage of America donated $625 to Mayor Irvin.
Following the contentious vote, the property’s landlord, SFI Properties, donated an additional $500 to Mayor Irvin.
The donations marked both the first and last time that Storage of America and SFI Properties contributed to Mayor Irvin.
25) V3 Companies of Illinois
V3 Companies, an engineering firm based in Woodridge, was awarded their first contract under the Irvin administration in September 2017 for the extension of Eola Road to Route 30. Six months later, the Municipal Market Leader, Kurt Corrigan, donated $250 to Mayor Irvin.
The next donation, for $500, was received two years later in September 2020. This was followed by a $250 donation in February 2021 and an $800 donation in August 2021.
Subsequently, the company secured their second and third contracts under the Irvin administration in October and November 2021. These contracts were for work on a railroad crossing off Montgomery Rd and resurfacing work along East New York St.
City documents indicate that pre-work for the projects began in early 2021, with some documents provided by the company bearing a date of July 2021.
Notably, two other companies that were considered for the Montgomery Rd contract, Baxter & Woodman and HW Lochner, have not given campaign donations to Mayor Irvin. Additionally, two other companies that were considered for the New York St project, Civiltech Engineering and Thomas Engineering Group, also have not donated to the Mayor.
There were no donations or city contracts in 2022.
Then, in July 2023, the company donated $650 to Mayor Irvin after being awarded a new contract from the city for a resurfacing project along Galena Blvd and Hankes Rd in April 2023.
The two other companies that were considered for Galena & Hankes contract, Thomas Engineering Group and Ardmore Roderick, have not given campaign donations to Mayor Irvin.
The company’s now Vice President of Municipal Engineering, Kurt Corrigan, submitted a final campaign donation in July 2024 for $650, though no contracts have since been awarded to the firm.
26) Volunteer Supply Industries
Each year, the City of Aurora’s electrical division requests bids for replacement light poles and fixtures for various locations throughout the city.
In 2022, Volunteer Supply Industries, a local tech company, was awarded the contract from the city for the first time. The contract was approved by the City Council in August 2022.
Four months later, in December 2022, the company donated $1,000 to Mayor Irvin.
The company was given three more contracts starting in August 2023 and continuing through 2024, amounting to $857,000. Alongside these awards, the company made an additional $1,000 donation to Mayor Irvin in June 2024.
The new contracts bring the company’s total contract awards to more than $1.2 million, with $500,000 already disbursed.
27) Burwood Group
The City of Aurora authorized multiple purchases throughout 2024 for up to $445,000 with the Burwood Group, an IT consulting group. These purchases were for video conferencing hardware and services for the Aurora Police Department and new Public Work Facility on Liberty St.
In September 2024, the Account Executive with the Burwood Group, Brice Babbs, donated $500 to Mayor Irvin.
28) The Pizzuti Companies
In January 2019, the City of Aurora entered into a Redevelopment Agreement (RDA) with the developer The Pizzuti Companies for the construction of a warehouse and distribution center off of Mitchell Rd. The property was situated on land that was part of a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district.
According to the company's website, the city agreed to fund public improvements related to the development, amounting to $2.9 million. The bond issued for the improvements will then be paid back using funds held in the TIF district.
Following the January agreement, The Pizzuti Companies donated $500 to Mayor Irvin.
This is the first and only donation the company has made to the Mayor.
29) Christopher B Burke Engineering
Christopher B. Burke Engineering, an engineering firm based in Rosemont, IL, submitted a proposal to the City of Aurora in April 2017 for services related to the Aurora Transportation Center. Shortly after, on June 25, the company made a $1,000 donation to Mayor Irvin.
Four months later, on October 10, the Irvin administration submitted a resolution to the city's finance committee to award the project contract to the firm. The full City Council approved the contract two weeks later, followed by an additional $1,000 donation to Mayor Irvin three months afterward.
In May 2018, the company donated another $1,000 to Mayor Irvin, just three months before submitting a second proposal for additional services at the Aurora Transportation Center in August. By December, a resolution to award Christopher B. Burke Engineering the contract was submitted and approved by the Aurora City Council. This was followed by another $1,000 donation to Mayor Irvin in April 2019.
On September 4, 2020, Christopher B. Burke Engineering made a $750 donation to Mayor Irvin just four days before the full city council approved another contract for work at the Aurora Transportation Center. A final contract for services at the transportation center was approved in December 2020.
No donations were received, nor contracts awarded, in 2021, 2022, or 2023.
In October 2024, the company submitted a $1,000 donation to Mayor Irvin, and another $1,000 was donated in February 2025, although no resolutions have been presented to the city council to award the company additional contracts.
In total, the company sent $5,750 in donations and has received nearly $213,000 from their awarded contracts.
30) Leopardo Construction
Leopardo Construction, a construction company based in Hoffman Estates, was awarded its first contract with the City of Aurora in August 2024 for the construction of Aurora’s three new Fire Stations – Stations # 4, #9, and #13. Two additional contracts were awarded to the company in October 2024 related to the construction of stations #9 and #13. Collectively, the contracts are valued at over $28 million.
Following these contract awards, the company made its first donation to Mayor Irvin, contributing $2,500 in January 2025.
31) Roger C Marquardt & Co
Roger C Marquardt & Co has served as a lobbyist for the City of Aurora since March 2022. The firm's primary role involves managing various matters between the city and state government, services that cost the city over $6,000 every month. Prior to the city’s retention of their lobbying services, the firm made a $1,000 to Mayor Irvin in June 2021.
No donations from the company were received in 2022. Then, as the contract with the firm was being renewed in December 2023, Roger C Marquadt & Co sent $3,000 in donations to the Build R Future PAC run by Irvin’s mayoral campaign manager, Dennis Cook.
No donations from the firm have been received since.
32) Casa Blanca Supermercado
In early 2020, the Casa Blanca Supermercado on the city’s east side, experienced a change in corporate ownership. The change required the new owners to receive city council approval for their liquor license renewal. The company submitted their application to the city in April.
Subsequently, the company made their first and only donation to Mayor Irvin, contributing $250 in July 2020
Their liquor license then began the process through the City Council in October and was ultimately approved in December.
33) HeplerBroom LLC
HeplerBroom, a Chicago-based law firm, provided legal services to the City of Aurora, focusing on sign ordinance violations and an undisclosed audit, likely a financial audit.
Just days before being elected as Mayor in 2017, Ricky Hammond, a partner at the HeplerBroom firm, made his first donation to Mayor Irvin, contributing $5,000 on March 30th.
The firm’s first contract with the city was awarded in June 2018, and they continued to offer services until July 2022, when the last recorded payment was made.
Donations from the firm or its partners ceased in late 2019, with the final $500 donation on December 19, 2019.
34) Alarm Detections
Alarm Detections is a local security company responsible for managing security systems in City of Aurora owned buildings, including intrusion and fire alarms. Additionally, the company carries out ad-hoc tasks for the city, such as installing panic buttons in the city council chambers and various departments, creating additional door keys for city buildings, and providing fire protection equipment.
In total, the company has donated $21,000 to Mayor Irvin and has received over $1.3 million in payments from the City of Aurora.
35) FH Paschen
FH Paschen, a Chicago-based construction company, undertakes a wide array of projects for the City of Aurora. Their work has included supporting various building maintenance and repairs, as well as overseeing the build-outs for several city buildings.
Notably, they are managing the interior remodeling of city hall, including the completion of the city council chambers and the addition of the communications control center.
All together the company has donated just over $28,000 to Mayor Irvin and in return has received more than $12 million in payments from the City of Aurora.
Full List of Mayor Irvin Campaign Donors Who Have Received Payments from the City of Aurora
Disclaimer: Dear reader, the process of tracking city payments over the past eight years was conducted manually. While every effort has been made to incorporate thorough verifications and information checks to ensure accuracy, there is a possibility of minor data entry discrepancies. Any such errors are expected to be negligible and do not impact the overall intent, which is to provide a general overview of the data.
Welp! Ol’ shyster “Suburban Irvin” has been deposed by an unmelanated “african” of all things 😂