Ricky Rivard

Ricky Rivard earned a high school diploma from Saint Charles High School and a graduate degree from Northern Illinois University in 2018. His career experience includes working as an adjunct professor.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

As a lifelong resident and parent raising my family here, my commitment to our community runs deep. I am running to put people first and center our shared experience—the real struggles of making ends meet—in the halls of Springfield. I hold a Master’s in Political Science from Northern Illinois University, but my most important education has come from listening to my neighbors. For over 20 years, my career has been defined by service: as a real estate agent, I help families find homes while witnessing the affordable housing crisis firsthand; as an adjunct professor, I teach the next generation about civic responsibility; and my decades in the service industry taught me the dignity of hard work and the power of listening.

I believe government should be a relentless force for good, not a distant bureaucracy. My campaign is built on tackling the affordability issues facing our families. I am focused on lowering the soaring costs of healthcare and childcare, fighting for true property tax relief by fixing how we fund our schools at the state level, and working to ensure accessible, attainable housing for all. These aren't abstract policies—they are the kitchen-table concerns that determine whether a family thrives or just gets by.

My promise is to be a voice that echoes our community's needs with empathy and unwavering resolve. When our workers succeed, our whole community succeeds. Together, we can build an Illinois where every family every can truly prosper.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

The central issue in this race is affordability. Families are being squeezed by the high costs of housing, healthcare, childcare, and education. As a parent and longtime resident, I experience these pressures directly. I will center the working family in every choice I make, because I know the value of a dollar and what it takes to build a secure life. I will fight to make our community more livable by advocating for affordable housing, lowering healthcare costs, expanding childcare access, and investing in our public schools. Everyone deserves a fair shot at a thriving future here.The promise of property tax relief has become an empty slogan for too many families in the 65th District. It's time for effectual change from Springfield. The core of the solution lies in properly funding our public schools at the state level and ending the burden of unfunded mandates on our local communities. When our schools are forced to rely overwhelmingly on local property taxes to meet their needs, homeowners and renters unfairly bear the cost. I will fight for a sustainable state education funding model that alleviates this pressure, ensuring our children receive a first-class education without overburdening the taxpayers. It's time to deliver real relief, not just rhetoric.For too long, the financial burden of rising costs and underfunded mandates has been placed squarely on the overworked shoulders of Illinois's working families. From the grocery store to the property tax bill, hard-earned dollars are stretched thin. I will center our shared experience in every decision, fighting for policies that put more money back into your household. By championing lower healthcare costs, true property tax relief, and ending unfair fees, we can ease the strain on your budget. When our workers succeed, we all succeed. It's time for practical, tangible solutions that strengthen your financial security and build a more affordable Illinois.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am personally passionate about the policies that hit your wallet and shape your daily life. My focus is on the four pillars of the affordability crisis squeezing Illinois families. First, childcare costs that are a second mortgage, forcing parents to make impossible choices. Second, fixing public education funding so our kids get a first-class education without bankrupting homeowners through unfair property taxes. Third, tackling healthcare costs—from prescription drugs to premiums—so no one has to choose between their health and their groceries. And fourth, fighting for accessible housing so that the dream of a safe, stable home is within reach for working people, not just the wealthy.