SARASOTA, Fla. – A long-running now-former Peoria Mayor whose last name is likely familiar to you has passed away.
An online obituary says Richard Carver died Friday in Sarasota, Florida, at the age of 85. Carver moved to Sarasota ten years ago.
A former Peoria City Council member, Carver ended up serving two decades as the city’s mayor. He is credited with helping to transform Peoria through the building of the Peoria Civic Center, among other accomplishments.
While serving on commissions for both Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, Carver led a “Mayors for Reagan” campaign, ending up Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management, ultimately spending three decades in the Nation’s Capital.
Carver’s wife of 63 years, Judith, died in January.
A memorial service will be held in Peoria at a later date.
