Don Gerard

Don Gerard is the current mayor of the city of Champaign, Illinois. He was previously a facilities manager at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign.

Early life and work
Don Gerard was born October 31, 1965 in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in Champaign, Illinois where he played in a number of local rock bands, including The Farmboys (with Adam Schmitt), The Bowery Boys (with Leroy Bach), The Moon Seven Times (with Lynn Canfield, Henry Frayne, and Brendan Gamble) on Roadrunner Records, and Steve Pride and His Blood Kin (with Jay Bennett).

Political career
On April 5, 2011 Gerard defeated three-term incumbent Gerald Schweighart.

On May 27, 2011 he joined REO Speedwagon on stage and played guitar on "Gloria" with the group at the Red Lion in Champaign.