Rockford Mayor Resigns to Lead Illinois Municipal League

The mayor’s planned August departure will trigger a council-picked interim mayor and a special election next spring to finish his term.

Overview

Tom McNamara, which announced his decision Monday, will step down at the end of August to become CEO of the Illinois Municipal League and replace retiring chief Brad Cole.
Under Illinois law and Rockford’s municipal code the City Council will appoint a sitting alderman as interim mayor on Sept. 1 and a special election will be held next spring to fill the remainder of McNamara’s current term.
McNamara has led Rockford since 2017 and leaves before completing his third term, creating an open race that local observers say could draw candidates such as state Rep. Maurice West.
Separately, Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss said he will resign in October to run for Congress, the National Weather Service is surveying possible tornado damage from recent storms, and state SNAP enrollment has fallen about 16% year over year.
The Illinois Municipal League represents roughly 1,294 local governments at the Statehouse, so McNamara’s move shifts him from elected city leadership to a statewide municipal advocacy role with influence over local policy priorities.