Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara to Resign at End of August
Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara announced July 27 that he will resign at the end of August 2026 to become chief executive officer of the Illinois Municipal League.
The departure will change Rockford’s municipal leadership after McNamara has served as mayor since taking office in 2017. The city said it will provide additional updates during the transition.
McNamara’s next role
McNamara is leaving City Hall to lead the Illinois Municipal League, an organization that represents 1,294 municipalities across Illinois. The move will shift him from leading one city to heading a statewide organization focused on municipal government.
The City of Rockford’s announcement identified the end of August 2026 as the effective timing for his resignation. It did not give an exact final day in office.
McNamara’s tenure began in 2017. In describing his time as mayor, the city cited investments in neighborhoods, infrastructure, public safety, economic development and quality of life.
A transition for city government
McNamara’s resignation means Rockford will have to move through a leadership transition while continuing regular city operations. The announcement did not identify an interim mayor or explain the timetable and method for selecting the next mayor.
That leaves several practical questions for the city’s government, including who will lead the administration after McNamara leaves and how the transition will be organized. The city said it would release more information as the process moves forward.
The change affects the office responsible for coordinating the city’s work across the areas highlighted in the announcement: neighborhood investment, infrastructure, public safety, economic development and quality-of-life initiatives. The announcement did not say that any successor had been selected.
Upcoming city meetings
Rockford’s regular municipal schedule continues during the period before the resignation takes effect. The official City Council calendar lists a council meeting for Aug. 3, 2026, as well as upcoming meetings of city boards and commissions.
Those meetings provide scheduled points for city business during the weeks between the announcement and the end of August. The calendar does not establish how the mayoral vacancy will be handled after McNamara’s resignation becomes effective.
For residents, the immediate issue is the city’s transition plan and the timing of further announcements. McNamara remains mayor until his resignation takes effect at the end of August, while the city prepares to provide additional information about what comes next.
McNamara’s move also places Rockford’s leadership change in a broader Illinois municipal context. As CEO of the Illinois Municipal League, he will represent an organization whose membership includes 1,294 municipalities statewide. His resignation therefore marks both the end of his current role in Rockford and the start of a new statewide municipal position.
Sources
- Important Announcement from Mayor McNamara, City of Rockford
- Rockford City Council calendar and records, City of Rockford
Look for updates to this story
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