Arts leader joins crowded field for Rockford mayor
Mary McNamara Bernsten, executive director of the Rockford Area Arts Council, announced Sept. 15 that she is running for mayor of Rockford. Her campaign entry adds a candidate with deep ties to the local arts community and ties to a family with a multidecade presence in city government.
McNamara Bernsten announced her candidacy on Facebook, saying she decided to run because she "believe[s] in Rockford — all of Rockford," and framed her campaign around listening and connecting people and ideas to build the city's future. The announcement invites residents to a campaign kickoff from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 23 at Prairie Street Brewhouse, 200 Prairie St., where she plans to outline her vision.
"I decided to run for mayor because I believe in Rockford — all of Rockford. I grew up believing that every challenge presents an opportunity to do better, and that every person who calls this city home deserves the chance to build a promising future."
Background and civic work
McNamara Bernsten has led the Rockford Area Arts Council since 2020. During her tenure, the council completed the city’s first cultural plan, an 18-month effort that brought together artists, advocates and community members to identify strengths and challenges for the region’s arts infrastructure. The council is also pursuing a multiyear initiative to repurpose the Illinois National Guard Armory in downtown Rockford into a cultural civic center with artists’ lofts.
Her career includes roles as an art educator and small business owner in art education; she taught fine arts at Keith Country Day School and served as an artist in residence at the Rockford Art Museum, according to her campaign announcement and biography. She is also involved with local civic organizing, including work with Women’s March Rockford.
Family history and the municipal context
McNamara Bernsten is a member of a family with recent and historical ties to Rockford’s mayoral office. Her brother, former Mayor Tom McNamara, resigned before completing his term, and their father, John McNamara, served two terms as mayor from 1981 to 1989. The winner of the April election will complete the remaining two years of the term vacated by Tom McNamara.
Field of candidates and election timeline
Her entry joins a field that already includes elected officials and community figures from both major parties and an independent candidate. Candidates who have publicly announced campaigns for Rockford mayor include:
- Maurice West — Democratic state representative
- Gabrielle Torina — Rockford alderwoman (Democrat)
- Derrick Kunz — Republican real estate agent
- Bob Blosser — Independent businessman
The selection process includes a primary election in February 2027, followed by a special municipal election in April 2027 to fill the remainder of the term.
| Key date | Event |
|---|---|
| Sept. 23, 2026 | Campaign kickoff — Prairie Street Brewhouse, 5:30–7:30 p.m. |
| Feb. 2027 | Primary election |
| Apr. 2027 | Special municipal election to complete mayoral term |
What this means for Rockford
McNamara Bernsten’s candidacy brings an arts-centered perspective to the contest at a time when downtown redevelopment, cultural investment and adaptive reuse of historic buildings are active topics among civic leaders. Her record at the Arts Council — particularly the cultural plan and the armory redevelopment effort — signals an emphasis on positioning the arts as part of economic and community revitalization.
How that approach will compete with the priorities and platforms of the other announced candidates is likely to shape the campaign debates in the coming months. With both a primary and a special election on the calendar, candidates will have to quickly build name recognition and coalitions across Rockford’s diverse neighborhoods.
McNamara Bernsten’s kickoff event next week will provide the first public opportunity for voters to hear detailed policy proposals from her campaign. Until then, residents can expect a crowded and closely watched race as contenders outline how they would address public safety, development, fiscal management and quality-of-life issues facing Rockford.
