Two challengers seek to unseat Tuffy Quinonez in Rockford s 11th Ward
ROCKFORD First-term Alderman Tuffy Quinonez will face a pair of Democratic challengers in the Feb. 23 primary election.
A retired barbershop owner, Quinonez, 74, in February 2017 unseated then incumbent Karen Elyea and defeated another challenger to win his seat on City Council representing near southeast Rockford including the Midtown District.
Quinonez said he is campaigning hard despite the cold, encouraging voters to take advantage of early voting. He said he is seeking re-election to complete unfinished business and build on the city s strengths including the Chicago Rockford International Airport. The airport is a major strength for Rockford, bringing in good-paying jobs, Quinonez said.
2020 was the year Chicago Rockford International Airport saw the single largest amount of cargo pass through.
Last year, 2.7 billion pounds of cargo transported to and travel through the facility. This is compared to 2.3 billion in 2019. Deputy Director of Operations and Planning Zach Oakley said it’s a sign of local economic growth.
“With UPS, Amazon, Emery and basically all of our freight companies on the airport as we expand and grow and you see the economy in general kind of still be a little stagnant throughout Winnebago County and throughout the region, these are companies that are continuing to hire, continue to expand.”
ROCKFORD Six inches of snow fell Saturday night and Sunday morning at the Chicago Rockford International Airport and up to another inch could be on the way. We can still see a large wrap-around weather system stretching into Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin, said National Weather Service meteorologist Brian Leatherwood. It could bring you guys another inch.
A winter storm warning issued by the National Weather Service was to remain in effect until 6 p.m. Sunday.
The latest round of snow boosted Rockford s January total to 15.4 inches. A combined total of 22.8 inches fell in December and January, slightly over the two-month average snowfall of 21.5 inches. The fresh blanket of snow will likely remain awhile as temperatures this week hover at or below freezing.
ROCKFORD Road funds, pension relief and domestic violence reforms are among the priorities city officials plan to ask the region s congressional and state legislative leaders to pursue.
Rockford has compiled a list of 10 priority items for 2021. They range from specific new domestic violence prevention measures that officials would like to see enacted to general requests for economic development incentives and dollars.
Compiling the priority list allows the City Council to give direction to the mayor s office, the state s legislative delegation and the city s paid lobbyist. It has proven to be an effective way to get city partners on the same page, Mayor Tom McNamara said.
As we look back at 2020, I’m encouraged by what we’ve accomplished as a community in the face of a global pandemic. As the year began, Rockford was riding great momentum with positive economic and public safety metrics. Our unemployment rate was at the lowest mark in Rockford’s history and we’d seen a 30% decrease in violent crime over the previous three years. Then, COVID-19 upended our lives in ways we couldn’t possibly have imagined.
However, as we look to 2021, it’s important to note Rockford’s accomplishments in spite of all the challenges we’ve faced. While I’m fortunate enough to work alongside 1,000 talented professionals and the dedicated members of City Council at the city of Rockford, I know that our success only happens when we work together as a community: