Latest news with #GabrielleTorina
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘I was elected not to be liked, but to be effective': Rockford alderwoman reflects on journey as a black woman in politics
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — During Black History Month, one Rockford alderwoman reflected on her journey to becoming a black woman in city politics. Fifth Ward Alderwoman Gabrielle Torina said she is proud of what she has accomplished in the city over her past four years in office. She said she was inspired by her grandfather and other family members to write her own history. 'He was a pastor,' Torina said. 'He was one of the first members of the Rockford Ministries Fellowship. He became the first black union leader for local UAW 718, which was a big deal because to have a black man in a union leadership position before the civil rights movement was massive back then.' Politics weren't a first choice for the alderwoman. She said she got an offer in 2018 to work in former U.S representative Cheri Bustos' office, but at first, she said she was hesitant. 'When the opportunity was presented to me, I immediately said, 'No, I don't know a thing about politics. I don't think that that's the right career for me,'' Torina said. 'And the response to that was, 'Don't look at it as politics. Look at it as an opportunity to do what you love, and that is to problem solve and to help people.'' Family plays a huge role in Torina's life, she said. Her sisters and mother were of great help to her when she decided to run for Fifth Ward Alderwoman. 'I'm lucky that my mom is a big supporter of mine,' Torina said. 'She was my first vote. That's so meaningful that your own mother was the first person to vote for you.' The alderwoman said she has faced many challenges as a black woman in city politics, but she said she believes those challenges have helped her grow into the powerful and confident woman she is today. 'When you're in this position, sometimes you have to call things out, sometimes you have to speak truth to power and that it makes people uncomfortable,' Torina said. 'I was elected not to be liked, but to be effective. If I have to tell the truth about things in order to move our city forward, then I'm going to do that.' The alderwoman said over her four years in office, she is most proud of pushing for the revitalization of the Barber Coleman building. 'No one was going to invest in our side of town with a 26-acre abandoned building sitting right in the heart of our community,' Torina said. 'It just sent such a horrible message not only to investors but to the people that live over here. It said, 'You don't matter.'' Torina said she wants to be remembered as someone who gave her all to her city. 'If I'm being honest, yes, I want accomplishments, but what has always been the most important to me is the legacy that I leave is of love and kindness, serving people and doing it with integrity,' Torina said. 'If that's how people remember me, then I'm just fine with that.' The alderwoman said she plans to continue making an impact in Rockford, no matter her role in it. 'I love Rockford,' Torina said. 'It's been my home now for 45 years. I will still have a voice. I'll have gained so much experience from working in politics and being so involved in the community that I can certainly lend a voice and be an advocate. I'm always going to be involved in the city in one way or another. You can't get rid of me.' Torina defeated Virgil Hobson and Christopher Williams in the Winnebago County Primary Election for 5th Ward Alderperson on Tuesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Election results: Here's who won contested battles for Rockford City Council, Township
Rockford residents cast ballots in the 2025 Consolidate Primary Election Tuesday, and here are the results of those races. Voter turnout was just under 6% with 5,381 people voting across the city. Ward 5: Ald. Gabrielle Torina received 49% of the vote to Virgil Hobson's 35% and Christopher Williams 16%. Ward 6: Ald. Aprel Prunty, D-6, faced a challenge from U.S. Postal Service letter carrier Lawrence Steward. Steward withdrew from the race Monday. His name remained on the ballot, but his votes were not counted. Ward 9: Dawn Granath received 65% of the vote to Ald. William "Bill" Rose's 35%. Ward 11: Winnebago County Board Member Jaime Salgado received 57% of the vote to Ald. Isidro Barrios' 42% and 1% for a write-in candidate. Ward 12: Ald. Gina Meeks received 58% of the vote to Carrie Crosby's 42%. Ward 13: Tamir Bell received 63% of the vote to Ald. Jeff Bailey's 21%, Eddie Jane Harrell's 15% and Giovanni Mikaelson's 1%. Ward 14: Ald. Mark Bonne received 81% of the vote to challenger Ali Abuihmoud's 19%. Five Democrats ran for four seats on the Rockford Township Board of Trustees. Winners were Tami Goral with 23% of the vote, Simon McNamara with 22%, Kylee Miller with 21% and L.C. Wilson with 18%. Mustafa Abdall received 16%, according to unofficial election results. There were no contested Republican primary races. This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Here's who won contested battles for Rockford City Council, Township
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rockford's Gabrielle Torina wins second term on City Council
Ald. Gabrielle Torina, D-5, defeated a pair of challengers to keep her seat for a second term on City Council during Tuesday's Democratic primary election. Voters had three Rockford natives who graduated from Jefferson High School to choose from to represent city's 5th Ward and southwest Rockford. Torina, D-5, won 230 votes, or 49.4%, Virgil Hobson, 57, garnered 162 votes or 34.8%, and Christopher Williams, 49, got 74 votes or 16%, according to unofficial election results. With three Democrats and no Republicans vying to represent southwest Rockford, Torina is expected to appear on April 1 consolidated election ballots unopposed. A champion of the Barber-Colman redevelopment project, Torina said she wants a second term to continue the work she has already begun. The founder of Riche Black Public Relations, Torina said Rockford needs to apply more pressure on Rockford Public Schools to improve, invest more into poverty mitigation services and support development of market-rate housing. "When I ran for office, Ward 5 residents wanted more businesses, resources, public art, and community events to restore the southside as Rockford's cultural hub," Torina said during the campaign. "I knew this progress wasn't possible without addressing the blighted 26-acre Barber-Colman factory, which is now being redeveloped and is revitalizing the South Main corridor into a thriving area for investment." Jeff Kolkey writes about government, economic development and other issues for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached via email at jkolkey@ and on X @jeffkolkey. This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford's Gabrielle Torina has won a second term
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Voting Tuesday? Here's what you need to know about Rockford's primary election
Primary Election Day arrives Feb. 25 featuring several contested races across Rockford. Not all races are citywide. In fact, most are at the ward-level, which means only voters living in those areas will cast votes in those races. There are no contested Republican primary races in Rockford, but Republicans can cast a vote in the Democratic primary if they choose. Here's what you need to know about the Feb. 25 Democratic primary in Rockford. Residents can check to see if they're registered to vote online at More: Election 2025: Independent candidates file to run for Rockford mayor, 8th Ward You can find your polling place online at or in Rockford at You can cast your vote between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. Feb. 25. Voters who live in seven Rockford wards have a Democratic primary Feb. 25 that will likely decide who their representative on City Council is the next four years. The deadline for parties to slate a candidate for the April 1 consolidated election has passed. That means the winners of the contested primaries are expected to appear on April ballots unopposed. In addition, Rockford Township residents can choose from four of five Democratic candidates for trustee. There is one precinct in Winnebago County that is also eligible to vote in the Rockford Township election. Voters registered in the fifth, sixth, ninth, 11th,12th, 13th and 14th wards have a contested City Council Democratic primary to vote in. Ald. Gabrielle Torina, D-5, faces challenges from Virgil Hobson and Christopher Williams. Ald. Aprel Prunty, D-6, faces a challenge from U.S. Postal Service letter carrier Lawrence Steward. Ald. William "Bill" Rose, D-9, faces a re-election challenge from Dawn Granath, a former Rockford Education Association president. Isidro Barrios was appointed to fill the remainder of the late Ald. Tuffy Quinonez' term after he died in 2023 of a stroke. Barrios faces a challenge from Winnebago County Board Member Jaime J. Salgado. Terri Schierer is running as a write-in candidate. Ald. Gina Meeks, D-12, faces a primary challenge from Democrat Carrie Crosby, a union pipefitter. A Democrat appointed to fill a vacancy left by the death of the late Ald. Linda McNeely, Jeff Bailey is attempting to defend his seat against challenges from Tamir Bell, Eddie Jane Harrell and Giovanni Mikaelson. Rockford software engineer Ali Abuihmoud, 28, will challenge Ald. Mark Bonne, a Rockford native and former Rockford Register Star journalist, as he seeks election to a second term. To register to vote in Illinois, you must be a U.S. citizen. General election voters must be at least 18 years old, though 17-year-olds may vote in primaries if they will be 18 by the next general election. You may not vote in Illinois if you also claim the right to vote somewhere else. Residents who are currently incarcerated may not vote, but voting rights are restored after completing a sentence. You must have lived in your current precinct for at least 30 days before the election. If you moved shortly before the election, you may be able to vote in your old polling place by completing an affidavit, or you may be able to transfer your registration using grace period registration and voting. If you changed your name since you last updated your registration, you must re-register to vote. If you are a registered voter, nothing. You are not required to show proof of residency or a photo ID. You will be asked to sign in and your signature will be checked against the one on file. But if the signatures do not match, you may be asked to provide identification. If you live in Rockford, contact the Rockford Board of Elections by visiting their website at or by calling 815-987-5750. If you live in Winnebago County, outside of the city of Rockford, contact the Winnebago County Clerk's office at or call 815-319-4444. The Winnebago County Clerk's office is located inside the Winnebago County Administration Building at 404 Elm St. in Rockford. The Rockford Board of Elections office is located at 301 S. Sixth St. in Rockford. This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Here's what Rockford voters need to know before Tuesday's election
