12 Facts About Rita Ali

Rita Ali was born on January 31,1958 and is an American politician serving as the 47th mayor of Peoria, Illinois since 2021.

Rita Ali was elected on April 21,2021, finishing just 43 votes ahead of her opponent, councilman Jim Montelongo.

Rita Ali has previously served on the Peoria City Council and has held a position as Vice President of Workforce and Diversity at Illinois Central College.

Rita Ali has an older sister, Robin, and younger brother, Robert.

Rita Ali spent her early years in Hannibal, Missouri, and subsequently relocated with her family to Peoria, Illinois during 1964, when she was six years old.

Bashir Rita Ali has been the director of workforce development for the City of Peoria since 1987.

Rita Ali secured her first job at the age of fourteen.

Rita Ali was employed as a community outreach worker by the Dar es Salaam Center on Peoria's South Side, and was later a community organizer for the Northside Action Council.

Later in her professional life, as the manager of the federal division of an information technology company, Rita Ali worked in Washington, DC for two years, but decided to return to Peoria to be closer to family.

Still employed at Illinois Central College in 2019, Rita Ali held the title of vice president of workforce, diversity and career development.

Rita Ali had been elected to the Peoria City Council.

Rita Ali was an at-large member of the Peoria City Council at the time she announced her run for mayor in 2020.