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[January 06, 2015]
By Mark Fitton
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois’ next
comptroller said she knows there will never be another Judy Baar
Topinka, but she is honored to follow in her footsteps.
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On Monday, Leslie Munger, R-Lincolnshire, was named by Governor-elect Bruce
Rauner to fill the vacancy created by last month’s death of Topinka.
“I am extremely honored to be chosen for this role and to have a chance to
continue the work of Judy Baar Topinka in areas including increased government
transparency and getting our bills paid on time,” she said in a telephone
interview Monday afternoon with Illinois News Network.
“As a fiscal conservative, I feel so lucky to have this chance to help our state
at this critical time,” she said.
Munger said she’s thankful she’ll be working with Topinka’s staff.
Munger and Rauner support a proposal to combine the offices of state comptroller
and state treasurer.
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The proposal has become known as “Judy’s Amendment” in honor of Topinka who
advocated for the merger.
Munger, 58, said she is not interested in a political career.
Munger was born and raised in Joliet and is 20-year resident of Lincolnshire.
She ran for the 59th District seat in the state House in 2014, losing to
incumbent Rep. Carol Sente, D-Vernon Hills.
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Munger earned an undergraduate business degree from the
University of Illinois and an M.B.A. from Northwestern University.
She and her husband John have two sons.
“No one can ever replace Judy Baar Topinka, but Leslie is the
perfect candidate to continue building on Judy’s legacy,” Rauner
said in a news release.
Analysts said Rauner’s choice of a free-market Republican with
little statewide name recognition over establishment GOP candidates
may signal a new direction.
“Maybe it’s his way of sending a message,” said Chris Mooney,
director of the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at
University of Illinois Springfield. “Maybe it’s a new way of doing
business — a new broom sweeps clean, right?”
The Legislature comes into special session later this week and may
take a look at the comptroller’s office.
Outgoing Democrat Gov. Pat Quinn believes there should be a special
election for comptroller in 2016. Rauner has argued his appointee
should serve for four years.
[This
article courtesy of
Watchdog.]
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