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 “I am deeply honored to become Illinois’ next Comptroller and
humbly look forward to serving all the people of Illinois,” Munger
said. “I’ll be a guardian of their money and a watchdog for
Illinois’ finances. Our state is in terrible financial shape, and
I’ll do everything I can to help turn things around.”
“I’m not interested in a political career; only on doing what is
best for the state we all love and want to make great again,” Munger
added. “With that in mind, I will relentlessly advocate that the
General Assembly put a Constitutional amendment on the 2016 ballot
to merge the Comptroller’s office with the Treasurer’s office.
That’s what Judy wanted, and the people deserve the opportunity to
vote on it. I would look forward to helping eliminate the very
office to which I was appointed.”
A career businesswoman with an undergraduate degree from the
University of Illinois and an M.B.A. from Northwestern, Munger made
her first run for state office last year, falling short of defeating
an incumbent state representative by just 1349 votes in the
Democrat-leaning 59th district. A full bio is below.
 “No one can ever replace Judy Baar Topinkia, but Leslie is the
perfect candidate to continue building on Judy’s legacy,” Gov.-elect
Rauner said. “Leslie has always been laser focused on fiscal and
economic issues, and as Comptroller, she will do everything within
her power to help fix our state’s broken finances.”
“A first step towards delivering greater efficiency and reform for
Illinois taxpayers is to merge the offices of Comptroller and
Treasurer,” Rauner continued. “That is something that Leslie and I
both support and believe should be the legislature’s focus in the
days and weeks ahead. Rather than a special election for a
short-term appointment, next year’s ballot should include a
Constitutional amendment to merge the offices. That would be a
long-term answer that will result in greater value for taxpayers. It
would pass, and when it does, Leslie would be able to immediately
begin work on winding down and merging the offices. That’s the right
path to take and in the best interest of Illinoisans.”
About Leslie Munger
Age: 58 (9/5/1956)
Family: Married to John Munger, two sons - Tom and Andy
Education: University of Illinois, BS (1978)
Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management, MBA (1982)
Employment History:
Helene Curtis/Unilever - 1984-2001: Category Director, responsible
for the $800 million U.S. Hair Care business
Procter and Gamble - 1982-1984: Assistant Brand Manager
McKinsey & Company - 1978-1982: Manager of Recruiting Community
Service & Honors:
Lincolnshire Citizen of the Year, 2004
The Riverside Foundation, serving developmentally disabled adults
Riverside Foundation Auxiliary Volunteer of the Year, 2013
Current Volunteer; Past Director and Women’s Board President
Vernon Township Republicans, Precinct Committeeman and past Vice
Chairman
Lake County Republican Federation Board of Governors
University of Illinois Student Affairs Advisory Council
Past President and Board Member, School District 103 Learning Fund
Foundation
Past President, Lincolnshire Village Club
Former Cub Scout Den Leader, Stevenson Football Parent Volunteer,
University of Illinois Sigma Chi Mom’s Club President
Electoral History: Republican Candidate for State House (59th
District). Lost to incumbent Carol Sente by 1,349 votes. Munger has
also served as a Republican precinct committeewoman. Husband is vice
chairman of Lake County Republicans.
[to top of second column] |
Issue Positions
Why She Ran For General Assembly: "I’m a lifelong
Illinoisan, a businesswoman, community leader, and most
importantly, a mom. Like many of you, I am concerned by what is
happening to our state. Many of us have friends, neighbors or
family members who have left Illinois or who are thinking about
leaving, either for a new job, to avoid the high taxes, or
simply for better opportunities. The bad state of Illinois’
economy really hit home for us… when our son, Tom, graduated
from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana with a
degree in Mechanical Engineering and found that his best job
opportunities were out of state. Tom is now living in Texas. I
never dreamed we would be moving our son 1200 miles away from
his Illinois home to start his career. The poor fiscal policies
put in place by those leading our state for the past decade… are
driving businesses and jobs out of our state, splitting up our
families and exporting our children. I am running for office to
change this. I am a Springfield outsider; not a career
politician. I will refuse a state-paid pension and will work
tirelessly to bring businesses and jobs back to our state. It’s
time for new leadership in Illinois.” (http://votemunger.com/about-leslie/)
Pension Reform: Opposed Quinn's pension bill. Supports
moving state employees to 401(k)’s. (http://votemunger.com/pension-reform/;
Leslie Munger, Chicago Tribune Editorial Board Questionnaire)
Taxes: Supported rolling back income tax rate to 3.75%.
Opposes a graduated income tax. (Leslie Munger, Chicago Tribune
Editorial Board Questionnaire)
Consolidating Comptroller and Treasurer: "I would reduce
duplication within state agencies by eliminating the office of
Lieutenant Governor and combining the State Comptroller and
Treasurer's offices." (Leslie Munger, Chicago Tribune Editorial
Board Questionnaire)
Local Government Consolidation: "Illinois should move
toward consolidation of various levels of government such as
mosquito abatement districts, redundant townships and the 900+
overlapping Illinois school districts to provide taxpayer relief
and more efficient services. What worked decades ago isn't
necessarily the most economic and productive structure today. As
in business, I would recommend we commission an independent
study, analyze the results, and develop and gain agreement to a
plan to restructure our local government units. Then, subject to
Illinois law, we would either vote on it or send it to the
voters to be decided in a referendum." (Leslie Munger, Chicago
Tribune Editorial Board Questionnaire)
Term Limits: "I support term limits for government
officials and legislative leaders as outlined by the
citizen-initiated term limits amendment… I feel the amendment
should have been placed on the General Election ballot for the
voters of Illinois to decide." (Leslie Munger, Chicago Tribune
Editorial Board Questionnaire)
Women’s Issues: “I believe in freedom and that it is not
the role of government to interfere with a woman’s personal
health choice.” (Press Release, Citizens for Leslie Munger,
10/31/14)
Endorsements
Endorsed for State Representative in 2014 by Chicago Tribune: "Munger
is a poised and whip-smart challenger... She is endorsed."
(Editorial, “Endorsements for the Illinois House,” Chicago
Tribune, 10/23/14)
Endorsed for State Representative in 2014 by Daily Herald: "Munger,
a community volunteer and former marketing executive making her
first run for office, opposes extending Illinois' 2011 income
tax increase, opposes Senate Bill 16 that would cost many
suburban schools state funding, and supports moving state
employees' future retirement benefits to a 401(k)-style plan.
She has the ideas and the character to make an effective
legislator. We endorse Munger." (Editorial, “Endorsement: Munger
in House Dist. 59,” Daily Herald, 10/11/14)
[Mike Schrimpf, Office of
Governor-elect Bruce Rauner] |
