Rauner picks replacement for late comptroller Topinka

Republican Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner on Monday picked a former corporate executive from the north suburbs to fill the comptroller term left vacant following the death of Judy Baar Topinka.

Leslie Geissler Munger of Lincolnshire is a former executive at Helene Curtis/Unilever who unsuccessfully ran against Democratic Rep. Carol Sente in the November election. Munger will be sworn in on Jan. 12, shortly after Rauner himself takes the oath of office.

“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 statement. “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.” Read more in the Chicago Tribune.