Rauner Hires Munger As A Deputy Governor
This Aug. 17, 2016, file photo shows, then Republican Illinois state Comptroller Leslie Munger in Springfield, Ill. Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner has hired former state Comptroller Munger to serve as a deputy governor. Seth Perlman/Associated Press
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner has hired former state Comptroller Leslie Munger to serve as a deputy governor. In a statement released first to The Associated Press on Friday, Rauner says Munger will focus on long-term budgeting and work with human services organizations hit hard by the state budget impasse. Rauner appointed Munger comptroller in 2015, after Judy Baar Topinka died. The Lincolnshire Republican lost a re-election bid in November to Democrat Susana Mendoza.
Munger will serve in addition to current Deputy Governor Trey Childress and will earn $135,000 annually.
Rauner's office says the money was freed up when former Hawaii governor Linda Lingle left her $198,000-per-year position on Rauner's executive staff.
Munger is a former executive with Helene Curtis and served on the board of a non-profit organization.
According to reporting by The State Journal-Register, Rauner has already hired nearly two-dozen other people who left the comptroller's office after Munger lost the election.