Judy Baar Topinka

American politician (1944-2014)

Judy Baar Topinka (January 16, 1944 – December 10, 2014) was an American politician. She served as the Illinois Comptroller and Illinois Treasurer, having served as Treasurer from 1995 to 2007, and former chairwoman of the Illinois Republican Party.

Judy Baar Topinka
Comptroller of Illinois
In office
January 10, 2011 – December 10, 2014
GovernorPat Quinn
Preceded byDaniel Hynes
Succeeded byJerry Stermer
Treasurer Illinois
In office
January 9, 1995 – January 8, 2007
GovernorJim Edgar
George Ryan
Rod Blagojevich
Preceded byPat Quinn
Succeeded byAlexi Giannoulias
Member of the Illinois Senate
from the 22nd district
In office
1985–1995
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
from the 43rd district
In office
1982–1984
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
from the 7th district
In office
1980–1982
Personal details
Born(1944-01-16)January 16, 1944
Riverside, Illinois, United States
DiedDecember 10, 2014(2014-12-10) (aged 70)
Berwyn, Illinois
Political partyRepublican
Alma materNorthwestern University
Medill School of Journalism, (BSJ) 1966
OccupationFeatures editor, reporter and columnist
ProfessionJournalism
[1]

Early life change

Topinka was born on January 16, 1944 in Chicago, Illinois.

Career change

She was the first woman to become state treasurer, first to be elected to three consecutive terms and the first Republican to hold the post in more than thirty-two years. During her last term, she was the only elected statewide official from the Republican Party, in Illinois.

In November 2005, Topinka announced her decision to run for Governor of Illinois. In March 2006, she was nominated as the Republican candidate. She was the second woman (after 1994 Democratic nominee Dawn Clark Netsch) and first Republican woman to be nominated for governor of Illinois. She went on to lose the election to Rod Blagojevich.

In 2010, she successfully ran for the office of Illinois State Comptroller and was re-elected in 2014, one month before her death.

Death change

Topinka died in Berwyn, Illinois from a stroke, aged 70.[1][2][3]

References change

  1. "Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka Dead at 70". NBC 5 Chicago, WMAQ. 10 December 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  2. Chicago Tribune (10 December 2014). "Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka dies at age 70". chicagotribune.com.
  3. "Subscription Center". chicagobusiness.com.

Other websites change