On the first day of Early Voting, the state’s highest vote getter, Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza, is endorsing Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim to succeed her as Comptroller, citing Kim’s extensive financial experience, accomplishments on the Comptroller’s Bank On Illinois Commission, and independence as a fiscal steward.
“Holly Kim is the most skilled and experienced financial professional running for Comptroller. That’s why I’m endorsing her,” Mendoza said. “Holly is a proven fiscal watchdog who has maintained a strong sense of independence throughout her career.”
“As a two-term treasurer of the third largest county in Illinois, Holly has saved taxpayers more than $6 million while boosting investments in schools and parks. Her valuable leadership on my Bank On Illinois Commission helped get 685,000 formally unbanked individuals banked. Holly Kim gets the job done,” Mendoza added.
“As comptroller for nearly a decade, I wrote the playbook on transparency and accountability. For Holly, transparency and accountability are non-negotiable.”
“The job of Comptroller requires proven skills,” Mendoza said. “This office manages billions in taxpayer dollars and the person in this role has a real impact on the state’s credit rating. We have worked hard to deliver ten credit upgrades for Illinois on my watch. Holly Kim is the candidate in this race I trust the most to build on that progress.”
“It’s imperative for voters to consider the comptroller candidate who has the best skills and the proven record of smart, independent fiscal oversight. That’s Holly Kim,” Mendoza said.
“There’s a lot of big money pouring into this race. The voters should not allow those with deep pockets to gain control of an office that manages billions in taxpayer dollars. Illinois is open for business, but it’s not for sale.”
“I’ve long looked up to Comptroller Mendoza as my work mentor,” Kim said. “Not only have I learned the ins and outs of the Comptroller’s office from her, but I’ve also been inspired by her leadership and her fierce independence on behalf of the taxpayers. Susana has accomplished tremendous things as Comptroller–she took over an office that was in shambles, rebuilt it and secured ten credit upgrades. It would be my honor to continue her great work as the chief fiscal watchdog of the state.”
Politically, don’t think I’d want that endorsement as a Democrat in a primary, but I guess we’re close enough to election day that there’s not time to highlight the MAGA tendencies of the endorser.
Substantively, it does concern me that the current comptroller seems to have bought into/be the purveyor of the fallacy that the job of comptroller is in some way to serve as a watchdog. The comptroller signs and mails the checks she is obligated to sign and mail, and she maintains a searchable database of those transactions. She doesn’t meet with credit rating agencies. She doesn’t negotiate policy. She does, however, do a lot of tweets. The winning candidate will be very sad to learn that “independence” has nothing to do with their new bookkeeping job.
And all that naysaying aside, the ad looks pretty good visually. Points deducted for no subtitles on the digital version.
=I’m genuinely unaware of any “MAGA tendencies” of the current comptroller=
The Comptroller’s views on the SAFE-T Act are a good reference point. She also has a tendency to say whatever she thinks the room wants to hear at any given moment. As Illinois Democrats go she’s not exactly a progressive favorite. And if she has another mayoral run in her that could be her Achilles heel.
- vertigo - Monday, Mar 2, 26 @ 8:02 am:
great ad. ads like this break through all the negative dark money junk that is clogging the airwaves. solid endorsement.
- meh - Monday, Mar 2, 26 @ 8:22 am:
Good to see that JB can’t buy everything and everyone.
- Who else - Monday, Mar 2, 26 @ 8:24 am:
Politically, don’t think I’d want that endorsement as a Democrat in a primary, but I guess we’re close enough to election day that there’s not time to highlight the MAGA tendencies of the endorser.
Substantively, it does concern me that the current comptroller seems to have bought into/be the purveyor of the fallacy that the job of comptroller is in some way to serve as a watchdog. The comptroller signs and mails the checks she is obligated to sign and mail, and she maintains a searchable database of those transactions. She doesn’t meet with credit rating agencies. She doesn’t negotiate policy. She does, however, do a lot of tweets. The winning candidate will be very sad to learn that “independence” has nothing to do with their new bookkeeping job.
And all that naysaying aside, the ad looks pretty good visually. Points deducted for no subtitles on the digital version.
- ChicagoVinny - Monday, Mar 2, 26 @ 8:36 am:
I filled out my mail ballot yesterday and voted for Holly for other reasons, but this doesn’t hurt.
I’m genuinely unaware of any “MAGA tendencies” of the current comptroller, unless we’re now saying anyone active on social media is MAGA?
- meh - Monday, Mar 2, 26 @ 8:43 am:
ChicagoVinny, this is the new playbook for JB folks now . . . any democrat who isn’t their gal/guy is MAGA. It’s insulting and preposterous.
I wonder if he thinks all these folks will be with him when he runs for president.
- Pundent - Monday, Mar 2, 26 @ 9:07 am:
=I’m genuinely unaware of any “MAGA tendencies” of the current comptroller=
The Comptroller’s views on the SAFE-T Act are a good reference point. She also has a tendency to say whatever she thinks the room wants to hear at any given moment. As Illinois Democrats go she’s not exactly a progressive favorite. And if she has another mayoral run in her that could be her Achilles heel.
- Guildenstern - Monday, Mar 2, 26 @ 9:09 am:
=== the fallacy that the job of comptroller is in some way to serve as a watchdog. ===
The governor cannot borrow without the signature of the Comptroller and the Treasurer.
Mendoza is absolutely 100% correct that she serves as a financial watchdog.
Have you forgotten already that it was Mendoza’s dogged focus on the state’s pile of unpaid bills that drove Rauner from office?
“$16 billion backlog.”
- meh - Monday, Mar 2, 26 @ 9:15 am:
Mendoza is a force. Tiny but mighty.