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It’s put up or shut up time

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Illinois

* Back on December 8th, Comptroller Susana Mendoza told WMAQ’s Mary Ann Ahern that lots of stuff was missing from her various state offices. “Even the TV’s and most of the computers can’t be found,” she said, claiming they were having trouble finding car keys for state vehicles as well.

I checked in with her spokesman who walked back what his boss said. The car keys were located and other stuff seemed to be accounted for. “Most” of the state computers were definitely not gone.

I was told by people close to former Comptroller Leslie Munger at the time that the televisions were private property owned by former comptroller staffers. The same went for some pieces of furniture, like sofas.

But, since Mendoza’s spokesman walked back what his boss said, I decided not to make a big deal out of it, figuring it was just a rookie mistake.

* And then…

Illinois’ new comptroller says she was left on Day One with offices with little furniture, locked desks and missing documents.

“It did kind of feel like the place was looted,” Susana Mendoza told WLS-AM’s Bill Cameron in a “Connected to Chicago” interview to be aired on Christmas Day. Mendoza said she couldn’t make a “definitive statement” on whether “pilfering” was involved.

Mendoza claims furniture had been removed from her offices, and there were remote controls with no matching televisions, keys that didn’t match vehicles, keys that didn’t match with desks, and missing documents “that people were working on over the last two years.”

“The current staff doesn’t seem to know where these documents are,” Mendoza said. “Maybe they filed them and hid them somewhere as a practical joke. I’m not sure. But it’s really kind of not funny because this is work that belonged to the state of Illinois.

“There are state statutes requiring proper disposal or destroying of state documents, and we’re going to try to track everything down, but it is frustrating because times are so bad as it is,” she said. “We really shouldn’t be wasting precious man-hours trying to track down information that should have been made readily available to us even prior to taking my office.”

First she says it feels like the place was “looted,” then she says she can’t say anything definitively.

That’s essentially the definition of an unfounded, emotional accusation.

And as far as the transition confusion goes, maybe if Mendoza hadn’t announced that she was not taking office until January before checking in with the attorney general, and then headed to Rome for an event/vacation, and then changed her mind and decided almost at the last minute to be sworn in on December 5th after she finally reached out to the AG, some of this mess could’ve been avoided.

But, again, it was a rookie mistake around Thanksgiving so I let it go.

* Back to Mary Ann…

Munger rebuffed the allegations Monday.

“We’ll just say she’s not an honest individual,” Munger told Ward Room.

“Everything that’s owned by the state is inventoried and tagged with a state number and we did an audit before the transition of offices and after the transition of offices, it’s one of the normal things that’s done,” Munger said. “And there’s not one item that is missing from what should be there that was owned by the state that was left for her.”

“If she really thought that something like that was missing, she should be going to the police, not to the press,” Munger said. “But she’s throwing out these wild allegations, she’s not giving any specifics because she doesn’t have any. She’s just trying to make it look like she just inherited this huge mess.”

As far as missing documents, Munger claimed pertinent financial records are stored in centralized state computers.

“I didn’t have files of anything,” Munger said.

Munger is absolutely right about how Mendoza should be filing a police report before running her mouth like this. Indeed, if she believes a crime was committed involving state property under her control, she’s obligated to report it.

From all I can gather, a property inventory was taken before Munger left office. CMS was even asked to do an independent inventory. Everything was tagged.

So, bring out the list and highlight whatever’s missing and then she has a real story. If Mendoza can’t do that, she should stop calling former staff members crooks. Enough with the wild accusations.

I mean, she is already starting to remind me of Rod Blagojevich. And not in a good way, either. Rod loved to “punch down,” which is exactly what Mendoza is doing here.

* More…

As for allegations there were mismatched keys for state cars and desks, Munger said keys were changed in the Capitol for safety reasons when she first took office in 2014. And she said she handed in all keys to an office manager on her last day in office.

Mendoza has complained that she wasn’t able to meet with staff before taking office — another claim Munger rebuts. Mendoza first planned to take office on Jan. 3, but shortly after, she decided to take office on Dec. 5, which was allowed per special election rules.

As for missing documents, “no files, no financial files, nothing that would impact her ability to get in and do the job of comptroller were touched,” Munger said.

Munger also threatened to sue Mendoza during her chat with the Sun-Times.

* And…

Mendoza also complained that Munger didn’t leave her a transition letter. Munger seemed eager to confirm that.

“I didn’t leave her any notes,” Munger added. “She informed me through [another broadcast interview] that she knew everything she needed to know about the office.”

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 9:53 am

Comments

Mendoza needs to back up with facts or data whatever it is she’s talking about, as should all office-holders.

If they can’t, they should cop to it and get real.

Election season is over. Right?

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 10:01 am
Will the chaperones in the room please identify themselves.

Comment by AlfondoGonz Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 10:02 am
Any state worker knows if you want nice office furniture. Chair pens. Calculators. You have to buy it your self. No 20 fancy pens here. Staples has what you need. StTe inventories everything. Even the junk furniture. The people in charge of inventory will have surplus lists. She has just learned. Check facts. Before. You speak.

Comment by Hhood Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 10:03 am
Susana Mendoza is playing on a bigger stage than ever before and her inattention to details is going to be on full display. She always struck me as a a politician prone to making gaffes with her talk first, check the facts later approach to microphones and interviewers. In the obscurity of her representative district office in the General Assembly and the City Clerk’s office, she could get away with such things, but not as a statewide officer.

Comment by W Flag Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 10:05 am
Campaign season is over. Mendoza needs to get serious about governing now.

Just like the Governor. LOL

Comment by ILPundit Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 10:13 am
If it wasn’t true, then own it and move one. No transition meetings etc.? So what. Maybe it would have been nice but don’t compound the classlessness with your own.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 10:14 am
When the President-elect sets the tone that facts don’t matter any more, shouldn’t we expect other politicians to follow suit?

Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 10:15 am
“We really shouldn’t be wasting precious man-hours.. ” Shouldn’t that be woman hours? Next she will be mispellin words.

Comment by It's All About Me Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 10:17 am
The rough start is no surprise for a fierce partisan who claimed the budgets she voted for as a legislator were balanced- except for the pension payments.

Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 10:18 am
Wonderful start, Susanna.

I can’t wait until she learns about the State’s cash shortage while trying to pay its bills. I’m sure she’ll have something intelligent to then offer.

Comment by Deft Wing Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 10:21 am
You know you have started off on the wrong foot when you get specifically called-out by Rich at his City Club speech only a couple weeks after you have taken office - and your name isn’t even Rauner or Madigan.

Comment by Team America Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 10:21 am
Are we in grade school here? Stop tattling to the teacher and get down to business.

Comment by Archiesmom Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 10:29 am
>I mean, she is already starting to remind me of Rod Blagojevich. And not in a good way, either.

There’s a good way to be reminded of Blagojevich? My mind is spinning.

Glad the new Comptroller is using her time with the press to highlight the disastrous shape of Illinois’ finances. /s

Comment by Earnest Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 10:32 am
>I mean, she is already starting to remind me of Rod Blagojevich. And not in a good way, either.

Comment by Obamas Puppy Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 10:35 am
Still missing JBT more and more.

Comment by illini Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 10:36 am
===There’s a good way to be reminded of Blagojevich?===

The dude had some mad skills.

But, yeah, I wrote that as snark.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 10:37 am
I would have to agree that if something is missing, then report it to the police. Everything is tagged at the state, even the cubicle walls.

I did an audit that involved going to the Comptroller office back in the 90’s. It looked like a tornado went through the place then, so I suspect that is how the place normally looks.

Comment by A Jack Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 10:39 am
The truth most likely lies somewhere in between. Mungers “I didn’t leave a note..” comment sounds like sour grapes. I believe she fulfilled her transitional duties but I question her level of enthusiasm. I mean, for instance, did she provide them with a key box and corresponding key ledger or just throw a hundred sets of keys in a box and let them figure it out??

Comment by GOP Extremist Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 10:47 am
Earnest
“There’s a good way to be reminded of Blagojevich?”

It may have been the ONLY thing he got right, but his standing up to Missouri Governor Matt Blunt and ensuring the new I-70 bridge at St Louis (the “Stan Span”) was free, not tolled, was right, and a good way to be reminded of federal prisoner 40892-424.

Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 10:50 am
She was an unimpressive thinker and strategist as a state rep because she reacted rather than acted.

Then, remember when she gave a kid an award for his winning parking sticker and then reneged under pressure?

I have always found her strong in the wrong way and weak in the wrong way. This is another example.

Comment by State worker Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 10:51 am
Mendoza needs to become a lot more competent if she is going to use her office to challenge Rauner’s priorities.

How many locked doors does the comptroller’s office have? Should take what, an hour max to try each key and label them?

Comment by Robert the Bruce Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 10:54 am
GO LESLIE!!! I love a good slap back. Mendoza is like a little dog nipping at the you ankles and we all know what we do to them. I saw the interview where Mendoza said she knows all she needs to know and I would do the same. Walk aware quietly.

Comment by STILL WATERS Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 10:57 am
OOPS!! Walk away quietly.

Comment by STILL WATERS Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 10:58 am
“….had some mad skills”. ‘Mad’, like Rasputin?

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 11:04 am
I find J.R. Pritzker’s comments about Bernie Sanders to be disqualifying to my support.

Comment by Quiet Sage Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 11:07 am
Nice work, Susan. Tripping over the threshold as you enter your office for the first time doesn’t bode well.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 11:07 am
There’s a good way to be reminded of Blagojevich?

When I lived in the Manor and he was governor, there was a brigade of homeowners who would run their snowblowers entire blocks. We even got the alleys shoveled.

Comment by Cheryl44 Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 11:09 am
“I knew Roland Burris when he was Comptroller, and you, Ms. Mendoza, are no Roland Burris!”

Comment by Joe Schmoe Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 11:39 am
Surprised Mendoza isn’t taking the Dem talking points and blaming this on Putin

Comment by Sue Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 11:39 am
Yet it made great headlines for the media didn’t it?

Comment by Liberty Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 11:42 am
Tacky. Really tacky.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 11:46 am
=still missing JBT more and more.=

And her sippy cup.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 11:46 am
Welcome to Trump’s post-truth era. Everyone can play.

Comment by Pawn Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 11:49 am
Hey, anyone remember — let’s not forget iPass tolling. Illinois was a leader on that.

Comment by Soccermom Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 11:50 am
Ah the over informed here on Capfax.
So Rauner has been blasting people for 3 years and people tell Mendoza to stop it. LOL
Better idea, keep beating the drum Mendoza.
About time someone did something.
This play nice and do your job stuff just lost the Dems 4 House seats and 2 Senate seats.
Truthfully Mendoza, Freirichs and White should be pounding away any chance they get that Rauner is incompetent to lead and failing at is job.
Plus this is the new news cycle, 24/7 quickest to the web/mic/print fact check later. By the time anyone figures out Mendoza was not 100% correct people will have moved on to something else.
Anyone remember the Exelon bill? Nope - neither does most of the public.

Comment by DuPage Bard Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 12:12 pm
Mendoza does not belong in this office. She does not have the skill set to operate it properly. This office just became and extension of MJM office….just watch.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 12:26 pm
Crap, Anonymous 12:26 was me! For some reason my name is not filling in….

Comment by allknowingmasterofracoondom Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 12:26 pm
Soccermom

Thanks for the reminder, I’m on a toll road about once a year and had forgotten about that one!

Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 12:32 pm
Ah the over informed here on Capfax.
So Rauner has been blasting people for 3 years and people tell Mendoza to stop it. LOL

Yeah, because no one ever complains about Rauner here….

Comment by Oneman Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 12:32 pm
Trying to figure out what would motivate Mendoza to say these things…just wanting to portray Munger in a negative light? laying groundwork for martyrdom? random thoughts?

As another commenter alluded to; the election is over so why take unsubstantiated pot-shots at your competitor? It’s as important to win with grace as it is to lose with it.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 12:33 pm
It is supremely ironic that legislation was enacted to hold a special election to fill the vacancy that followed Judy Baar Topinka’s death rather than permitting a gubernatorial appointment to fill the unexpired term. Munger was appointed Comptroller and served less than two years as Topinka’s replacement before losing the special election. Meanwhile, Mendoza’s appointed replacement as Chicago City Clerk will not have to face the voters for almost 2-1/2 years.

Comment by W Flag Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 12:37 pm
==The truth most likely lies somewhere in between.==

Spot on. Munger left, took everything she paid for with her, left no notes. Mendoza comes in and finds furniture missing, little in the way of directions or notes, and assumes the worst.

But still, check first, then speak. Mendoza would have made more hay (at least with us) if she had gotten her facts straight, and then outlined what Munger did not do to help the transition.

That said, the general public seems to respond well to the shoot from the hip style, so maybe Mendoza is taking the right approach.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 12:38 pm
@State Worker:
“Then, remember when she (Mendoza) gave a kid an award for his winning parking sticker and then reneged under pressure?”

Angry Chicago cops outed the teen as a gang banger wanna be with priors and a dad who was a drug dealing fugitive from justice avoiding extradition. Some claimed the vehicle sticker showed hands flashing gang signs. So there’s that too.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 12:41 pm
She has the records. Go back through them thru JBT and see what office furniture was purchased. Then see if it’s still there. Easy as pie…

Comment by Mouthy Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 12:49 pm
“And she said she handed in all keys to an office manager on her last day in office.”

WHO is the “office manager” ?? An employee of … IOC? SOS? General Assembly?

Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 12:54 pm
As head of a DHS office I often had keys that did not match with anything, and items that required keys and we could never find the key. We also had furniture we purchased ourselves since the state had no money for chairs, files etc. When I left an office I took my furniture with me. Sounds like SOP for a state office.

Comment by illinifan Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 12:57 pm
Mendoza is there for one reason and one reason only, to do Mike Madigan’s bidding. She is the worst kind of elected official and always has been. Don’t forget, before Madigan she took her orders from Ray Frias. The lady is morally corrupt and I truly fear that this may not be her last stop. Its not incompetence that causes her to take these actions.

Comment by Altgelds Ghost Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 12:57 pm
Susanna, this sounds like a cat fight to the public. Please focus on the big responsibilities and duties. No one cares to hear about Munger trashing the place before she got evicted. Spend your time figuring out an action plan for when the temp budget ends December 31st. Will you continue to pay all state employees with no budget in light of the ILSC ruling in that backpay lawsuit? You have real issues to sweat over…ignore sweating the small stuff. Be smart, professional and please demonstrate confident and trustworthy leadership.

Comment by Johnnie F. Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 1:11 pm
Could it be left behind by Judy? Who knows?

Comment by Rabid Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 1:16 pm
=== When the President-elect sets the tone that facts don’t matter any more, shouldn’t we expect other politicians to follow suit? ===

No.

Comment by Just Observing Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 1:35 pm
Missing and misplaced furniture, mixed up remotes, mixed up keys, hard to find paperwork; just another day at a state office.

Welcome to the party Ms. Mendoza and be sure to go to office depot and buy a box of blue pens. A lot of paperwork needs to be signed in blue, you never know when the next supply drop will be, and everyone is always walking off with them to sign their travel vouchers.

Comment by Union proud Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 1:37 pm
It’s telling that we haven’t seen an “Updated” with a Mendoza spokesperson’s reply…they waded into a mess and don’t know how to handle it. If they can’t handle the press, wait until they look at managing the books…

Comment by NIU Grad Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 1:40 pm
Sigh…I love Susana but she always seems to have a rocky start. Remember the city sticker design debacle?

Comment by Signal and Noise Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 2:12 pm
Mendoza still hasn’t figured out how to change the name on the Comptroller’s website from Munger to her in the 25 days she’s been in office. Somebody hide the password to change it? /s/

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 3:37 pm
excuse me. 15 days she’s been in office

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 3:39 pm
A personal disappointment with the MS media is how they often print whatever is given to them without independent verification. They have lost much of the public’s respect as a result.

Thanks to CapFax for getting to the truth, and holding to account.

My first reaction on reading of Mendoza’s complaints was skepticism, but I figured she would secure unchecked coverage to the detriment of a probably-innocent Munger.

Susana can and should do better, and accountability now will make her better going forward. Learn from this, Susana (an appropriate apology would be refreshing, probably be accepted with grace, and ultimately earn you some points with the public — see Hillary for opposite approach).

Comment by anon Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 4:02 pm
CMS should release the inventory logs

Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 4:38 pm
Did the “M”s go missing off the keyboards too?

Comment by Boone's is Back Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 4:46 pm
===I mean, she is already starting to remind me of Rod Blagojevich. And not in a good way, either. Rod loved to “punch down,” which is exactly what Mendoza is doing here.===

Concisely perfect.

You won. There’s no “there” there.

There is a honorable way you move onto a transition of power and every possible way you can do it with the least amount of honor, Mendoza is willing to do it.

Enough. Show some class. Be better.

===“I didn’t leave her any notes,” Munger added. “She informed me through [another broadcast interview] that she knew everything she needed to know about the office.”===

Did Munger leave her guacamole?

Munger, 100% should defend her former staff, but this was a bit much explaining the “no note”

Mendoza had shown she’s approaching this quite classlessly, no need to join her down there, no matter the justified anger.

Don’t make Mendoza’s “punching down” seem ok.

Mendoza and her Crew have lots to prove and it appears they can’t get out of their own way at looking foolish.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 5:25 pm
I don’t know that Ive seen the lame ‘I’ll sue you argument’ win ever before, but the Leslie “Andy Kaufman/Trump” Munger fan club is in full effect today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8T_C5ucwog

Comment by P. Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 6:35 pm
“Mendoza still hasn’t figured out how to change the name on the Comptroller’s website”

That is a DoIT function. Seeing DoIT is a new department under 1.4%, there is no incentive to change the Comptroller’s name on the website.

Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 7:17 pm
===That is a DoIT function===

Um, no, it’s not.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 7:38 pm
Love it!!!! It’s Rauner and Trump’s fault!!!!!! Maybe it was the Russians!

Comment by McLovin Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 8:05 pm
“Missing remotes and/or televisions” Say what?

I can see a legit need for a teevee in the PIO’s office, and perhaps the legislative and executive office.

How many did they have over there? Were they all state-owned?

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 10:02 pm
If Mendoza thinks items are missing, she should report it to the Attorney General, not the media.

Comment by interesting Tuesday, Dec 20, 16 @ 10:55 pm