State Comptroller Leslie Geissler Munger's campaign blasted her opponent, Chicago City Clerk Susana Mendoza, this week for simultaneously collecting city and state pension money.
Munger's campaign manager, Phil Rodriquez, called on Mendoza to decline one of the government pensions earned during that time.
| Contributed photo
Mendoza served as a state representative for 10 years while still holding down her job as a project coordinator for the city of Chicago, drawing salaries — and pension contributions — from both entities.
“Susana Mendoza voted for the unbalanced budgets, tax increases and pension holidays that put Illinois in fiscal crisis,” Rodriguez said. “At the same time, she picked up two paychecks and sweetened her two pensions. It embodies all the problems that have led us to this place.”
Rodriguez contrasted Mendoza's actions with those of the state comptroller's. In addition to refusing a pension and health benefits, Munger is also among the elected state officials not receiving a paycheck. Munger decided in April that all legislators and other elected officials would be paid like state vendors — late — during the budget impasse. Regular paychecks will resume upon passage of a balanced budget.
“It’s time for a change,” Rodriguez said. “Leslie Munger spent her career balancing budgets and meeting financial expectations. She has dedicated nearly two decades to serving developmentally disabled adults. She doesn’t accept a public pension or state health care benefits. The contrast could not be clearer.”
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