The candidates for Illinois comptroller, Republican Comptroller Leslie Munger and Democratic Chicago City Clerk Susana Mendoza, are working to show their independence from Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan.
Rauner appointed Munger to the job controlling Illinois' checkbook after then-Comptroller Judy BaarTopinka died.
Munger has described herself as his "budgetary wingman" and agrees with much of his pro-business agenda. But she says she's stood up to Rauner, including refusing his request to not pay unions "fair share" dues collected from state workers.
Mendoza says she ran against Madigan's establishment candidate in her first Illinois House bid. But she voted for Madigan-backed budgets each year she served under him.
Munger says those budgets led to Illinois' financial problems.
