Meet Judy

Judy Baar Topinka is running for State Comptroller to put her experience, integrity, and sound judgment back to work for the people of Illinois. As Comptroller she’ll bring those old-fashioned values of hard work, plain talk, and common sense back to Springfield.

 

Judy Baar Topinka was elected Illinois State Treasurer on November 8, 1994 – becoming the first woman in Illinois history to hold this post. She also became the first Republican to be elected State Treasurer in 32 years. Topinka made history again in November 1998, as she won a second term as State Treasurer – becoming the first woman to be re-elected to a statewide office. Winning re-election to a third term as Illinois State Treasurer in 2002, Topinka became the first State Treasurer to win three consecutive terms.

 

As State Treasurer from 1995-2007, Judy maintained a strong record of fiscal responsibility. During her tenure, the state earned record amounts of income on investments, money that helped to alleviate the tax burden on working families and made state government run more efficiently. Under her leadership, the Treasurer’s Office helped create and retain more than 13,000 new jobs through an innovative linked deposits program; developed the nation’s largest agriculture loan program for farmers, and helped more that 120,000 families save for college by creating one of the most affordable college savings programs in the nation.

 

A recognized and respected fiscal conservative and taxpayer watchdog, Judy consistently spoke up when she believed public officials were acting irresponsibly. When Rod Blagojevich wanted to raid state funds, Judy stood up to him and refused to make the transfers.

 

As the granddaughter of immigrants, Judy learned from a very young age to respect the hard work and sacrifice that families all across Illinois make each and every day in order to make life better for their children. Judy’s parents were small business owners who taught her the importance of living within your means and managing money responsibly; a lesson our broken state government would be apt to learn today.

 

The Early Years

Born in Riverside, Illinois on January 16, 1944, Judy Baar Topinka graduated from the Ferry Hall School in Lake Forest in 1962, and earned a B. S. degree in 1966 from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Upon graduation, Topinka established herself as an accomplished journalist in the Cook County suburbs, including eleven years as a reporter and editor for several award-winning community newspapers.

 

She served as a public affairs executive with the American Medical Association and as a public relations advisor to area political candidates and organizations.

 

A Recognized Leader

After a successful career in journalism, Topinka began her political career as a State Representative from the Western Suburbs in 1980. Serving two terms in the Illinois House of Representatives positioned Topinka for a successful bid for State Senate in 1984 – where she served as State Senator for a decade. Topinka continues to serve locally as the Riverside Township Republican Committeeman.

 

A Dedication to Public Service

Since leaving public office nearly three years ago, Judy has continued to use her knowledge and background to help Illinois residents. In 2008, she established a not-for-profit financial counseling agency that helps families facing foreclosure save their homes. Located on the West Side of Chicago, the Smart Women, Smart Money Educational Foundation (SWSM) has provided financial literacy and housing counseling to more than 1,000 Illinois families in need.

 

Achievements

Topinka’s achievements as a journalist and public servant have earned her awards from more than 250 civic, business, professional and social service organizations, including the “Molly Pitcher” Award (1994); The Prairie Institute’s Everett McKinley Dirksen Award for Outstanding Public Service (1998); Americanism Award from the Anti-Defamation League (1999); The Money Smart Award from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago (2002); Customer Service Initiative for Unclaimed Properties–Excellence Award (2002); National Association of Woman Business Owners Chicago Area Chapter Hall of Fame 2003; the Asian American Coalition of Chicago Grand Asian Award (2003); the Department of the Army’s Outstanding Civilian Service Medal; and the AMVETS Silver Helmet Award (2003).

 

Topinka belongs to more than 60 business and professional organizations, including the City Club of Chicago, Government Finance Officers Association and the West Suburban Chapter of the Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority – which named her one of three “Outstanding Citizens” by her National Sorority in 1994.

 

Topinka continues to reside in Riverside, Illinois. Her son Joseph and daughter-in-law, Christina, reside in Texas where Joseph is currently assigned as a major in the U.S. Army.