Judy Baar Topinka Dies After Suffering Stroke
From the Associated Press
Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka died early Wednesday, less than 24 hours after having a stroke, according to her office. She was 70.
Spokesman Brad Hahn told The Associated Press that Topinka reported discomfort Tuesday morning and was admitted to a hospital in Berwyn. After undergoing tests she appeared to be doing well overnight before suddenly losing consciousness Wednesday morning, Hahn said. She was pronounced dead shortly after 2 a.m.
Topinka, a Republican, won a second term last month in a tough race with Democratic challenger Sheila Simon, the former lieutenant governor.
"This was not going to be an easy race, and that's the way it turned out," Topinka said after the election results came in. "We were watching right to the end. I'm just happy because I have four more years to get things done."
That would have been her fifth term in statewide office, including three terms as treasurer. And she was well-known for her 2006 unsuccessful bid for governor against the already embattled Democrat Rod Blagojevich.
Topinka had been called a somewhat reluctant candidate who made the bid if only to try to oust Blagojevich for the sake of the state.
"I feel it's being hurt and abused," she said. "If I don't stop it, I'd be complicit in watching it go down the tubes, and I don't want to do that. So I'm running."
Read more in our daily News Update...
From the Associated Press
Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka died early Wednesday, less than 24 hours after having a stroke, according to her office. She was 70.
Spokesman Brad Hahn told The Associated Press that Topinka reported discomfort Tuesday morning and was admitted to a hospital in Berwyn. After undergoing tests she appeared to be doing well overnight before suddenly losing consciousness Wednesday morning, Hahn said. She was pronounced dead shortly after 2 a.m.
Topinka, a Republican, won a second term last month in a tough race with Democratic challenger Sheila Simon, the former lieutenant governor.
"This was not going to be an easy race, and that's the way it turned out," Topinka said after the election results came in. "We were watching right to the end. I'm just happy because I have four more years to get things done."
That would have been her fifth term in statewide office, including three terms as treasurer. And she was well-known for her 2006 unsuccessful bid for governor against the already embattled Democrat Rod Blagojevich.
Topinka had been called a somewhat reluctant candidate who made the bid if only to try to oust Blagojevich for the sake of the state.
"I feel it's being hurt and abused," she said. "If I don't stop it, I'd be complicit in watching it go down the tubes, and I don't want to do that. So I'm running."
Read more in our daily News Update...