Rauner makes Munger deputy governor after she lost comptroller election

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner has hired former Leslie Munger of Lincolnshire to be a deputy governor after she lost her bid to be re-elected comptroller.

Rauner says Munger will focus on long-term budgeting and work with human services organizations hit hard by the state budget impasse. She will be paid $135,000 a year, the same amount she made as comptroller.

Munger's job is in addition to current Deputy Gov. Trey Childress of Chicago, who was paid $198,000 last year.

Rauner appointed Munger to be comptroller in 2015, after Judy Baar Topinka died. Munger lost a November re-election bid to Democrat Susana Mendoza.

"Leslie's vast business, human services and government experiences make her uniquely qualified to serve in this important role," the Republican governor said in a statement. "We are thrilled that she has agreed to return to public service and bring people together to find long-term solutions for our state and its residents."

Rauner's office says the money for Munger's salary was freed up when former Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle left her $198,000-per-year position on Rauner's executive staff.

Munger was an executive with Unilever HPC/Helene Curtis for 17 years until 2001. She has been a volunteer and board member of the Riverside Foundation in Lincolnshire, a nonprofit that helps developmentally disabled adults.

Several of her former staff members, including her ex-chief of staff Brad Hahn and deputy chief of staff Phillip Rodriguez, also found jobs in the Rauner administration after her election loss.