Carbondale Reporter

As part of Women's history Month, Rep. Paul Jacobs (R-Carbondale) recently took to Facebook to honor the life of Judy Baar Topinka, who had an extensive political career.

“In addition to being the first woman State Treasurer in Illinois history, Topinka brought color, humor and kindness to the often humorless and unfriendly state government,”  Jacobs said.

Topinka died on Dec. 10, 2014, at the age of 70 from complications of a stroke, weeks before she was to have been sworn in for her second term as comptroller 

Topinka ran for Illinois state treasurer in 1993 and became the first woman in Illinois history to be elected to that office.

“For decades, Topinka has been an energetic, down-to-earth leader on the Illinois political scene,” Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-Chicago) said in a statement on her website. “I can’t remember a time seeing her on the campaign trail or at work that she was not cheerfully interacting with voters or colleagues, a smile on her face. She seemed particularly at ease with the many immigrant groups in our diverse state, coming herself from an immigrant background. Judy will truly be missed.”

“Topinka was outspoken in her beliefs and worked across the aisle to accomplish her goals,” The Caucus Blog wrote. “A fiscal conservative, Topinka believed in open and transparent government, which was the hallmark of her tenure. She also believed in helping women to succeed in whatever endeavor they chose.”

Topinka was a lifelong Illinois resident and earned a bachelor of science degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism in 1966. She worked as a reporter for more than 11 years before beginning her political career as a state representative in 1980. She served as a senator from 1984 to 1994 before she was elected state treasurer.

The Chicago Tribune reported Topinka was known for calling opponents “morons.”

“Topinka was an institution in Illinois politics,” President Barack Obama said in a statement, adding, “She was blunt, pragmatic, unfailingly cheerful and energetic, and always willing to put politics aside to find common-sense solutions that made a difference for the people of Illinois.”