Village Trustee Jim Dodge in the Republican primary. She won the nomination with 59% of the vote. She went on to win the general election against Illinois state representative David E. Miller (D), Julie Fox (L) and E. Erika Schafer (G). She won re-election in November 2014. Electoral history 2014 election for Illinois State Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka (R) (inc.), 50% Sheila Simon (D), 46% Julie Fox (L), 5% 2010 election for Illinois State Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka (R), 53% David Miller (D), 41% Julie Fox (L), 3% R. Erika Schafer (G), 3% 2006 election for Governor of Illinois Rod Blagojevich (D) (inc.), 50% Judy Baar Topinka (R), 39% Rich Whitney (Green), 10% 2002 election for Illinois State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka (Republican) (inc.), 55% Tom Dart (Democrat), 43% 1998 election for Illinois State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka (Republican) (inc.), 50% Dan McLaughlin (Democrat), 48% 1994 election for Illinois State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka (Republican), 51% Nancy Shaheen (Democrat), 49% Personal life and death In 1965, she married Joe Topinka. They had a son, Joseph, before divorcing in 1981. Topinka was a member of the Illinois St. Andrew Society and attended multiple events for it throughout the year. She could play four instruments and could fluently speak four languages, English, Czech, Spanish and Polish. On December 9, 2014, Topinka was admitted to MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn, a western suburb of Chicago, after reporting discomfort. After undergoing tests, she appeared to be doing well. However, overnight she suddenly lost consciousness and was pronounced dead from a stroke at shortly after 2 a.m. on December 10. President Barack Obama referred to Topinka as "an institution in Illinois politics", citing her service in a statement from the White House. Illinois Governor Pat Quinn said it was a "sad day in the state of Illinois", calling her "a trailblazer in every sense of the word". Topinka was succeeded by Jerry Stermer as comptroller. See also Political party strength in Illinois References Notes External links Official campaign website State of Illinois Comptroller |- |- |- |- |- 1944 births 2014 deaths American people of Czech descent American people of Slovak descent Comptrollers of Illinois Illinois Republican Party chairs Republican Party Illinois state senators Medill School of Journalism alumni Republican Party members of the Illinois House of Representatives People from Riverside, Illinois State treasurers of Illinois Women state legislators in Illinois 20th-century American politicians 20th-century American