Accomplishments
From her early days as the youngest member of the 92nd Illinois General Assembly as a State Representative, the first woman elected Chicago City Clerk, to pioneering transparency and fiscal responsibility as Illinois Comptroller, she has consistently led innovative changes, championed responsible governance, and saved taxpayers millions.
Learn more about Susana’s remarkable journey and some of her achievements.
2024
Launched Asylum-seekers Transparency Portal tracking every penny of state spending on caring for tens of thousands of Venezuelan asylum-seekers bused from Texas to Chicago.
2022
Paid off federal $2 billion COVID-19 loan two years early, saving taxpayers $82 million in interest payments by using stronger-than-expected revenues.
2021
Helped to deliver nine credit upgrades in Illinois, the first upgrades in over 20 years, through an astute and fiscally disciplined paydown of Illinois’ bill backlog, without using federal stimulus funds.
2021
Paid off the state’s $17 billion backlog of unpaid bills, saving taxpayers billions of dollars by refinancing high-interest debt to low-interest, strategically maximizing federal reimbursements.
2020
Launched COVID-19 transparency portal, allowing the public to view every penny of the state government’s spending on pandemic-related expenses. Newspapers around the country urge their states to follow Comptroller Mendoza’s example.
2017
Passed the Debt Transparency Act, the most significant reform bill in the history of the Comptroller’s Office, requiring state agencies to disclose the amount of unpaid bills they are sitting on. She passed the reform over the governor’s veto.
2016
Susana Mendoza is sworn in as the State of Illinois’ 10th Comptroller, the first Hispanic independently elected to statewide office in Illinois.
2015
Won Harvard University’s Bright Idea Award for moving Chicago from a century-old, once-a-year vehicle sticker sale to a year-round system, which the men before her said could not be done, providing better service at lower cost.
2014
Passed the Companion Animal and Consumer Protection Ordinance, banning the sale of puppy mill pets in retail stores in the City of Chicago.
2014
Kindness to Animals Award
2010
Traveled to Iraq as an international observer of Iraqi elections as one of seven women nationally, selected by Robin Read at the behest of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
2011
Susana Mendoza is the first woman elected City Clerk of Chicago.
2004
Named a Crain’s Chicago Business 40 Under 40 Honoree.
2001
Susana Mendoza is elected State Representative of the 1st District, the youngest member of the 92nd Illinois General Assembly.