Margaret Croke

Candidate Q&A

Why are you running?

I’m running for Comptroller because Illinois needs steady, experienced fiscal leadership at a time of economic uncertainty and instability being caused by the Trump administration. We need a Comptroller who understands the state government and knows how to solve problems before they become crises. 

As Comptroller, I will lead with transparency, accountability, and efficiency and be a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars. Fiscal responsibility goes hand-in-hand with protecting vulnerable communities. I’ve been on the frontlines investing in education, healthcare, and our social service safety net. I know we can’t support the priorities we care about without stable funding. The Comptroller’s office is about more than just spreadsheets – every dollar we spend reflects our values and shapes the future of our state. 
 
This is a crucial moment for Illinois. Households are tightening their budgets, and unlike the crises of the past, we cannot count on the federal government to step in. But Illinois doesn’t have to wait for Washington. We can lead by example with responsible budgets, modern systems, and leadership that puts people first.

Ultimately, I’m running because I want Illinois to be the best place for every child to receive a quality education, find a job that gives them the economic opportunity they deserve, and raise their own family here in the state. That’s what I want for my own three children, and what I will work towards for all Illinoisans.

What skills or experience do you have that make you particularly suited to this position?

Illinois state government is a massive organization responsible for executing a $55 billion dollar budget, and I believe having previous experience in state government is critical to serve as Comptroller. 

As Deputy Chief of Staff at DCEO, I oversaw legislative affairs, personnel, and special projects, including capital investments, while managing an agency of more than 300 people, larger than the Comptroller’s office. I was also responsible for the disbursement of billions of dollars. Those funds were conditioned on several criteria, ranging from environmental impact study completion to proper accounting and receipts. A single mistake could have dire consequences for the state or for those relying on the funding, so I understand firsthand the complicated process of ensuring public funds are used legally, responsibly, and efficiently. 
 
Since 2021, I have served as a State Representative, serving on the House Revenue & Finance Committee and chairing the Financial Institutions Committee. In that role, I’ve become the foremost authority on depositories, payment processing, and financial technology. 

The Comptroller’s office requires collaboration with the administration, the General Assembly, and other units of government. My experience has given me a deep understanding of how the public sector ecosystem works, which will help ensure that the most fiscally sound decisions are being made on behalf of taxpayers and those who are most in need.

What does this office do well, and what needs fixing?

Comptroller Mendoza came into a house that was on fire with a multi-billion dollar bill backlog and a nearly depleted rainy day fund. I give her immense credit for stabilizing the office and helping get the state on solid financial footing. Now that we are in this more stable position, I see an opportunity to be proactive about implementing new tools and fine-tuning existing systems to increase transparency and accountability. This includes instituting the Budget to Bill software, a public facing software interface system where anyone could see where in the lifecycle public dollars are from the moment they are appropriated to when the Comptroller’s office pays the bill, implementing changes to the Vendor Payment Program, streamlining local government audits, and other proactive measures to ensure the office is operating as efficiently as possible.

What is the most pressing issue facing your constituents and how do you plan on addressing it?

As I travel across the state, I hear the same concern from voters: uncertainty caused by the chaos in Washington. From reckless actions by ICE and attacks on reproductive freedoms, to the rising cost of groceries and the threat of federal funding cuts to healthcare, education and other critical services, Illinoisans are afraid of the instability across our country. 

While we can’t control the federal government, as Comptroller, I can help create an environment  of fiscal stability here in Illinois that allows us to continue investing in the core services we rely on. That means maintaining balanced budgets, making responsible debt payments, and prioritizing payments to the programs that serve our most vulnerable.
 
We frequently say that a budget is a moral document, and the implementation and execution of that budget is just as important as the words within it. As Comptroller, I would take a holistic, big-picture approach to managing the payment of bills so that they are prioritized based on factors like the additional costs accrued by delaying payment, the financial stability of vendors and non-profits awaiting funds, and where there might be some flexibility without hurting services. 

Being fiscally responsible and protecting vulnerable populations are not conflicting ideals — in fact, they go hand in hand. By managing payments thoughtfully and transparently, we can help give our working families the stability they deserve.

Is there a major policy initiative or financial issue you will look to tackle in the next year?

I am very proud of the relationships I’ve built in the General Assembly, and am grateful to have the support of nearly 40 of my colleagues in this campaign. These relationships are built on trust, and they will allow me to work effectively with the legislature on critical financial issues, including maintaining balanced budgets, investing in our Rainy Day Fund, and addressing the pension backlog.

As it relates to policy,  Comptroller Mendoza issued Executive Order 19-01 to strengthen enforcement of prevailing wage laws on public projects, ensuring that vendors are following state law when it comes to paying their workers. I strongly support that effort, and as Comptroller, I would extend all provisions of the Executive Order and seek ways to strengthen and expand these efforts. This includes improving the complaint portal, launching a statewide informational awareness campaign so workers know their rights, assisting the Department of Labor in investigations, and pursuing legislation to codify enforcement. 

I would work with the General Assembly to pass legislation granting the Comptroller clear statutory authority to enforce the prevailing wage and other laws through the payment process itself. The law would require contractors receiving state funds to prove compliance with all labor laws before payment is approved. If payment is not provided during a specified time frame, a portion of the payment could be withheld until compliance is verified.

If you are elected, what would the end of a successful four-year term look like for you?

A successful four-year term will mean that Illinois has weathered the storm of the Trump administration and come out on the other side positioned for growth and opportunity. It will mean that we took proactive steps here in Illinois to protect critical services for our neighbors and made smart, disciplined financial decisions that set us up for long-term success.

Success means we will have paid our bills on time and increased the trust Illinoisans have both in this office and in how their taxpayer dollars are spent. And if cuts to federal funding required us to make difficult decisions and prioritize payments, it will mean we did the work to ensure that the vendors who rely on state funding the most had the support they needed to keep their doors open and continue serving Illinois families.

What specific steps would you take to ensure your office is accessible and responsive?

As Comptroller, I would create a new technical assistance office that would help build lines of communication between the Comptroller and small businesses, vendors, nonprofits, and local governments throughout the state. 

The Comptroller’s Office pays bills after receiving an invoice, but the payment processing can be onerous and difficult for smaller entities who do not have manpower and expertise. Dedicated employees across the state within the Comptroller’s Office that can be reached virtually or deployed to a locality to help ease this burden would encourage smaller vendors, both nonprofit and for-profit, to do work with the state of Illinois and decrease their labor costs. 

For local units of government, the technical assistance office would deploy staff to help with their audits. There are currently four statutes that oversee the audit requirements for local units of governments, and I believe that needs to be streamlined. I’ve already spoken to the CPA Society and the Townships Association, and they are fully onboard with a tiered system for audits. The auditing requirements would be based on the amount of revenues the local unit of government receives annually. Some local governments have audits that are up to seven years past due, which is often due to a lack of staffing and expertise rather than ill intent. By helping smaller governments meet their obligations, we can focus on rooting out the bad actors and allow these governments to serve their communities.