By AP/KWMU
Chicago, Ill. – Illinois' state Treasurer and this year's GOP nominee for governor has landed a new job with a Chicago-area government body that oversees public transportation.
Judy Baar Topinka has been appointed to the board of the Regional Transportation Authority, which covers Chicago and its suburbs. A comparable government body in the St. Louis area would be Metro.
Republican Commissioner Tony Peraica says Cook County commissioners who represent the suburbs unanimously approved Topinka's appointment Tuesday.
Topinka's appointment to the part-time position will mean a salary of $25,000 a year; she'll replace former County Commissioner Al Carr.
Topinka has served three terms as Treasurer but didn't seek re-election this year so she could instead run for Governor. She lost that race to incumbent Democrat Rod Blagojevich.
Topinka says her time in state government will be an asset to the appointment.