Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon has officially announced that she's running for Illinois comptroller, ending five months of uncertainty about which statewide office she'll seek in 2014.
The Carbondale Democrat made her announcement Wednesday morning in downtown Chicago. She also made stops in Springfield and her home town of Carbondale. Simon says she decided to run for the office as an opportunity to be a strong fiscal watchdog for the state. She says she didn't pick the office because it would be an "easy win." Simon says she decided on Comptroller because she see it as the best way for her to work for the state of Illinois.
The comptroller is central to handling Illinois' tax money and maintains the state's accounts, paying bills and signing checks to employees.
Simon could face Will County Auditor Duffy Blackburn in a Democratic primary. Meanwhile, Republican Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka is seeking re-election and has a fundraising advantage. She's a former state treasurer and gubernatorial candidate.
Simon announced in February that she wouldn't seek another term with Gov. Pat Quinn.
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