Will County Gazette

Contrary to speculation, Susana Mendoza, Democratic candidate for state comptroller, hasn’t sued Best Buy over bill payments.

It's actually more like the other way around, the Illinois Republican Party said.

After public negotiations and claims on Mendoza’s part, explaining how she not only defaulted on an overdue balance of $1,562.31, but also dodged responsibility by going on the offensive to stave off queries, Mendoza finally forked over the sum.

The settlement came only after a dispute. After first acknowledging that she opened a credit account with Best Buy, Mendoza alleged she never saw bills for her purchases. The retailer then brought legal action against her, with an affidavit stating her refusal to pay off her debt.

Mendoza made the purchase in question before her election to the Illinois General Assembly as a state representative at the age of 28 in 2000. Cook County Sheriff’s deputies personally served Mendoza with a summons to appear in court on Dec. 28 of that year.

To clarify the consumer issue, the Illinois Republican Party reviewed court documents showing that Mendoza used her Best Buy credit card to purchase a laptop for $1,212.31. Legal fees added $350, bringing the total to $1,562.31.

“The only thing more troubling than Susana Mendoza’s refusal to pay her personal bills is her inability to accept responsibility for her actions,” Nick Klitzing, the Illinois Republican Party's executive director, said. “As a career politician that quietly double-dipped on the city and state payrolls for a decade, it is not surprising that Mendoza is choosing to hide her past of financial mismanagement of her personal finances."

Klitzing said such actions by Mendoza, who also currently holds the position of Chicago city clerk, reflects on her fiscal responsibility. At one point, her staff alleged she sued the store, but records indicate otherwise.

“That is exactly the kind of financial mismanagement that has created the mess in Illinois,” Klitzing said, adding that the incident is “disqualifying.”

“This makes her a perfect candidate to be (House Speaker) Mike Madigan's (D-Chicago) comptroller, but she is incapable of being the independent truth-telling fiscal watchdog she claims to be,” Klitzing said.

Initially reported by the Sangamon Sun.