IDW HRC Award Recipient: Comptroller Susana Mendoza

IDW is pleased to announce that Comptroller Susana Mendoza will receive the 2017 Hillary Rodham Clinton Award at the 45th Annual Convention Dinner on September 16. The HRC Award honors a current state, county, or municipal office holder.

Susana A. Mendoza was elected Illinois Comptroller on November 8, 2016. She became the first Hispanic to ever run for and win a statewide office in Illinois as a Democrat.

Prior to her election as Illinois Comptroller, Susana was the first woman ever elected to the office of the Clerk of the City of Chicago. Before City Clerk, Susana proudly served six terms as a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 2001 to 2011 during which period she also spent time as the co-chairwoman of the bi-partisan group, Conference of Women Legislators. In 2010, Mendoza was selected by the National Conference of Women Legislators, at the behest of the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, to serve as one of only seven women representing the United States as an international observer of the Iraqi elections in Baghdad. In 2012, Ms. Mendoza was presented with the national “Katie’s Hero Award” for her efforts in passing HB3238 which requires DNA collection for felony arrests and works to keep rapists and violent criminals off the streets. She has been recognized for her leadership and legislation on social services, education, law enforcement, job creation and animal welfare.

In a field still often dominated by men, Susana Mendoza credits her tenacity to get things done to her time as the only girl soccer player on all-boys soccer teams during her youth. Her hard work and success serve as an example to women everywhere that anything is possible.

The award will be presented at the evening program, Saturday, September 16 at the Crowne Plaza, 3000 S Dirksen Parkway in Springfield. Author and activist Krystal Ball will be the keynote speaker. Doors will open at 6:00pm. To register for the convention, click here.

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