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Rauner: Special Election For Comptroller A 'Partisan Power Play'

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Governor-Elect Bruce Rauner says what the legislature did last week when it approved a special election for Illinois comptroller in 2016 was a "partisan power play."

The Illinois General Assembly approved a special election next year to fill the position of comptroller, a position left vacant when Judy Baar Topinka died.

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Governor-Elect Rauner had already announced his choice, former corporate executive Leslie Munger, and what the legislature did, basically, would limit her appointed term to two years instead of four.

Rauner told reporters he would not fight on that issue.

"There was a... partisan power play on Friday. I'm not going to get immersed in that. I'm going to rise above that. Focus on the right issues.

"We selected Leslie Munger as comptroller. She's a superstar."

Rauner says he chose the Reverend James Meeks to be chairman of the state board of education because he's a "superstar," not because of any campaign support from Meeks.

"First of all, he didn't donate to my campaign. He and I worked together for many, many years on education reform. The reason I picked him - and I always had it in mind for a long time - he passionately cares about the quality of schools in every neighborhood.

"He's dedicated most of his life to making sure public education is outstanding."

Rauner and Meeks support charter schools and vouchers.

Several months ago former State Senator James Meeks endorsed Bruce Rauner for governor.

That stirred things up. Meeks is a Democrat and he is African American. He is the leader of the megachurch, Salem Baptist.

With just a day to go before his inauguration, Rauner and his wife Diana helped serve meals at a kitchen for the homeless in Uptown.

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