Upper School students had the opportunity to engage with real-world politics when Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza visited the Parker Politics Club to discuss her run for mayor and share her experiences in public service. The event allowed students to hear directly from a political leader, ask questions about government and leadership, and gain a deeper understanding of the responsibilities that come with being in office.
Upper School history teacher Andrew Bigelow helped organize the visit after first hearing Mendoza speak. “I met Susana Mendoza at an information session… and she sounded amazing,” Bigelow said. “So we decided to invite her to come speak to our politics club.”
Sophomore and head of the Politics Club, Noah Silverman emphasized the significance of her position in state government. “In her role as comptroller, she manages the state’s finances, overseeing payments, budgeting, and transparency,” Silverman said.
Mendoza, who has served as Illinois Comptroller since 2016, spoke about her long career in public service and the experiences that shaped her leadership style. Before becoming comptroller, she served in the Illinois House of Representatives and later as Chicago City Clerk, giving her experience in both state and city government. Over the years, she has built a reputation for trying to focus mainly on financial accountability and improving efficiency in public offices. She told students that her decision to consider running for mayor comes from wanting to apply that financial experience and leadership to address larger challenges in Chicago.
Bigelow said that many people are unfamiliar with the responsibilities of her current position. “Most people don’t know what the state comptroller is,” he said. “She’s basically the chief financial officer for the state, but she has an incredible mindset when it comes to paying our bills, balancing the budget, and making the city livable for all people.”
He explained that the comptroller’s role includes managing the state’s checkbook, processing payments, and keeping transparency in how a taxpayer’s money is spent. By overseeing billions of dollars in public funds, Mendoza plays a critical role in ensuring that businesses, schools, healthcare providers, and local governments receive payments on time.
Throughout the discussion, Mendoza addressed her mayoral campaign and what motivates her leadership. “Susana Mendoza talked about her possible run for Chicago Mayor,” junior Alayna Mack said. “She explained how her commitment to helping Illinois residents was the driving force behind her political mayoral campaign.”
“Mendoza discussed prioritizing payments to companies that need them most. She decreased their wait time from around one year to under 30 days,” Mack said.
Students also asked questions about how government decisions affect different communities. One of Mack’s questions was, “How do budget choices impact working families, seniors, or small businesses?” Mendoza responded by emphasizing that “budget decisions are never just numbers on a page. They influence daily life- from business stability to retirement security.”
Bigelow said that part of Mendoza’s message focused on economic balance. “She believes we need to figure out better ways to stop raising taxes to the point where people want to leave the city, while also creating a tax structure that welcomes new businesses,” he said. He also added that Mendoza hopes to encourage companies to invest in Chicago while keeping fairness and responsibility.
Students in the Politics Club prepared in-depth questions addressing leadership, challenges, and the responsibilities in public office. “Our students got to ask a few questions,” Bigelow said, noting that several students stayed afterward to continue conversations and explore more ways to become more involved.
For many students, the visit connected classroom discussions to real-world political experience. By hearing directly from a state official managing billions of dollars in public funds, students gained a clearer understanding of how financial decisions shape communities.
Mendoza ended her discussion by encouraging students to remain informed and engaged in the community. Whether through voting when able, volunteering, or staying aware of local issues, she emphasized that young people play an important role in shaping Chicago’s future. Hearing directly from Susana Mendoza gave students a clearer picture of how leadership decisions are made and how financial policies affect neighborhoods across Chicago. By opening up a space for honest conversation and thoughtful questions, the conversation showed students that their voices and curiosity about government truly matter.
