The incoming Illinois governor’s attorneys have met with staffers for Governor Pat Quinn and argued Quinn may make only a short-term appointment to fill the comptroller’s office left vacant by the sudden death of Judy Baar Topinka.  The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Republican Bruce Rauner’s attorneys told Quinn’s staff this week that they believe Quinn can appoint a replacement for Topinka only until January 12^th.  That’s the day the GOP comptroller’s next term would have started.  Rauner believes he then gets to pick a replacement for the next four years.  The Illinois Constitution is not clear, saying in the case of a vacancy, the governor shall name a replacement to serve until a successor is elected.  But there’s not another election until 2018.