By IRN/Davie Dahl

One of the new faces around the state Capitol belongs to the comptroller, Leslie Munger.

Appointed to the job shortly before the inauguration, she didn’t have much time for a welcome.

“Today we have $6.8 billion in unpaid bills and a bill backlog going back to before Thanksgiving,” Munger said.“Every day we get phone calls from agencies and not-for-profits who are hurting because of our inability to pay those bills. We’re trying to do what we can to advance that money and keep on a predictable payment schedule.”

Munger, a former executive with Helene Curtis and its successor, Unilever, applied for the job after incumbent and election winner Judy Baar Topinka died in December. Munger was an unsuccessful candidate for state representative in November.

Munger, a Republican, has expressed interest in running in the 2016 special election for another two-year term. There’s also a move, endorsed by the governor, to combine the office of comptroller with that of treasurer as not only a $12 million savings, but also as a tribute to Topinka.