Laurence Msall, longtime chair of nonpartisan Illinois tax watchdog group, dies aged 61

Laurence Msall, longtime chair of a nonpartisan Illinois tax and budget watchdog group and former aide to two governors, has died following surgery. He was 61 years old.

Msall had served as president of the Civic Federation since January 2002. He died on Saturday surrounded by his family, the group said in a statement, calling his death a “devastating blow” that broke the hearts of its members.

“While Laurence was the Civic Federation for so many in the community, her true legacy was helping to make the Civic Federation the indispensable voice of fiscal responsibility throughout the State of Illinois,” said the group.

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Prior to his 21-year tenure with the group, Msall’s career included working as an aide to two Republican governors, according to his obituary. He first worked as an aide to Illinois Governor Jim Thompson in the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs.

In 1990, Msall joined the staff of the Commercial Club of Chicago as vice president. But he returned to state government in 1999, after the then governor. George Ryan appointed him Senior Advisor for Economic Development.

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Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza called Msall “a crucial voice advocating for honest budgeting.”

“Laurence was such an important bridge between business and government, holding city, state, county and other government units accountable by analyzing their budgets,” Mendoza added in a statement Sunday.

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Msall’s survivors include his wife, Nicola Hill-Cordell, and a blended family of eight children.

A visitation will be held at the Galewood Chapel in Salerno in Chicago on Tuesday, with a mass scheduled for Wednesday at St. Giles Church in Oak Park, according to his obituary.