Known for her bluntness, Chick released over 170 audits and reports during her tenure, including one that exposed a backlog of untested DNA rape kits at the Los Angeles Police Department.

[2] In 2009, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed her as California Inspector General to oversee the use of federal funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Before entering politics, Chick had been a stay-at-home mother, managed a family-owned retail business, and worked as a social worker.

The Los Angeles Daily News editorialized, "…as City Controller, she's often been downtown's lone champion of good government."

One of her last audits to be released as City Controller exposed a backlog of thousands of untested DNA rape kits at the Los Angeles Police Department.

Chick's tenure in this role ended when the Office of the Inspector General was eliminated by Governor Jerry Brown in December 2010.

[11] Before entering elective office at the age of 49, Chick had already been a stay-at-home mom, manager of a family-owned retail business, and social worker.