John Chiang

Candidate for State Controller of California
Election Date: November 7, 2006

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The Candidate

John Chiang, 43, is running for State Controller of California. Chiang was recently re-elected to represent 8.5 million Los Angeles County residents on the State Board of Equalization, which he chairs. In that role, Chiang has been successful in achieving his priorities of better educating the public on the tax code, and streamlining the tax filing process. Before winning election in his own right, Chiang served as Chief of Staff for Board of Equalization Member Brad Sherman, who was then elected to Congress. He has advised many Democratic leaders, including Barbara Boxer, Gray Davis, Mel Levine, Brad Sherman, Don Perata and Kathleen Brown. Also a member of the Franchise Tax Board, Chiang is the highest-ranking Asian Pacific American elected state official in California.

Born in New York City during the 1960s as the eldest son of Taiwanese immigrants, Chiang's career has focused on ensuring that government is accessible and improves the lives of all citizens. On the Board of Equalization, John Chiang has fought against unfair corporate tax loopholes, including big oil companies, and advocated more equitable policies to help working families. Chiang has also pursued more equitable tax law for Domestic Partners and offered seniors and nonprofits free tax assistance. Chiang has also ensured fair collection of state taxes from the underground economy and helped to organize the janitors in the building where the Board of Equalization has offices. Chiang currently serves on the Board of The Children's Law Center and The Ethnic Coalition (an organization dedicated to building harmonious race relations) and previously served on the Board of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles; as a Member of the Council of Regents of the American Lung Association of Los Angeles County; on the Board of Children Affected by AIDS Foundation; on the Advisory Board of Big Sisters of Los Angeles; on the Board of Organization of Chinese Americans; on the Board of Governors for Heal The Bay; and as a volunteer attorney for the Los Angeles County Bar Association Hospice Aids Project.

Chiang studied finance at the University of South Florida and earned a law degree from Georgetown University. He lives in Torrance, California with his wife Terri Chi.

The State Controller helps administer $300 billion in pension funds and serves on more than 60 boards and commissions, including those that protect the coastline and build hospitals. The Controller provides the state with independent fiscal oversight, providing control over $100 billion of public funds a year, and offers fiscal guidance to local governments. The Controller is also Chair of the Franchise Tax Board, which sets personal and corporate income tax policy.

John Chiang's opponent, Republican Tony Strickland, is a former State Assemblyman and the current President of the California chapter of the Club for Growth, a group that is dedicated to, among other goals, making the Bush tax cuts permanent, repealing the estate tax, cutting and limiting government spending, privatizing social security and overhauling the current tax code. Strickland made his reputation by suing then-Governor Gray Davis to disclose terms of high-cost energy contracts which, as Strickland boasts on his web site, "crystallized the anti-Davis sentiment that eventually led to his recall in 2003." Strickland is also a successful businessman and former GOP Caucus Chairman in the Assembly. But while Strickland brings with him only a bare minimum of experience in relevant tax and finance issues, John Chiang has years of experience in virtually every facet of the job, from California's economics and finance to its tax laws. During his tenure on the Board of Equalization, Chiang sponsored more legislative proposals signed into law than any other Board Member.

The importance of this race is easily underappreciated. Not only is the Controller's office crucial for ensuring progressive public policy in the State of California, but candidate Chiang is impeccably well-suited to maximize the resources of the office for the public good. Chiang is ahead by double digits in recent polls and is by all accounts favored to win this race. However, many Californians remain undecided because they have not yet been exposed to Chiang's message. The well-funded Club for Growth may well pour money into the state to support Strickland's ideological message. Strickland has persistently tried to portray Chiang as a tax-and-spender, but Chiang is ready for a fight. However it is clear that his campaign will need additional funds to purchase necessary television and other media spots in the upcoming weeks.

As Chiang has argued, as Controller he can not only work for a more equitable tax system and strong social services, but he can also act as a watchdog over the current Republican Administration in Sacramento. Because of California's size, improving the lives of the state's working families enhances opportunity for nearly one in eight Americans. While John Chiang's opponent clings to an ideological and ineffective attitude about taxes and the role of government, Chiang brings a hopeful message of responsive, accessible, and progressive governance. Chiang is clearly the most qualified candidate based on his expertise vis-à-vis state and federal tax issues and his ability to outwork and outsmart those corporate tax lawyers who are not looking out for the best interests of the public. With additional financial support for Chiang's campaign, he can promote his message to voters throughout the state and the people of the great State of California can be ensured the controller they deserve, John Chiang.

Gone are the days when California boasted the nation's best schools and public services. After years of fiscal mismanagement and a lack of political courage, California now faces serious challenges in creating a competitive, prosperous future. John Chiang knows that this will take fairer, simpler and more progressive tax policy, and that only a Controller who is deeply and personally committed to the public interest will be able to overcome obstacles posed by wealthy special interests. Chiang has proven himself time and time again; for example he has successfully sponsored legislation creating filing deadline extensions for financially challenged taxpayers due to mental and physical incapacity and enhancing innocent spouse protection among other common sense proposals.

CNM believes that California deserves a Controller dedicated to progressive state fiscal policy, and John Chiang, with his unmatched experience and sense of fairness, is undoubtedly the best candidate for the job and for all Californians.

Attn: Michael Fertik

Campaign for National Majority
251 W. 89th St. #7D
New York, NY 10024