Six candidates vie to become California State Controller

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Come June 7, California voters will choose the highest two contenders to look on the November poll for a number of statewide races.

One race getting plenty of buzz is the state controller’s race. 4 Democrats, one Republican and one member of the Inexperienced Celebration are vying to grow to be California’s subsequent chief monetary officer.

Incumbent Betty Yee is termed out, however has given her blessing to Malia Cohen, chair of California State Board of Equalization.

“I believe what distinguishes me on this race is that not solely do I perceive the numbers and the funds for the state of California, and the way the funds trickles down into the native counties and cities’ funds, but in addition being a policymaker,” Cohen mentioned.

Previous to being on the board of equalization, Cohen was on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the place she chaired the Price range and Finance Committee.

“Popping out of the pandemic, I believe we’d like a really robust controller that’s going to be a funds hawk — somebody that’s going to concentrate to how and the place our tax {dollars} are being spent — paying cautious consideration to transparency,” Cohen mentioned.

As controller, the San Francisco native says she would prioritize maintaining fairness on the forefront of her job.

“Ensuring that we’re equitably distributing all of our state sources, ensuring that attorneys and lobbyists aren’t influencing the coverage agenda and that on a regular basis working individuals nonetheless have a seat on the desk,” Cohen famous.

Among the controller’s duties embrace sitting on 78 boards and commissions, writing checks and conducting impartial audits of the totally different state businesses — a job Republican candidate Lanhee Chen feels he’s probably the most certified for.

“The independence is actually vital. You must have anyone that’s going to stay up for taxpayers and never for everyone else in authorities,” Chen defined. “And I believe the problem, once you hold electing the identical sort of individuals, is that they find yourself caring for one another.”

After receiving 4 levels from Harvard, together with a PhD in Political Science, the Southern California native moved again to the Golden State to show at Stanford College and work on public coverage. The daddy of two has additionally labored for the Bush and Obama administrations.

“My expertise is in constructing relationships throughout social gathering traces, understanding learn how to work with different individuals who could not agree with me on points, however essentially sticking to my core ideas: transparency, accountability and financial accountability,” Chen mentioned.

As California’s fiscal watchdog, Chen explains he’d prefer to work on fixing state-run applications that aren’t working.

“Let’s inform individuals precisely the place the cash goes. Let’s element the applications the place we’re spending cash and the way that cash is being spent, and let’s go one step additional. Let’s asses how profitable these applications are,” he mentioned. “I’d like to offer these applications a letter grade like our children get letter grades in class.”

The opposite frontrunner is State Senator Steve Glazer, a Democrat who prides himself on being impartial and standing as much as curiosity teams.

“I’ve taken on the NRA to ban assault weapons efficiently, I’ve taken on the tobacco firms to ban their advertising and marketing to youngsters, I’ve taken on PG&E relating to their wildfire efforts that they’ve precipitated,” Glazer mentioned.

If elected, Glazer desires to problem the implementation of presidency applications that haven’t labored to enhance among the state’s most crucial points, comparable to homelessness.

“We’re spending about $12 billion on homelessness this 12 months. Does anyone assume that we’re fixing that downside? If not, why not? The controller is in a key place to dig down extra deeply with independence, not with any obligation to the state administration or any curiosity group,” Glazer emphasised.

The 7-year senator and former mayor additionally labored within the personal sector for 25 years operating his personal enterprise.

“I’ve a observe file of being impartial and being clear and being fiscally accountable that I believe will serve me nicely on this job,” he added.

The opposite candidates within the race are Ron Galperin, who’s been the Los Angeles Metropolis Controller since 2013, Yvonne Yiu, Mayor of Monterey Park and Laura Wells, a monetary analyst from Oakland.