Controller Candidate Statements

  • As the state's chief fiscal officer, serves as the state's accountant and bookkeeper of all public funds.
  • Administers the state payroll system and unclaimed property laws and conducts audits and reviews of state operations.
  • Serves on the Board of Equalization, the Board of Control, and other boards and commissions.

Lanhee Chen

Lanhee J. Chen | REPUBLICAN

The State Controller should be California's independent fiscal watchdog, who makes sure our money is spent wisely. But time and again, the Sacramento insiders have failed us. We are wasting billions every year. For example, at the start of the pandemic, California handed out over $20 billion in fraudulent unemploment benefits. That amount could have paid every Californian's state gas taxes for over two years, or for the salaries of 236,000 new teachers! I'm running for Controller to fight for taxpayers. I have a specific plan to deliver transparency and demand accountability for every dollar our state spends. I've been endorsed by over a dozen newspapers across California, including the Los Angeles Times, which called me "the best choice for this position" because I am "a sharp thinker with experience analyzing large financial systems and because the controller should be as independent from the party in power as possible." I'm not a career politican, but have started a business, advised policymakers, and taught at Stanford University. I served presidents from both parties, working to save Social Security and make healthcare more affordable. I grew up in Southern California as the son of immigrants, attended my local public high school, and went on to earn four degrees from Harvard, including my Ph.D. My wife, kids and I now live in the Bay Area. Sacramento can't keep wasting so much of our hard-earned money. We need to spend smarter. I'll make sure we do.

3941 Park Drive, Suite 20-343
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
Tel: (650) 485-1652
E-mail: info@chenforcalifornia.com
chenforcalifornia.com
Facebook: ChenforCalifornia
Twitter: lanheechen
Instagram: lanheechen
YouTube: youtube.com/chenforcontroller2022


Malia M. Cohen

Malia M. Cohen | DEMOCRATIC

California should be a place where everyone can find a good job and affordable housing. Your next State Controller will oversee essential spending to solve challenges like homelessness and the rising cost of living—we need someone with both the experience and values to do the job. I’ve dedicated my career to public service, focused on making our tax dollars work for all of us. As Chair of the State Board of Equalization, I serve as a watchdog over $80 billion in state finances, work to provide tax relief for Californians reeling from the pandemic, and hold corporations accountable for paying their fair share. I’ve cut wasteful spending and launched a Property Tax Modernization Initiative to ensure that the state administers property taxes more efficiently and fairly. On the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, I led efforts to divest the city’s pension fund from fossil fuels, oversaw the adoption of an $11 billion budget, and fought to increase the minimum wage. Our campaign is supported by leaders and working people throughout California, from State Controller Betty Yee and the California Democratic Party to Nurses, Teachers, Firefighters and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. When elected, I’ll be among the state’s first working moms to serve as CFO, an important experience as California faces child care shortages among working parents. As Controller, I will ensure our tax dollars address the homelessness crisis, protect our environment, and provide access to healthcare and reproductive freedom. Let’s build a California where everyone thrives. www.MaliaCohen.us

248 3rd St. #437
Oakland, CA 94607
maliacohen.us
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaliaCohen
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/MaliaCohen
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/malia.cohen


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The order of the statements was determined by randomized drawing. Statements on this page were supplied by the candidates and have not been checked for accuracy by any official agency. The views and opinions expressed by the candidates are their own and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of the Secretary of State’s office. Each statement was voluntarily submitted and paid for by the candidate. Candidates who did not submit statements could otherwise be qualified to appear on the ballot