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.

Laura Wells

Laura Wells | GREEN

Tax the super-rich; stop billionaires from buying the media and politicians. Implement public banking to invest in California not Wall Street. Use water wisely, never for fracking. Spend money on necessary, meaningful jobs that don't destroy the planet, and less money imprisoning people in an unjust system. To save money and lives, there are solutions to problems of healthcare, economy, education, and environment, but politicians financed by billionaires and corporations won't implement them. If they win, you don't. We have alternatives to the two-party system: vote LeftUnitySlate.org.

484 Lake Park Ave., #272
Oakland, CA 94610
Tel: (510) 788-1441 | E-mail: LauraWells4controller@gmail.com
LauraWells.org
Facebook: laura.wells.33633 | Twitter: LauraWellsCA


Yvonne Yiu

Yvonne Yiu | DEMOCRATIC

As State Controller, I will use my 25 years of experience in finance to serve as California's fiscal watchdog, safeguarding your tax dollars, using state audits to root out government waste and utilizing technology to increase transparency. My family immigrated to the U.S. from Hong Kong when I was 16 years old, following the death of my father. Through hard work, I earned a degree in Economics from UCLA, an MBA from Loyola Marymount University and a Certified Regulatory and Compliance Professional designation from Wharton Business School at University of Pennsylvania. I hold 12 securities (stocks) licenses from the Federal Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). After working at some of our nation's top finance firms, I opened my own investment company with over $1 billion in assets. I decided to use my financial experience to help my local community. As Mayor of Monterey Park, I refinanced city bonds, saving over $55 million and protecting public employee pensions. As Controller, I will 1) Safeguard California's finances by ensuring accountability and transparency, 2) Use state audits to uncover and remove government waste, and 3) Develop programs to help people achieve economic security and close the economic gap. The mother of three sons, I will always fight for our families. I am not a typical politician running for higher office. I am a reformer and the only candidate with the education, background and experience in both the public and private sectors to improve California’s finances, ensure sound investments and save taxpayers money.

728 W. Edna Place
Covina, CA 91722
E-mail: yvonne@yvonneyiu.com
YvonneYiu.com
Facebook: YvonneYiu4CA | Twitter: @YvonneYiu4CA
Instagram: YvonneYiu4CA | Other: TikTok: YvonneYiu4CA
YouTube: channel/UCz90LztUAUmW_enQ0g24BAQ


Steve Glazer

Steve Glazer | DEMOCRATIC

Senator Steve Glazer is the Legislature's toughest fiscal watchdog. On the Senate Budget Committee and the Legislative Audit Committee, he demonstrated integrity, independence, and the courage to stand up to special interests. Senator Glazer took on the gun lobby, writing legislation that closed the assault weapons loophole. He fought big finance companies to win the nation's first Truth-In-Lending Law protecting small business. He held PG&E accountable for starting wildfires and went toe-to-toe with Big Tobacco to ban products targeting our children. When the Bay Area's transit system (BART) lurched out of control, Senator Glazer successfully fought to create an independent Inspector General to hold the system accountable. As Controller, Senator Glazer will be a fair, unbiased and unflinching advocate to ensure that the people of California get their money's worth from our government. He will audit the billions California spends on homelessness to find where the money has gone and how to make our dollars work more effectively. He will ensure corporations pay the taxes they owe and protect pension funds and the retirement security they provide for millions of workers. Senator Glazer will even audit the politicians themselves—their travel and expense accounts. A lifelong environmental champion, Senator Glazer will protect our public trust lands and beaches. He doesn't accept gifts or travel from special interests. His record speaks for itself. He's the one candidate for Controller we can trust to look out for us. Please vote: Senator Steve Glazer for Controller. www.SenatorGlazer.com

21C Orinda Way, #111
Orinda, CA 94563
Tel: (925) 386-6530 | E-mail: info@SenatorGlazer.com
SenatorGlazer.com
Facebook: SenatorGlazer | Twitter: @Steve_Glazer


Ron Galperin

Ron Galperin | DEMOCRATIC

Los Angeles City Controller Ron Galperin is the Chief Financial Officer of the nation’s second largest city, overseeing an $11 billion budget and payroll for more than 40,000 employees. The son of immigrants and Los Angeles' first LGBTQ citywide elected official, Ron has the values and experience to get California working for us all. An experienced attorney and former small business owner, Ron has worked to hold politicians accountable for billions in ineffective spending on homelessness. Ron is the candidate who has done the job of controller. That's why he's endorsed by current State Controller Betty Yee and former State Controller John Chiang. As City Controller, Ron launched groundbreaking audits to make sure taxpayer dollars are spent fairly, transparently and effectively. The father of twins, Ron created an equity index fund that maps communities not getting their fair share and recovered more than $100 million for infrastructure. As State Controller, Ron will keep our state and local governments honest, and ensure the fiscal health of all Californians, not just the wealthy and well-connected. He'll hold corporate special interests who don't pay their fair share in taxes accountable and fight for healthcare, our environment, education, retirement security and the affordable housing that California needs. With the world's 5th largest economy, and an annual budget of more than $260 billion, California needs Ron Galperin, who has the integrity, experience, and credibility to safeguard taxpayer dollars.

777 Figueroa St., Suite 4050
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Tel: (818) 351-9672 | E-mail: info@RonForCalifornia.com
RonForCalifornia.com
Facebook: Ron4CA | Twitter: Ron4CA | Instagram: RonGalperin


Lanhee Chen

Lanhee Chen | REPUBLICAN

The State Controller is supposed to be California's independent fiscal watchdog, who makes sure our money is spent wisely. That hasn't happened. Sacramento is wasting billions of dollars every year. As long as Controllers are from the same party as the politicians writing the checks, they're going to be rubber stamps, providing little to no accountability. Our next Controller should deliver transparency for every dollar California spends, demand results, and fight for you, the taxpayer. As Controller, I will force Sacramento politicians to answer tough questions about the $20 billion in unemployment benefits sent to convicted felons and fraudsters, the billions spent each year on homelessness with dismal results, and the lack of a detailed accounting for the $300 billion in checks our state writes every year. My experiences in policymaking, business, and teaching at Stanford University have prepared me to be an independent voice as California's next Controller. I've served both Democrat and Republican presidents and worked with people from different walks of life to tackle massive problems, like saving Social Security and making health care more affordable. I am the son of immigrants who grew up in Southern California, attended my local public high school, and went on to earn degrees from Harvard, including a law degree and a Ph.D. My wife, kids and I now call the Bay Area home. I love our state, but Sacramento can't keep wasting so much of our hard-earned money. We need to spend smarter. I'll make sure we do.

P.O. Box 390575
Mountain View, CA 94039-0575
Tel: (650) 485-1652 | E-mail: info@chenforcalifornia.com
chenforcalifornia.com
Facebook: ChenforCalifornia | Twitter: lanheechen | Instagram: lanheechen
Other: YouTube: chenforcontroller2022


Malia M. Cohen

Malia M. Cohen | DEMOCRATIC

California should be a place where everyone can find a good job and affordable housing. For too many Californians, these dreams are out of reach. Our affordability crisis is creating more homelessness and worsening inequality. We need leaders who will tackle these problems head-on. I've dedicated my career to public service, focused on making our public dollars work for each and every one of us. As Chair of the State Board of Equalization, I work to provide tax relief for Californians reeling from the pandemic, while holding corporations accountable for paying their fair share. I also 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 as Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, and fought to increase the minimum wage. Our campaign is supported by leaders and working people up and down California, from State Controller Betty Yee to the Nurses, Teachers, and NARAL Pro-Choice California. When elected, I'll be among the state's first working moms to serve as CFO, an important experience as our state faces childcare shortages and record turnover among working parents. I won't back down from the big fights, especially against historic inequities, attacks on reproductive freedom, and an escalating homeless crisis, ensuring our tax dollars are accounted for and working for everyone. www.MaliaCohen.us

248 3rd Street, #437
Oakland, CA 94607
Tel: (415) 326-4510 | E-mail: info@maliacohen.us
maliacohen.us
Facebook: maliacohen | Twitter: @mc4controller | Instagram: malia.cohen


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The statements and opinions expressed by the candidates are their own. Statements have not been checked for accuracy and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the Secretary of State's office. The order of the statements was determined by randomized drawing. Each statement was submitted and paid for by the candidate. A candidate who did not submit a statement may be otherwise qualified to appear on the ballot.