John Chiang

John Chiang began his career as a tax law specialist for the IRS. He worked as an attorney for then-California State Controller Gray Davis, and also worked on the staff of California Senator Barbara Boxer. He was appointed to the California Board of Equalization in 1997 after incumbent Brad Sherman resigned after being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Chiang was then elected to the office in 1998 and elected to a second four-year term in 2002. He was Chair and represented the Fourth District, primarily serving southern Los Angeles County.

As State Controller, John was a vigilant watchdog of state’s finances identifying over $9.5 billion waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars over the course of his service. During the great recession, he restructured California’s state debt to generate $2 billion for schools, infrastructure and public safety. He also played a key role in passing Secure Choice, a state sponsored retirement plan helping 7.5 million Californians — with almost no cost to the state.

PowerPAC.org election strategy

PowerPAC.org is committed to supporting the civic engagement of voters of color and the election of progressive leaders of color. Much of our strategy is outlined in the book “Brown Is The New White,” written by our founder Steve Phillips. Our work involves researching where votes of color can make a difference in races, how demographic trends can affect change in public policy and leadership, and how civic engagement methodologies can change how campaigns are run.

Our work has spanned the nationwide (support for Barack Obama and civic engagement in 18 states in the 2007-2008 cycle) to the small (unseating 18-year conservative incumbents in city races in San Bernardino, CA). Most recently we worked with grassroots activists in Georgia to encourage African American voters to turn out in the CD-6 race in Georgia and to build support for Stacey Abrams’ race for Governor there. As we move forward, we will deepen our work in California as well as launching a multi-state initiative to support gubernatorial candidates of color in GA (Stacey Abrams), MD (Benjamin Jealous), AZ (David Garcia), CA (John Chiang), and FL (Andrew Gillum).

Additionally, we are in the process of building a fundraising engine to drive donations by average citizens in low dollar amounts. We think that there is power in crowd-sourcing the support of our communities of color. The voice of the growing economic power of the communities of color must be heard and their power felt.

Supporting Chiang

PowerPAC.org is an organization dedicated to promoting our central mission — to increase the participation of voters of color and to support candidates of color. We believe that true democratic participation by the communities of color will not come until a robust community infrastructure is built to provide ongoing support, training, and leadership to our voters and citizens. This includes supporting candidates — for and from the community — working towards the same mission as ours, as well as uplifting legislation that empowers our communities.

John Chiang for Governor of California.

John Chiang began his career as a tax law specialist for the IRS. He worked as an attorney for then-California State ControllerGray Davis, and also worked on the staff of California Senator Barbara Boxer. He was appointed to the California Board of Equalization in 1997 after incumbent Brad Sherman resigned after being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Chiang was then elected to the office in 1998 and elected to a second four-year term in 2002. He was Chair and represented the Fourth District, primarily serving southern Los Angeles County.

As State Controller, John was a vigilant watchdog of state’s finances identifying over $9.5 billion waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars over the course of his service. During the great recession, he restructured California’s state debt to generate $2 billion for schools, infrastructure and public safety. He also played a key role in passing Secure Choice, a state sponsored retirement plan helping 7.5 million Californians — with almost no cost to the state.

Donate to support John Chiang for Governor today.

Campaign staff

• Campaign Manager: Preston Elliott
• Deputy Campaign Manager and Communications Director: Fabien Levy
• Finance Director: Lisa Cassinis
• Policy Director: Morgan Miller
• General Consultants: Left Hook, led by partners Brandon Hall, Raghu Devaguptapu, and Orrin Evans
• Strategic Consultant: Hilltop Public Solutions, led by partner Courtni Pugh

Parke Skelton support

Parke Skelton is one of California’s preeminent political campaign consultants. His firm, SG&A Campaigns, has run campaigns for scores of progressive Democratic candidates including Controller John Chiang, Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, Secretary of State Debra Bowen, Congressmembers Karen Bass, Julia Brownley, Judy Chu, Alan Lowenthal, Adam Schiff, Brad Sherman and Hilda Solis, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and District Attorney Jackie Lacey.

CAIR 10th Anniversary Banquet

Circa 2004, some 2,100 people turned out for the annual fundraising banquet of the Council on American-Islamic Relations - Southern California (CAIR-LA) office on Saturday. The Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group said the dinner, which marks a decade of its service, raised $450,000.

At the dinner, held in California's largest banquet facility at the Anaheim Convention Center, speakers congratulated CAIR on ten years of service, and praised CAIR's efforts to combat anti-Muslim prejudice and to promote civil rights for all Americans. The annual report for CAIR-California, which includes the year's financial report, was also distributed at the event.

Speakers and attendees included Professor David Cole from Georgetown University Law Center, Honorable Curt Pringle, Mayor of the City of Anaheim, Bill Lockyer, Attorney General of the State of California, Orange Country Sheriff Michael Corona, Congressman Gary Miller (R-42), Los Angeles County Sheriff Leroy Baca, Judge James Gray, Orange County Superior Court, Honorable Judy Chu, Member of the California State Assembly, and Honorable John Chiang, Member of the California Board of Equalization. Representatives from most Southern California Islamic centers and Muslim organizations also attended the dinner. Mayors, city council members and chiefs of police from various cities were also present.

Keeping with the theme of "Restoring the American Dream", Keynote speaker David Cole emphasized the importance of challenging post 9/11 policies which unfairly target American Muslims, including ethnic profiling, preventive detention, the Patriot Act, and maltreatment of foreign nationals.

Attorney General Bill Lockyer, one of the authors of the anti-hate crime legislation AJR 64, assured Muslims that hate crimes against members of any faith community will not be tolerated. He said, "As California's top cop I will not allow it." Gary Miller urged Muslims to reach out and educate other members of the community. Sheriff Baca thankedd CAIR for its advertising campaign condemning terrorism. Judge Gray urged that the "the Patriot Act...be repealed by all."

One of the highlights of the event, CAIR presented its annual Civil Rights Leadership Award to Assemblywoman Judy Chu, for her effort and dedication in passing legislation against hate crimes, and especially for sponsoring the historic AJR 64 Hate Crimes Bill condemning hate against Muslims, Arabs, South Asians and Sikhs. Chu commended CAIR for its outstanding support in proposing and garnering support for the bill.

Assemblyman Lou Correa and the office of Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez. presented the Muslim Youth Activism Awards for the positive civic, religious and social contributions made by people in the community The Muslim Activist of the Year award went to Imam Saadiq Saafir for his commitment to building bridges between the Muslim and larger community.

CAIR Chairman Omar Ahmad, CAIR-California Chairman Fouad Khatib, and CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush provided an overview of the civil rights group in its ten years of service, and a vision for an even better future. Commenting on the recent survey which shows that 1 in 4 Americans polled hold an anti-Muslim sentiment, Chairman Ahmad stated the need to present Islam in the correct way to Americans. California Chairman Khatib highlighted CAIR's progress and achievements such its public service announcements on radios, its library project which sends fair and balanced books about Islam to libraries, its activism in support of AJR 64, and many more. Executive Director Ayloush pointed out that through CAIR's efforts, accurate information about Islam was shared with 3.3 million people in Southern California.

List of Attending Guests:

• Bill Lockyer, State Attorney General, California Department of Justice
• Congressman Gary Miller, Member of Congress
• Assemblyman Lou Correa California State Assembly
• Assemblywoman Judy Chu, California State Assembly
• John Chiang, CA Board of Equalization
• Tony Rackauckas, District Attorney, Orange County, CA
• Sheriff Leroy Baca, Los Angeles County Sheriff Dept.
• Sheriff Michael Carona, Orange County Sheriff Dept.
• Judge Jim P. Gray, Orange County Superior Court and candidate for U.S. Senate
• FBI
• Many chiefs of police and their reps. from various So. Calif. Cities (including Anaheim, Long Beach, Irvine, Los Angeles, Laguna Niguel, ...)
• Mayor Larry Agran, City of Irvine
• Mayor Curt Pringle, City of Anaheim
• Mayor Pro Tem Andy Quach, City of Westminster
• Mayor Bruce Broadwater, City of Garden Grove
• Councilman Van Tran, Esq, City of Garden Grove
• Councilman Kermit Marsh, City of Westminster
• Dr. Karen Torjesen, Dean of Religion, Claremont College
• Dr. Thomas McFadden, President of Marymount College
• Dr. Ananda Guruge, Dean of Academic Affairs, Hsi Las University Los Angeles
• Bishop Murray Finck, of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
• Rev. Dennis Short, Harbor Christian Church
• The Rt. Rev. Alexei Smith, Director of Ecumenical & Interreligious Affairs, LA Catholic Archdiocese
• Rev. Leonard Jackson, First AME Church, Los Angeles & LAPD Religious Forum
• Rev. Ginny Wagener, Executive Director of South Coast Interfaith Council
• Rev. Reese Riley, Rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Tustin,
• Sr. Marie Gaillac, from Sisters of St. Joseph
• Rev. Roy Riggs, United Methodist Church, Corona
• Bishop Edward Turner, HOPE for LIFE Foundation
• Rev Alexia Salvatierra, Executive Director of CLUE
• Preston Wood Executive Director of ANSWER
• Karin Pally from Women in Black
• Alison Weir from If Americans Knew

Clinton supporter

In January 2008, Hillary Clinton launched her “AAPIs for Hillary” committee by naming Congresswoman Doris Matsui national co-chair of the AAPI outreach efforts. They rolled out an ambitious outreach plan focusing on six states/regions headed up by established political names. In California, co-chairs include state Controller John Chiang; Board of Equalization member Judy Chu; Assembly members Michael Eng, Mary Hayashi and Fiona Ma; and California Democratic Party Vice Chairwoman Alicia Wang.

Northern California co-chairs include Otto Lee, mayor of Sunnyvale; Henry Manayan, former mayor of Milpitas; and Mona Pasquil, former deputy political director for the “Kerry-Edwards 2004” campaign. Southern California co-chairs include Rajen Anand, chair of the National Federation of Indian American Associations; Charmaine Manansala, former senior policy analyst for the White House Initiative on AAPIs; and Elena Ong and Julie Soo, former officers of the California Democratic Party.

The former Clinton administration appointed one of the largest concentrations of high-level White House AAPIs in history. Many of these former community-based appointees are active in this campaign. Irene Bueno, a former appointee and founder of the Washington, D.C.-based Asian American Action Fund, is a key consultant with the campaign.

2010 Fundraising Gala

NAKASEC 2010 "Standing up for Justice" awardees were Rep. Judy Chu, and California Comptroller John Chiang.

California Asian Pacific Island Legislative Caucus

The California Asian Pacific Island Legislative Caucus formed in January 2001, consisted, in the 2011 - 12 session, of Assembly Members Mike Eng, Paul Fong, Warren Furutani, Mary Hayashi, Ted Lieu, Fiona Ma, Alberto Torrico, and Mariko Yamada and Senators Leland Yee and Carol Liu. State Controller John Chiang and State Board of Equalization Member Betty Yee served as honorary members of the Caucus.

Honorary Board Asian American Action Fund

Circa 2013, John Chiang served on the Honorary Board of the Asian American Action Fund;

2021 leadership

New York, NY (January 15, 2021) – At the Committee of 100’s Annual Meeting of Members, a new team of Officers and Directors were elected to help lead the organization in 2021 and beyond.

Former Secretary of Commerce, U.S. Ambassador to China, and Governor of Washington State Gary Locke was elected by members as Chair-Elect, and will take over as Chairman from H. Roger Wang at the May 2021 Annual Meeting.

Serving with Gary on the senior leadership team will be Charlie Woo, co-founder and CEO of Megatoys, who was elected as Vice-Chair; John Chiang, former California State Treasurer, who was elected as Chief Financial Officer and Wilson Chu, partner in the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery LLP, who was re-elected as General Counsel & Secretary.

“I am excited about the energy, passion and commitment Gary Locke and the leadership team will bring to their roles and keep the Committee of 100 top of mind on issues surrounding Chinese Americans,” said H. Roger Wang. “When my term as Chairman comes to a close, I’ll look forward to continuing my active involvement in Committee of 100 and supporting the team in any way I can. I’ve been honored to hold the position with great respect and reverence.”

In addition to the Officer roles, a series of new Directors were elected to begin their own three-year terms as Board Members. The Committee of 100 Board is a total of 17 members.

In addition to Gary Locke, the new Board Member Directors for 2021-2023 include:

Richard Lee, Chairman and CEO of Amsino Medical Group; Mei-Mei Tuan, Founder and Managing Partner of Phoenyx Partners; Debra Wong Yang, Partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher; and Nancy Yuan, Senior Vice President and Director, Washington of The Asia Foundation. Philip Ma, Chief Executive Officer, President, and Founder of PrognomiQ was elected to his second three-year term as Director.

All Committee of 100 Directors and Officers are Members of the organization. Committee of 100 holds elections for Chairman every three years.

Committee of 100, welcomes Luo Zhijun

Luo Zhijun, Governor and Party Secretary for Jiangsu Province, and his economic development delegation were hosted at a dinner in the home of H&Q Asia Pacific Chairman and Founder Ta-lin Hsu on July 17, 2011, in Atherton, California. A number of Committee of 100 members and members of Congress, and other special guests, attended. The delegation, representing the one of the wealthiest Chinese provinces, included members of the Jiangsu government as well as Jiangsu-based entrepreneurs including the CEO of the solar energy company Suntech, Shi Zhengrong. Governor Luo gave a brief talk introducing Jiangsu’s economic advantages, which was extensively covered in the Chinese press.

Standing: Rep. Mike Honda, David Chang, Pehong Chen, Rep. David Wu, Andrew Cherng, and Consul General Gao Zhansheng of the San Francisco Consulate. Seated: Ta-lin Hsu, former Gov. Gray Davis, Governor Luo Zhijun, C-100 Chairman Dominic Ng, and Linda Tsao Yang

Hsu, along with members David Chang and Roger Wang, also assisted the delegation by introducing the delegation to Silicon Valley companies. Attending the dinner were U.S. Representatives Judy Chu, Mike Honda and David Wu, as well as former California Governor Gray Davis, Committee Chair Dominic Ng, C-100 members Pehong Chen, Wu-Fu Chen, Andrew Cherng, John Chiang, Weili Dai, Kenneth Fong, Doreen Woo Ho, George Koo, Stewart Kwoh, Li Lu, Dennis Wu, Jay Xu, Linda Tsao Yang, and Executive Director Angie Tang and Program Associate Alice Lin.

C-100 panel

C-100 member

Committee of 100 September 4, 2013

C-100 Member Highlight: John Chiang

John Chiang was first elected in November 2006 to serve as Controller of the State of California, the eighth-largest economy in the world. He was elected to serve a second term in November 2010. As the State’s chief fiscal officer, Chiang brings extensive experience and fiscal leadership to the State Controller’s Office. Chiang was first elected to the Board of Equalization in 1998 where he served two terms, including three years as chair. He began his career as a tax law specialist with the Internal Revenue Service and previously served as an attorney in the State Controller’s Office. The son of immigrant parents, Chiang graduated with honors from the University of South Florida with a degree in Finance. He received his law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center.

On September 11, John Chiang will speak at #C100 Forum “Gateway to the Pacific: U.S.-#China Economic and Entrepreneurial Exchange,” at the University Club of #SanFrancisco.

C-100 Forum, September 2013

Committee of 100 August 21, 2013 ·

Committee of 100 Speakers Forum (#C100Forum) - Gateway to the Pacific: U.S.-#China Economic and Entrepreneurial Exchange.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013; 5:30-8:00 p.m. PDT

Speakers will assess the local impact of U.S.‐China economic and entrepreneurial exchange in information technology, cleantech, social media, and other key industries.

Speakers:

• The Honorable Ed Lee, Mayor of San Francisco
• The Honorable Jean Quan, Mayor of Oakland
• The Honorable John Chiang, California State Controller
• Myron Brilliant, Executive Vice President, International, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
• Marguerite Gong Hancock, Associate Director of SPRIE, Stanford Graduate School of Business
• Jack Wadsworth, Honorary Chairman, Morgan Stanley Asia

• Moderator: Robert Lee, Chairman of the Board, Blue Shield of California

Farewell party

Russell Lowe attended the farewell party in 2013 for China’s Consul General in San Francisco.

On March 12, Consul General and Mrs. Gao Zhansheng held a farewell reception in their residence. San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee, Assessor-Recorder Carmen Chu, Supervisor Eric Ma and Katy Tang, Mayor of Piedmont John Chiang, Mayor of Daly City Raymond Buenaventura, Mayor of Alameda Marie Gilmore, Councilmember Lena Tam, Councilmember of San Jose Kansen Chu, former Speaker pro Tempore of California State Assembly Fiona Ma, Office Director of U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein Russell Lowe, director of U.S. Department of State Office of Foreign Missions in San Francisco Patricia Hayes, representatives of foreign missions as well as Bay area friends from all works of life which amounted to over 300 people were present.

Consul General Gao delivered a touching farewell speech, in which he recalled quite a few historical moments in China and China-U.S. relations during his post in San Francisco, such as the 2008 Olympic Torch Relay, the 30th anniversary of San Francisco-Shanghai sister cityhood, the devastating earthquake in Sichuan and the 40th anniversary of Ping Pong Diplomacy and President Nixon's visit to China. Gao said, "Over the past five years there has been an unprecedented expansion of interactions across the board between China and my consular district." What among he referred to were the visits of Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Wu Bangguo, Vice Premier Wang Qishan, State Councilor Liu Yandong, state Councilor & Defense Minister Liang Guanglie and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.

In his remarks to Consul General Gao, Mayor Lee recalled when they got acquainted with each other and became friends and all the "historical and funny moments" they spent together. "China has changed a lot during the past five years, for the good. I look forward to more opportunities for he cooperation between San Francisco and China when I go to Beijing next month." Mayor Lee also announced that March 12 would be "Ambassador Gao Zhansheng Day of San Francisco".

Later on, Carmen Chu, Katy Tang, Marie Gilmore, Kansen Chu, Fiona Ma, Russell Lowe awarded proclamations in recognition of Consul General Gao's contributions to the friendly cooperation between China and Bay area cities.

APALA "Rising American Electorate" event

The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance , AFL-CIO, hosted “The Rising American Electorate: Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders at the Forefront of Political Action,” a briefing and dinner reception, on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011, at 6 p.m. at the UCLA Downtown Labor Center, 675 S. Park View St. (at Wilshire Boulevard), Los Angeles.

The event, which recognizes the growth of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities and highlights the history of AAPIs in politics, is being held in conjunction with the APALA National Executive Board meeting that is taking place Oct. 6 to 8.

“AAPIs, especially in Los Angeles, have played instrumental roles in electing candidates that support working family and immigrant issues, while running for office as well,” APALA said in a statement. “In Los Angeles alone, AAPIs now number over 1.34 million, and deserve a chance to make their voices heard on key issues, including the budget, jobs, health care, and education.”

Speakers included:

• State Controller John Chiang
• Rep. Judy Chu (D-El Monte), chair of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
• State Sen. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance)
• Assemblymembers Warren Furutani (D-Long Beach) and Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park)
• APALA President Johanna Hester
• APALA Los Angeles Chair Raahi Reddy
• Kent Wong, UCLA Labor Center

Chinese American small business tour

October 29, 2018 Hacienda Heights, Calif​. – On Saturday morning, Gil Cisneros, Fmr. Lieutenant Commander who is running for Congress in California’s 39th Congressional District, conducted a Chinese American small business tour with Assemblymember Ed Chau (AD-49). Afterwards, they were joined by Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom and Treasurer John Chiang, along with Asian American community leaders for a small luncheon on how to be a better partner to the AAPI community.

“Everyone deserves to have their voice and needs heard. Both our society and our government works better when we are inclusive and working together within our communities,” said Cisneros. “I believe the diverse communities of the 39th, including both the Latino and Asian American Pacific Islander communities, is one of our greatest strengths. While the AAPI Community is often treated as one monolithic community, I take great pride in learning about each AAPI communities’ unique interests and values. The Lieutenant Governor, Treasurer, and I enjoyed our fruitful discussion with Asian American leaders from both the nonprofit and civic activist community. When elected, I promise to continue to learn more about and be an effective partner with the AAPI community.”

The Cisneros campaign is running one of the most robust AAPI Outreach programs in the country with an AAPI Outreach Department of six staffers, including the only Chinese American campaign manager on a Red to Blue race in the country. The campaign is running a comprehensive digital outreach program to the Chinese and Korean community, and in language mail and walk pieces for the Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Filipino communities.

Left to Right: Mark Masaoka, Tammy Kim, Gino Kwok, Katie Kalvoda, Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, Gil Cisneros, Treasurer John Chiang, Assemblymember Ed Chau, Mary Anne Foo, Shikha Bhatnagar, Grace Barrios, Ellen Ahn.

4th Annual Cesar E. Chavez Walk

Thousands of people from across Southern California joined the 4th Annual Cesar E. Chavez Walk in East Los Angeles on Saturday, April 6 2002 –marking the ninth anniversary of the legendary farm worker and civil rights leader’s death and the 40th anniversary of theUnited Farm Workers.

Walkers who assembled Saturday at East Los Angeles College Stadium for the walk included Chavez’s widow, Helen Chavez, other Chavez family members and UFW President Arturo Rodriguez. Also participating were Hollywood figures including Martin Sheen ("West Wing"); Jackie Guerra, Pete Leal, Austin Marquez, Edward James Olmos ("American Family"); Esai Morales ("NYPD Blue", "American Family"); Mike Farrell ("Providence" "M*A*S*H");Ed Begley, Jr. ("Wednesday 9:30/8:30 Central" & "Six Feet Under"); Marisol Nichols ("Resurrection Blvd."); Richard Coca, Evelina Fernandez, Mike Gomez, Sal Lopez, Dyana Ortelli, Jose Luis Valuenzuela ("Luminarias"); and Michele Greene ("L.A. Law" reunion special & the independent film "A Family Affair"). Many elected officials also joined the walk, including U.S. Rep. Hilda Solis, state Sen. Richard Alarcon, Sen. Gloria Romero, Sen. Nell Soto, Speaker of the Assembly Herb Wesson, Assemblymembers Marco Firebaugh, Judy Chu and Paul Koretz, and Board of Equalization member John Chiang.

References

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