Posted on 10/14/2006 12:38:01 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Sacramento -- The race to become the next state controller pits a former Republican state lawmaker who has a reputation for being a fiscal conservative against a Democratic chairman of the Board of Equalization who is a tax and finance expert.
Despite being veterans of public service, one of the biggest challenges for both Democrat John Chiang and Republican Tony Strickland has been overcoming their lack of statewide name recognition.
An earlier Field Poll showed more than 80 percent of likely voters surveyed said they didn't have any opinion about either candidate.
Nevertheless, the office that one of them will fill is a powerful one that includes overseeing the state's $131 billion budget and pension funds worth more than $300 billion. The controller also has the authority to audit state and local agencies to ensure there is no waste or fraud, a responsibility that both Chiang and Strickland argue will be on top of their priority list.
"We're going to audit the Los Angeles Unified School District," said Strickland, 36, of Moorpark in Ventura County. "We're spending 40 to 50 percent of our general fund in education, and the money doesn't seem to get to the classroom."
Chiang, 44, of Torrance in Los Angeles County, said he will focus on targeting businesses that avoid paying taxes in what he calls the "underground economy."
"There's some $8 billion worth of unpaid taxes each year," he said. And those funds will be increasingly important because "we may be entering some tough times. Housing markets have not been as strong as they have been in the past several years."
Chiang, whose previous career included a stint as a tax law specialist for the Internal Revenue Service, argued that his expertise in finance sets him apart from his GOP rival.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Kaa .. Chiang!!!
Go Tony!
Tony Strickland Ping!
So Strickland wants to shine the light on government spending, crack down on waste and abuse, and use our taxes more efficiently.
.... and Chiang wants to crack down on taxpayers and squeeze even more out of them to fund bigger government.
Decisions, decsions....
GO STRICKLAND!
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