2022 Election Special: CA Controller's Race | KQED Newsroom

What Does the State Controller Do?
The controller is California's chief fiscal officer with responsibility for overseeing and evaluating the state’s finances. The controller pays the state’s bills, issuing checks to vendors, state employees and retirees, local governments and others. The controller has the power to audit state agencies and federal programs in California, and also sits on more than 70 state boards and commissions. The current controller, Democrat Betty Yee, is termed out and unable to run again.

Democratic Candidate Malia Cohen
Democrat Malia Cohen got her start in public office as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, where she served for eight years representing Bayview/Hunters Point, Potrero Hill and other neighborhoods on the city’s east side. She currently chairs the State Board of Equalization, an obscure but powerful office that deals with issues related to property taxes and other financial matters.

Republican Candidate Lanhee Chen
Republican Lanhee Chen is a public policy analyst and fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution. This is his first run for office, but in the past he’s advised several Republican presidential candidates, including Mitt Romney and Marco Rubio. He also served in the Obama administration on the bi-partisan Social Security Advisory Board. Chen is hoping to do something no Republican has done since 2006 – that’s win a statewide election in California.

[sunnyboi]

I'm a Progressive Democrat but Malia Cohen's lack of experience plus the fact she's clearly just running for State Controller as a way to gain name recognition and further her political career. When this man is a Moderate Republican who has lot's of experience in financial issues/policy and has bi-partisan support and would hold our government accountable and watch our tax dollars and have to work with Democrats. This is why I will proudly be voting for Lanhee Chen for State Controller this November 💙

[chet_wiltshire]

I really appreciate the time that Scott Shafer and KQED news spent explaining the controller position and interviewing each candidate. Great and fair journalism!

[Farcyde]

Okay Chen. Ive voted blue for the last 14 years but I like your pitch. I hope he keeps his promise of more transparency, fiscal accountability to CA taxpayers, and does not obstruct the states ability to remain Pro Choice.

[filmladyproduction]

Thanks for having both Candidates on this video.

[rickle]

Nope she’s the face and voice for dems…not my vote

[hblee]

Failing to file & pay recent taxes, & revocation of one's business license shouldn't be candidate's background who wants to control fiscal policy for the state. Yikes!

[harris]

Board Supervisor for SF?! The leading city for homeless and wasteful spending, no thanks!

[Bmwstephen]

god help us all if you don't vote common sense Lanhee

[dougquan]

A straight shooter reporter from PBS!! I did not know they existed. Chan is impressive; he will get my vote tomorrow.

[collado]

"Being able to see where your money is being spent on a app" Chen. He is smart

[jacktran]

what kind of fool sends it to the wrong address---man you're on that level and it shouldn't be a mistake.

[filmladyproduction]

Not sure if the idea of continuing to fund Planned Parenthood is a good idea. PPH needs to end and a New type of family program needs to be put in place. Problem with radical transparency, too little too late since Covid, controllers should have done this already. Being radical will only be one sided. I wish she was more conservative in some areas, and he was not as radical in others.

[verse]

No shame in having a foreclosure in your past. But plenty of people like myself didn't foreclose in 2008 and worked through it. I'd rather a controller not have a foreclosure.

[Victor-itbv]

What does abortion have anything to do with Finances?

[danven]

No it's not all right to have your home go into foreclosure, that's the easy way out. She seems to be a person that's not capable of taking personal responsibility. I know what plenty of people who were forced out of their home but instead of letting it go back to the bank they became landlords for a time until they could afford to make the payment again. I know of one friend who is still renting a room in a home she shares with others while she rents out her house to keep the mortgage paid. She won't get my vote !

[takeoverusa]

Neither now realize Joseph Laureano is the voice of the Landlady for Cohen, Kohen the High Priest for Thomas Bey or Bay and nothing Less. On the record.

[spwan]

They both seem sketchy, Every politician tells a lie with every truth. An the way they try to tear each other down is unbecoming and distastefu

[vincentbbrody]

Better to be a Trump Republican then ANY kind of Democrat. After this administration and their total ruination of just about everything good in our country will I never even consider voting democrat again. 👊

[jjcs]

Sorry Ca. You just voted into office the worst person for the job. She is so not qualify. It is a joke. The controller who does not file or pay her taxes and had her business license revoked, is not the state. controller??? What a winner you got!!!

[vincentbbrody]

Better to be a Trump Republican then ANY kind of Democrat. After this administration and their total ruination of just about everything good in our country will I never even consider voting democrat again. 👊