State Board of Equalization

News Release
For Immediate Release
January 5, 2015

Cynthia Bridges
Executive Director
www.boe.ca.gov

NR 1-15-G
Contact: Yating Campbell
1-916-327-8988

California State Board of Equalization Members Assume Office

Today, Members of the California State Board of Equalization (BOE), the nations only elected state tax
board, begin new four-year terms of office in districts that have been renumbered and redefined by
boundary changes. In 2011, the California Citizens Redistricting Commission drew new district boundaries
for the Assembly, Senate, BOE, and Congress based upon 2010 federal census data. The new boundaries
for the BOE districts became effective January 1, 2015.
George Runner, who previously represented the Second district, will now represent the new First District.
Member Runner was elected to the Board in November 2010 and reelected in 2014. Prior to his election to
the Board, Mr. Runner was a Member of the State Assembly from 1996 to 2002 and a State Senator from
2004 to 2010. Mr. Runner represents the First Equalization District, which spans from San Bernardino to
the Oregon border.
Fiona Ma, CPA, represents the new Second District of the Board of Equalization. Member Ma was elected
to the Board in November 2014 as successor to Betty T. Yee, who represented the previous First District
and is continuing her service on the Board as the California State Controller. Prior to her election to the
Board, Ms. Ma was a Member of the State Assembly from 2006 to 2012. Ms. Ma represents the Second
Equalization District, which includes Northern and Central California's coastal counties, from Del Norte to
Santa Barbara, and the entire San Francisco Bay Area.
Jerome E. Horton, who previously represented the Fourth District, will now represent the new Third
District. Member Horton, now Chairman of the Board, was appointed to the Board in 2009. He was then
elected in 2010 and reelected in 2014. Prior to his appointment to the Board, he was a Member of the State
Assembly from 2000 to 2006. Mr. Horton represents the Third Equalization District, made up of Ventura
county, and portions of Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.
Diane L. Harkey represents the new Fourth District. Member Harkey was elected to the Board in
November 2014 as successor to Michelle Steel, who represented the previous Third District and is now a
Member of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Prior to her election to the Board, Ms. Harkey was a
Member of the State Assembly from 2008 to 2014. Ms. Harkey represents the Fourth Equalization District
that includes Orange, San Diego, Imperial, and Riverside counties and a portion of San Bernardino
County.
Betty T. Yee, who has served on the Board of Equalization since December 2004 representing the First
District, will continue on the Board as the California State Controller. As State Controller, Ms. Yee also
serves as Chair of the California Franchise Tax Board.
The BOE is comprised of four equalization districts, each with a population of approximately 9.5 million
people. Voters from each district elect a Board Member as their representative. The fifth Board Member is
the State Controller, who is elected statewide.

The five-member California State Board of Equalization (BOE) is a publicly elected tax board. The BOE collects $56 billion
annually in taxes and fees supporting state and local government services. It hears business tax appeals, acts as the appellate
body for franchise and personal income tax appeals, and serves a significant role in the assessment and administration of
property taxes. For more information on other taxes and fees in California, visit www.taxes.ca.gov.
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State Board of Equalization 450 N Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 1-800-400-7115

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