The California State Board of Equalization unanimously voted to name member John Chiang as chair. Chiang was elected to his first term as 4th District member in 1998 and re-elected in 2002. He represents more than 8 million people living in 73 cities throughout most of Los Angeles County.
He is California's highest-ranking APA elected official and in seven years has had more legislative proposals signed into law than any other member in the board's 125-year history.
The five-member board is the only publicly elected tax commission in the nation, and it includes acting member Betty Yee who will stand for her first election in 2006. (Source: AsianWeek, Jan 6-12, 2005).