News Release

Contact: Office of Public Affairs
1-916-327-8988
For Immediate Release
January 5, 2015
NR 1-15-G

California State Board of Equalization Members Assume Office

Today, Members of the California State Board of Equalization (BOE), the nation’s 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, will now represent 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 will now represent 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, 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 five-member California State Board of Equalization (BOE) is a publicly elected tax board that serves a significant role in the assessment and administration of property taxes.

Note: This news release may discuss complex tax laws and concepts. It may not address every situation, and is not considered written advice under Revenue and Taxation Code section 6596. Changes in law or regulations may have occurred since the time this news release was written. If there is a conflict between the text of this news release and the law, decisions will be based upon the law and not this news release. For specific help, please contact the BOE at 1-800-400-7115.