SAN FRANCISCO, California --
In a historic victory, with reports from across California showing Certified Public Accountant Fiona Ma leading her opponent 58.8% - 41.2% with 33.8% of precincts reporting, Ma will become the first woman of color elected California State Treasurer and only the twelfth woman ever elected to California statewide office.
"I am honored to have received such widespread, bipartisan support from across our state," said Ma. "As President Trump works to defund California programs and penalize Californians in the tax code, I will proactively work to protect our state’s vital services and build a fiscal wall against the harmful policies coming out of the White House. California continues to outpace the rest of the nation in job growth, economic development and record-low unemployment -- clearly we are on the right track. My job will be to continue to strengthen California's financial position and accelerate economic growth through new revenue streams and greater efficiency, transparency and accountability in government."
Ma, the daughter of Chinese immigrants, became a Certified Public Accountant in 1992, after earning a B.S. in Accounting from Rochester Institute of Technology, a Master’s in Taxation from Golden Gate University and MBA in Finance from Pepperdine. As a member of the state's Board of Equalization, last year Ma led historic reforms to protect California taxpayers and eliminate waste, fraud and abuse at the agency. Ma again made history in 2010, when she was appointed as the first Asian American woman to serve as California Assembly Speaker pro Tempore, the second highest ranking office in the Assembly. As a San Francisco Supervisor, she focused on protecting consumer safety, small business development, and supporting working Californians by taking on the underground economy.
Endorsed by the California Democratic Party and every major newspaper, Ma travelled the state supporting candidates for federal, state and local office. Along the way, she saw firsthand the work that remains to be done.
"In these times of great prosperity for some, too many Californians continue to live in poverty. We cannot afford to be distracted by the antics in Washington, D.C. I am laser- focused on leveling the playing field for California families, growing our state’s success and investing in the schools, housing and healthcare that Californians need.”
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