Long Beach : Harwood to Make Primary Run for State Tax Board

Long Beach City Councilman Warren Harwood has announced that he will challenge State Board of Equalization member Paul Carpenter in the June 5 Democratic primary.

Carpenter, 61, a former state senator who represented Lakewood, Downey and Cerritos, had previously announced that he will seek a second four-year term.

The State Board of Equalization is composed of four district representatives and the state controller. Carpenter’s district includes all of Los Angeles County except Santa Monica, Beverly Hills and the San Fernando and Antelope valleys. The board administers the collection of billions of dollars in state and local sales taxes. Board members are paid $95,052 a year. Last week, sources familiar with an ongoing federal investigation of Capitol corruption told The Times that government prosecutors are preparing a case against Carpenter, who says he has done nothing illegal. Harwood, 50, said the investigation is one reason he will challenge Carpenter. He criticized Carpenter and other board members “who extract hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from business entities over which they have jurisdiction.”

Jerry Goldberg, a Carpenter spokesman, dismissed Harwood’s chances of mounting a well-financed campaign. Harwood acknowledged that he would face an uphill fight against Carpenter. “I’m not going to have a huge war chest,” said Harwood, a one-time deputy to former Los Angeles County Supervisor Baxter Ward. Harwood, who is unopposed in the April 10 Long Beach City Council election, would have to give up his council seat if elected to the full-time position on the tax board.