Wilson Expected to Give Equalization Post to GOP’s Fong

Gov. Pete Wilson is expected to name Matthew Fong, the unsuccessful Republican candidate for state controller, to fill the State Board of Equalization seat of former state Sen. Paul Carpenter, who was forced out by his conviction on corruption charges.

The appointment of Fong, 36, the son of Democratic Secretary of State March Fong Eu, will give Republicans two seats on the five-member state tax board. Sources familiar with Fong’s appointment told The Times that the governor will announce his selection today.

Wilson’s choice of Fong was seen partly as an attempt to reach out politically to Asian-American voters, who are being strongly wooed by both parties as their numbers in California grow.

Fong, a Los Angeles attorney and Democrat-turned-Republican, was one of several officials under consideration for the $95,052-a-year post. Others included state Sen. Robert G. Beverly (R-Manhattan Beach) and Los Angles City Councilwoman Joan Milke Flores, a Republican who ran unsuccessfully again Eu in November for secretary of state.

Fong was defeated in his November bid for the controller’s job--his only statewide race--by incumbent Democrat Gray Davis. Coincidentally, Davis, as controller, is automatically a member of the Board of Equalization. The other four members are elected from districts.

Fong will be appointed to a heavily Democratic district including most of Los Angeles County except the San Fernando Valley. However, since he will not have to seek reelection for four years, he will have plenty of time to build name recognition in the district.

The Board of Equalization administers business taxes and handles appeals of income tax cases. By naming Fong, the governor is expected to set off a legal skirmish with Carpenter, whose attorneys contend he is entitled to the post because he was not charged with any crime associated with his service on the board. Carpenter was found guilty last September of using his state Senate office to extort campaign contributions from a variety of interests that had a stake in legislation. Carpenter served in the Senate before he was elected to the Board of Equalization.

Citing a constitutional provision that prohibits anyone convicted of bribery or other felonies from holding state office, Eu has refused to certify Carpenter as the winner of his reelection drive. On the advice of his attorneys, Carpenter had himself sworn in anyway.