State Tax Board Appointee Fong Sworn In

Matt Fong, succeeding the convicted Paul Carpenter on the State Board of Equalization, pledged Thursday to serve with honesty and integrity as Gov. Pete Wilson’s appointee to the tax agency.

Wilson, who hosted the swearing in of Democrat-turned-Republican Fong, alluded to the board’s problems by saying “there have been some departures from integrity in public office” and that Fong’s appointment would fulfill the public’s “desire for a decent administration” of tax laws.

Carpenter was convicted last year of federal extortion, racketeering and conspiracy charges related to campaign contributions that he received as a state senator. He is legally contesting Fong’s appointment.

Carpenter, a Democrat, was one of two board members to become entangled in allegations of criminal wrongdoing. Recently, veteran board member William Bennett, also a Democrat, was accused of 23 felony counts of cheating on his state expense account. He has not yet entered a plea.

Fong, 37, an attorney, took the oath of office from his mother, veteran Democratic Secretary of State March Fong Eu, the first Asian-American to hold statewide office. Fong ran unsuccessfully for state controller last year and only a few days after the November election asked Wilson for appointment to the tax board.

For his part, Fong told a crowd of family and friends that “honesty, ethics, integrity and openness” will be the cornerstones of his tenure on the board, which chiefly administers business taxes. The post pays $95,052 a year.

Fong told his mother that she “opened the door for me to public service” and to the Republican governor, he said, “You gave me the key to this office.”

The Board of Equalization is dominated by Democrats, 3 to 2. Fong is Wilson’s first appointee to a state constitutional office.