John Chiang

Chairman of the state Board of Equalization, Chiang is emphasizing his background in tax matters. Along with four other board members, Chiang oversees $40 billion in tax collections a year. He has been active in the board's efforts to curb black-market cigarette sales and other tax evasion schemes. Chiang became a Board of Equalization member when his boss, Brad Sherman, was elected to Congress in 1996. He won election to the board in his own right in 1998.