There are two candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot for a four-year term as the Fourth District member of the California State Board of Equalization: Democratic incumbent Mike Schaefer is being challenged by Democratic state board supervisor David Dodson. Here are Schaefer ‘s answers to a five-question survey that The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board emailed them.
Q: Why do you want this job? What would your priorities be for the next four years?
A: It’s been an honor to serve the taxpayers of San Diego, Orange, Riverside, Imperial and San Bernardino counties during my tenure on the California State Board of Equalization. I ran for this position because I wanted to be a strong taxpayer advocate for the 10 million people I now represent. I’m a San Diego native and a longtime resident of Southern California, and I have extensive experience as a San Diego City Council member and as a prosecutor in the San Diego City Attorney’s Office.
I bring years of public service experience to the State Board of Equalization. As vice chair of the State Board of Equalization, I’m committed to creating property tax abatement opportunities for California taxpayers and facilitating the creation of new affordable housing across our state. Creating more truly affordable housing is one of the most important priorities our state faces. We must move with urgency across all public agencies and the private sector to make sure new housing is built for those who need it the most. This is my top priority.
As your elected taxpayer advocate, I will continue to fight to protect Proposition 13 and homeowners’ exemptions for seniors, veterans, families and individual taxpayers.
Under my leadership, the State Board of Equalization has heard from hundreds of taxpayers and constituents about their desire to reform Proposition 19 to reestablish the parent-to-child property tax exclusion.
Just this week, our board discussed sponsoring a constitutional amendment to update and improve Proposition 19, to better meet the needs of more taxpayers.
Q: What is your biggest accomplishment in politics?
A: As the Fourth District’s elected representative on the State Board of Equalization, I helped preside over one of the most difficult moments in our state’s history, the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the virus decimated much of the normalcy in our way of life and our local economies, I was selected to co-lead a 50-person statewide COVID-19 Property Tax Relief Task Force, working diligently with a broad cross-section of stakeholders to create innovative solutions to protect taxpayers, reform tax laws and streamline the process of tax appeals at the local level.
When I heard from constituents who needed help, as the vice chair of the State Board of Equalization, I contacted the Governor’s Office and worked with Gov. Gavin Newsom to initiate an executive order which aided small businesses by postponing penalty deadlines for property tax statements helping to keep these vital businesses afloat during trying times.
In these times of unprecedented hardship for Californians, the State Board of Equalization was determined to do everything in our power to ease the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic on taxpayers.
Our task force report is available on the board’s website.
Q: The powers of this position have been greatly reduced in recent years, leaving the board little authority. Given its limited scope, what can you actually accomplish and should California eliminate or expand this agency?
A: I was elected just after the State Board of Equalization’s responsibilities were compressed from overseeing all taxes, including sales and use taxes, to focus solely on property taxes. In the past four years, we have worked hard to fulfill our constitutional responsibilities. While the board is not as powerful as it once was, we still provide an important service, deliberating over property tax assessments brought before us by taxpayers and serving as the only directly elected tax board in the country.
As an elected taxpayer advocate and vice chair of the State Board of Equalization, I will continue to serve as a state fiscal watchdog, using our oversight responsibilities for our $85 billion property tax system, which funds schools and local government services people count on across our state.
One of the core functions of the State Board of Equalization is oversight of the state’s 58 county assessors to ensure they provide fair and equitable practices for all taxpayers.
The board continuously audits the assessors and makes recommendations on how to improve their procedures, provide guidance to them through official letters to assessors on new laws and advice on how to manage their tax rolls. We audit every county assessor’s practices on a rotating basis to ensure that counties are performing their assessment practices fairly and equitably for the taxpayer.
Q: You have been disbarred in California and Nevada, convicted of misdemeanor spousal abuse in 1983 and ordered by a jury to pay $1.83 million in 1986 to former tenants in Los Angeles who sued over their living conditions. Why should voters deem you fit for office?
A: I have worked tirelessly to fulfill my duties as a constitutional officer elected to the State Board of Equalization. While some of my past is something I am not proud of, I am repentant for my mistakes. I have dedicated myself to public service to help make sure our taxpayers are treated fairly and equitably. I will continue to serve with integrity as your elected representative.
Furthermore, these incidents occurred almost 40 years ago. Many of the voters who support me and my work were not even born at that time. I believe my conduct and contributions to society over the last 40 years demonstrate my ability to overcome personal shortcomings and rise to a new level of responsibility.
Q: Why should voters elect you over your opponent?
A: In order to be effective, you have to have the confidence of your colleagues.
I have the confidence of my colleagues at the State Board of Equalization, which is why I have been the vice chair of the board for the last three years.
Unlike my opponent, I have built the relationships necessary to negotiate public policy-making that protects taxpayers. Serving on the board has enabled me to garner valuable experience as a direct representative for those struggling with property tax issues.
Having been a landlord, a tenant, a lawyer and a representative for taxpayers — essentially a participant at every competing level of interest — I believe I am uniquely qualified to address fairly any property tax issues that may arise before the board. I look forward to representing taxpayers for four more years.
I was the youngest elected member of the San Diego City Council when I served and now am proud to be the oldest elected constitutional officer in state history.
Respected leaders including state Controller Betty Yee, state Treasurer Fiona Ma, State Board of Equalization Chair Malia Cohen, Senate President pro Tem Toni Atkins, Assemblymember Chris Ward and the California Democratic Party have endorsed my reelection because of my leadership as the vice chair of the State Board of Equalization.
That’s why I am called by affectionately by many “The Equalizer” on behalf of taxpayers. I respectfully ask for your support to continue fighting for taxpayers as your taxpayer advocate for the next four years.
