In June, CAPE became one of the first unions in Los Angeles County to endorse John Chiang for Governor of California.
Chiang was elected State Treasurer in 2014. As treasurer, he serves as the state’s banker, overseeing trillions of dollars in transactions each year and ensuring the state’s business is conduct in the most transparent manner possible.
Chiang has also served as State Controller and has never been afraid to put the rights of the people ahead of politics and political posturing. When then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger threatened to cut state workers’ pay as leverage in a budget battle, Chiang refused to implement the illegal order. And he held his own Democratic Party accountable by withholding the pay of state legislators when they failed to pass a balance state budget on time as required by the California Constitution.
As State Controller, Chiang also identified $9.5 billion in fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars and restructured the state’s debt to generate $4.2 billion for schools, infrastructure and public safety.
"John Chiang has long represented the interests of Los Angeles County in the work he has done both on the local and state level,” said CAPE President Carlos Clayton. “He has always been a friend to CAPE's membership and other public sector government workers and our Board of Directors believes he is the best candidate to lead our state.
"Treasurer Chiang has proven himself as an evenhanded and competent leader over the last two decades. He has fought for fiscally responsible policies in the state, delivered billions in savings to Californians and uncovered fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars. Chiang has also worked in supporting funding for state and local infrastructure programs. We know he will continue these policies as governor,” Clayton added.
Chiang said he was honored by the endorsement and the support of CAPE and the thousands of public sector professionals in Los Angeles County.
“I’ve spent my career working with many of their members," Chiang said. "I appreciate the recognition and will continue to support smart and responsible funding for programs and infrastructure that these members implement every day and make L.A. County so special."
Chiang will be the union’s keynote address at the annual membership dinner, which will take place on Oct. 5.