SACRAMENTO — Taxes may be one of the hottest issues of this campaign season, but you wouldn't know it by the races for the state's powerful tax board.
The contests for the four elective seats on the little-known Board of Equalization, which collects taxes and hears taxpayer disputes, are unlikely to change the direction of the panel much.
Two of the June 6 primary races feature firmly entrenched incumbents facing weak or no opposition. The other two races are for safely partisan seats, for which the primary winners are virtually assured of victory in the November general election.
In the primary for the heavily Democratic District 4, which covers Los Angeles County, Judy Chu of Monterey Park faces Jerome Horton of Inglewood. Both leading Democrats are term-limited members of the state Assembly. Two other lesser-known Democrats -- Vonny T. Abbott, a Long Beach accountant, and Rita Rogers, a Los Angeles businesswoman -- are also on the ballot.
Republican voters will choose among three candidates, although a Democrat is expected to prevail easily in the November general election. The Republican field includes Glen Forsch, a Burbank businessman; Sam Song Yong Park, a Monterey Park businessman; and John Y. Wong, a Commerce assessment board chairman.
In the mostly Republican District 3, outgoing GOP Assemblyman Ray Haynes of Murietta and Republican Party activist Michelle Steel of Rancho Palos Verdes are battling to represent the Inland Empire, Orange County, San Diego County and the sparsely inhabited desert areas. Three other Republicans -- Lewis A. Da Silva, a Palm Springs accountant; Steve Petruzzo, a La Mesa Equalization Board auditor; and Hal "Jimbo" Styles, a Desert Hot Springs businessman -- also are running.
The sole Democratic candidate, Mary Christian-Heising, a La Jolla editor and journalist, is expected to offer only token opposition to the GOP's candidate in November.
Candidates in both contested races are adhering closely to the positions of their respective parties on the issues facing the Board of Equalization.
The Democratic candidates pledge to close loopholes in the state's tax laws, boost enforcement and collect more from corporations and individuals who dodge taxes by doing business in the so-called underground economy. The Republican candidates present themselves as committed tax fighters and promise to give taxpayers fair hearings before the board when they have disputes over tax bills.
