California State Controller

Last updated
State Controller of California
Seal of California Office of the Controller.svg
Flag of California.svg
SupervisorMaliaCohen (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Malia Cohen
since January 2, 2023
Government of California
Style The Honorable
Term length Four years, two term limit
Inaugural holder John S. Houston
1849
Formation California Constitution
Website www.sco.ca.gov

The state controller of California is a constitutional office in the executive branch of the government of the U.S. state of California. Thirty-three individuals have held the office of state controller since statehood. The incumbent is Malia Cohen, a Democrat. [1] The state controller's main office is located at 300 Capitol Mall in Sacramento.

Contents

Election and term of office

The state controller assumes office by way of election. The term of office is four years, renewable once. Elections for state controller are held on a four-year basis concurrently with elections for the offices of governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state treasurer, insurance commissioner, and superintendent of public instruction.

Powers and duties

As California's chief fiscal officer, the state controller has broad superintending authority over the accounting and disbursement of state and local government finances. [2] As such, the state controller:

Aside from the office's functional responsibilities, the state controller serves on over 70 boards and commissions, including the California State Lands Commission, California State Teachers’ Retirement System, California Public Employees’ Retirement System, California Board of Equalization, California Franchise Tax Board, California Pollution Control Financing Authority, the California Debt Limit Allocation Commission, California Alternative Energy Source Financing Authority, the California Education Facilities Authority, and the California Victim Compensation Board, among others. [3]

Staff

The Office has a staff of Deputy State Controllers that help the State Controller fulfill her elected duties, including sitting on the Board of Equalization and other boards for the State Controller in absentia. Noted former Deputy State Controllers include Barrett McInerney, James Burton, and Laurette Healey.

List of California state controllers

300 Capitol Mall is home to several state agencies including the Controller's Office 300 Capitol Mall Sacramento California.jpg
300 Capitol Mall is home to several state agencies including the Controller's Office
NamePartyTerm
John S. Houston Democratic 1849–1852
Winslow S. Pierce Democratic1852–1854
Samuel Bell Democratic1854–1856
George W. Whitman American 1856–1857
Edward F. Burton American1857
George W. Whitman American1857–1858
Aaron R. Melony Lecompton Democrat 1858–1860
Samuel H. Brooks Lecompton Democrat 1860–1861
James S. Gillan Democratic1861–1862
Gilbert R. Warren Republican 1862–1863
George R. Oulton Constitutional Union 1863–1867
Robert WattDemocratic1867–1871
James J. Green Republican1871–1875
James W. Mandeville Democratic1875–1876
William B. C. Brown Democratic1876–1877
Daniel M. Kenfield Republican1877–1883
John P. Dunn Democratic1883–1891
Edward P. Colgan Republican1891–1906
A. B. Nye Republican1906–1913
John S. Chambers Republican1913–1920
Ray L. Riley Republican1921–1937
Harry B. Riley Republican1937–1946
Thomas Kuchel Republican1946–1953
Robert C. Kirkwood Republican1953–1959
Alan Cranston Democratic1959–1967
Houston I. Flournoy Republican1967–1975
Kenneth Cory Democratic1975–1987
Gray Davis Democratic1987–1995
Kathleen Connell Democratic1995–2003
Steve Westly Democratic2003–2007
John Chiang Democratic2007–2015
Betty Yee Democratic2015–2023
Malia Cohen Democratic2023–present

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References

  1. "Controller Malia M. Cohen". California State Controller's Office. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  2. "State Controller's Functions". California State Controller's Office. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  3. "Boards and Commissions". California State Controller's Office. Retrieved October 1, 2021.