This Sacramento area candidate is the better choice for the obscure Board of Equalization

The Board of Equalization is the ultimate down-page race in any election. It’s a fair bet that most California voters don’t know what the board does.

The nation’s only elected tax board once had extensive powers. In 2017, however, the board was gutted by the Legislature after a series of scandals, including misallocated tax revenues, improper political activities, mismanaged audits, rampant nepotism and an accusation that a former board member used an anti-Semitic slur during a discussion of a tax appeal.

Now the board’s responsibilities have reverted to its constitutionally delineated duties, which are limited, with most of its former functions and staff delegated to the Department of Tax and Fee Administration and the Office of Tax Appeals.

The Board of Equalization is now restricted mainly to ensuring equitable property assessment among counties, assessing utility and railroad property, administering taxes on alcohol and insurers, and hearing some complaints about tax bills. The continued campaigning for the position serves mainly as a reminder that the Legislature needs to allow voters to finish the job of eliminating this board and devolving its remaining duties, which requires a constitutional amendment.

The seat representing the board’s 1st District, which includes Sacramento, Modesto and Fresno, is held by El Dorado Hills Republican Ted Gaines, a former state senator who failed to gain traction as a gubernatorial recall candidate last year. His upstart opponent is Democrat Jose Altamirano, a manager at the California State Compensation Insurance Fund who has served on municipal commissions in West Sacramento.

There are only four Board of Equalization districts statewide, so they are massive, encompassing about 10 million Californians each. The 1st District stretches from the Oregon border to San Bernardino County.

The Board of Equalization does function as a sort of jobs program for politicians: Former members have gone on to higher offices such as state treasurer, state controller, lieutenant governor and even governor (Gray Davis, who served as a Board of Equalization member before he ran for lieutenant governor). Current member Malia Cohen is running for controller.

But Altamirano professes no such aspiration, only a desire to bring ethnic diversity to the board and do what he can to help the rural communities he would represent.

“My plan is to get my name out there, be present and be able to tell folks, ‘You do have an advocate,’ “ he said.

Altamirano promises to make himself available at farmer’s markets, school board meetings and local events across the state. It’s admirable that one of the candidates running for this office retains such an interest in his constituents even though the board doesn’t wield as much influence as it once did.

Altamirano’s years of experience working at the State Insurance Compensation Fund have brought him in regular contact with small businesses and their needs, which could serve him well as a board member.

Unlike his opponent, who declined to meet with the Editorial Board, Altamirano was willing to answer questions about why he is the better candidate for this job — and we believe he is.

This story was originally published September 21, 2022 at 6:00 AM.