San Francisco (Oct. 3, 2003) -- Actors, politicians, and members of the media are garnering the most attention in the California governor’s race, but Calvin Louie believes a CPA is the best choice for the job. He should know — he has been a CPA for 23 years and he is a California gubernatorial candidate.
Given the $38 billion shortfall in the state budget, some people opined that California needs a good accountant in office and Louie heard the call. He has already crunched the numbers and believes his plan will put the state in the black — or at least out of further debt, within three years.
“I decided to run when I took a look at the economy here and thought they need some help that only a CPA could bring,” Louie said. “I honestly feel I have what the state needs.”
What he has is a four-point plan, with several sub-plans within that. Louie’s platform includes: no new taxes for the next four years; having Californians — particularly the wealthy — pre-pay their taxes, with reduced rates for each additional year paid; promoting small business; and cutting “wasteful spending,” such as money towards building and maintaining new prisons.
“I know some of my proposals may be unpopular, but if people look at it closely they will really see how much money I can help save the state within three years,” Louie said.
As for campaigning, he is trying to use his Asian heritage as an edge in cities with “a strong Asian population.” Louie is also aiming for the Latino vote in San Francisco through his position as a board member of the Mexican Museum.
Louie has already appeared on local and ethnic news programs in several California cities, as well as the national program The Big Story with John Gibson on the Fox Network.
Louie’s six-person firm in San Francisco’s Chinatown section specializes in tax and audit work for real estate, restaurant and individual clients.
-- Seth Fineberg
