“I believe that people’s character and purpose
is developed at a very young age. If you look
back at your life, you are what you were created
to be early on – you had a purpose in life. I
think serving is what I’ve been doing all my
life, even as a child,” Chairman Horton told
DyNAMC. “I consider myself a problem solver
and I enjoy solving problems and helping others
help themselves. We’ve done a lot of that at the
Board of Equalization, but that’s pretty much
what I’ve done best over my life span; solving
problems and helping others.”
On the Board of Equalization, Chairman Horton
said his fundamental job is to help California
businesses grow and prosper. His primary
initiatives include combating poverty and
fighting the underground economy.
“I think the greatest danger to our economy and
well being is an epidemic of poverty,” Chairman
Horton said. “The frightening thing is that the
face of poverty has changed. Today, poverty
is college educated, working two jobs, and the
face is made up of every ethnic group out there.
It’s a real economic challenge to our society.
And if we don’t deal with it, we’re headed right
back into a recession.”
The Chairman is also fighting the underground
economy, created when criminals operate
illegal businesses, such as selling counterfeit
products. The illegal businesses rob California
of $9 billion a year in revenue.
“I don’t have a lot of patience for criminals
that are robbing poor people of the jobs and
resources that they need,” Chairman Horton
told DyNAMC. “So my goal is to make these
criminals comply with the law”
Chairman Horton is working on many other
initiatives through the Board of Equalization.
Including, putting together a statewide income
tax assistance program, improving availability of
affordable housing, and encouraging students
to consider jobs in state government.
He said he’s most proud of his years of service
to the state and its people: “30 years of public
service and helping others help themselves, is
my most gratifying part of this job.”
Chairman Horton also has worked to level the
playing field for California businesses, taking
illegal cigarettes off the street and fighting
human trafficking, as well as fighting for
additional resources to fight the underground
economy.
“The criminals are better equipped than we are.
We need to increase our resources,” Chairman
Horton told DyNAMC. “It’s a real challenge to