John Chiang was elected in 2006 to serve as California's state controller and re-elected in 2010. Chiang has focused on financial transparency and weeding out waste, abuse and fiscal mismanagement of public funds. His audits have identified nearly $6 billion in misspent taxpayer dollars, self-dealing, unlawful taxes and other abuses of the public trust. He has led efforts to reform the state's public pension systems, helped local governments navigate difficult economic conditions, protected California's natural resources, helped Californians recover $2.5 billion in unclaimed property, and launched financial and tax assistance seminars for California's working families, seniors, small businesses and nonprofit organizations. Chiang served on the California Board of Equalization from 1997 to 2006. He holds a degree in finance from the University of South Florida and a law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center.