Fiona Ma
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Fiona Ma (Traditional Chinese: 馬世雲; Simplified Chinese: 马世云; pinyin: Mǎ Shìyún) is a San Francisco politician, member of the California State Assembly and a former member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors representing District 4, the Sunset District from 2002-2006, when she took her seat in the Assembly. Prior to her election to this position, she was a part-time district representative to a state senator. Her campaign for this position focused on improving services for her constituents. She is a member of the Democratic Party.
Ma won the Democratic nomination to represent California's 12th Assembly District, which includes western San Francisco and parts of northern San Mateo County, in the June 6, 2006, state primary election. Her campaign against fellow Democrat Janet Reilly was one of the most expensive legislative primary races in the election.[1]
Ma received 70% of the votes to defeat two opponents for California Assembly in the November 7, 2006 general election, Republican Howard Epstein and Green Barry Hermanson. [2]
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[edit] Education
Ma is a CPA. She received an MBA from Rochester Institute of Technology and a master’s Degree in taxation from Golden Gate University. [3]
[edit] Experience
Before becoming a supervisor, Ma worked on the staff of former state Senate President John Burton. [4]
[edit] Campaign contributions scandal
In 2004 Ma returned campaign contributions from Ricardo Ramirez, a politically connected owner of a concrete company, after evidence emerged that Ramirez had supplied substandard, recycled concrete for several major San Francisco construction projects, including the rebuild of the Bay Bridge Eastern span. However, Ma defended Ramirez as he was indicted, saying "He's a hard-working guy, just trying to survive. He takes care of his grandkids. He doesn't have an easy life." [5]
[edit] Organized crime scandal
In 2006, Ma arranged to give convicted criminal and Tong leader Raymond Chow an award from a certificate of honor from the Board of Supervisors. Chow has been implicated in attempting to extort $100,000 from Allen Leung, who was murdered after refusing to pay. After Leung's murder, Chow took control of the Hop Sing Tong. Ma said "I don't discriminate or play favorites between family associations and respect the members and the leaders they choose."[6]
[edit] References
- ^ Gordon, Rachel (2006-06-04). $3 million Pumped into Assembly Race: But on final weekend of campaigns, both Ma and Reilly are relying on shoe leather. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved on Error: invalid time.
- ^ Official Election Results. City and County of San Francisco Department of Elections (2006-12-05). Retrieved on Error: invalid time.
- ^ Allen, Bruce C. (July 2006). Capitol's newest CPA: CalCPA member Fiona Ma elected to Assembly. California CPA. Retrieved on Error: invalid time.
- ^ Biography. Official website for California State Assemblymember Fiona Ma (2007-01-13). Retrieved on Error: invalid time.
- ^ Van Derbeken, Jaxon (2006-07-09). Empire Built on Sand: Businessman allegedly poured inferior concrete into key projects. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved on March 19, 2007.
- ^ Matier, Phillip; Ross, Andrew (2007-08-27). Chinatown gang ties no hindrance to award in S.F.. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved on March 19, 2007.
[edit] External links
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