Throughout the 48 plus years as a journalist in the community newspaper space, I learned early on how important and impactful a publication can be to a community especially choosing our public servants.
I was born into this business at the Los Angeles Sentinel in 1977 which had been established in 1933 on a campaign of encouraging Blacks not to spend their money where they could not work.
It was a campaign that ultimately propelled one of the most influential media outlets into existence, chronicling articles about the civil rights movement and voting rights act that continues to this day.
When I launched the South Bay Black Journal in 2022, I did so acknowledge our communities were at a critical political crossroads. Since being established, The Voting Rights Act. of 1965 has been dethroned by the United State Supreme Court, and our core mission to inform, empower and independently provide reliable information amid an AI and social media crazed environment is more critical than ever before.
So, when the South Bay Black Journal decided to make its first political endorsement, we did so after careful deliberation.
As publisher, I have campaigned and personally endorsed a number of elected officials, but the South Bay Black Journal has been independent of those decisions and with good reason, because I do not want my personal opinion to blur the line with an editorial one.
There are scores of candidates on the ballot for the June 4 primary, many of whom I have already voted for but, but the South Black Journal will have just one endorsement.
After careful deliberation and hours of research and sourcing, the South Bay Black Journal will be endorsing New York born Chinese American Fiona Ma for Lt. Governor for the State of California.
The 60-year old Ma has served the great state of California for 30 years now, as 34th state treasurer since January 7, 2019, a member of the California Board of Equalization (2015–2019), the California State Assembly (2006–2012), and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors (2002–2006).
A Democrat she was the first Asian American woman to serve as California Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore and selected as Chairperson of the California Board of Equalization in 2016.
There are no perfect candidates, and Fiona Ma is no different and not without her personal flaws, being accused of sexual harassment by a female employer which was settled by the state for $350,000 in 2024. Our sources, while not defending Ma assailed the victim of the lawsuit as being crazy as a bat.
Earlier this year, she divorced, and an orange county incident where she was accused of a quid pro quo is another matter that will be a stain on her glorious resume.
We spoke with Ma during an exclusive interview, just days before the June 4 Primary to obtain the balance of information we took under consideration.
The process of combing through Ma’s background began in June of 2023 when we encountered her at a fundraising event for Lieutenant Governor.
She came across as a genuine human being, which if you’ve met any politician is almost impossible to find. Most of them are like used car salesmen and phony as a three dollar bill. Others can charm you, but are hallow inside.
“I love what I do, and this is my passion,” Ma explained to the South Bay Black Journal during an exclusive interview.
She says her goall is to make California, “The best I can, while listening, learning and promoting not just big cities but small underserved communities.”
She was first elected on November 6, 2018 with more votes than any other candidate for treasurer in the state’s history and re-elected to her second term in 2022. She is the first woman of color and the first woman Certified Public Accountant (CPA) elected to the position.
California is the world’s fourth-largest economy and Treasurer Ma is the state’s primary banker. Her office processes more than $3 trillion in payments within a typical year and provides transparency and oversight for an investment portfolio of more than $124 billion, approximately $34.8 billion of which are local government funds. She also is responsible for $93 billion in outstanding general obligation and lease revenue bonds of the state. Her office provides financing for schools, roads, housing, recycling and waste management, hospitals, public facilities, and other crucial infrastructure projects that better the lives of residents.
Over the past 20+ years, she has built a reputation as a problem-solving public servant, adept at building unlikely coalitions to overcome California’s most complex problems.
We believe that with a crop of Governor candidates which lack her experience, she will become the most consequential Lt. Governor in the history of the state, and the second female.
The Lt. Governor must be capable of serving Governor if for health or other reason the Governor cannot serve.
Treasure Fiona Ma is just that person, and there are not any elected officials that I can think of will disagree with our position.
There is not enough room to list the scores of endorsements from federal officials, to the California state officials, mayors, reputable organizations and others.
“I want to find solutions. I try to make every office better,” she added.
That’s what we believe in, making it better for the people in the state of California.
All the negatives had nothing to do with her job or performance there of, while disturbing and very unfortunate there is not a more qualified person to serve as Lt. Governor of the State of California.
