Sri Lankan immigrant to head
second-most-important US tax agency
A Sri Lankan attorney who came to California in 1986 will take the reins
as the state's new tax czar, the first time a woman has been named
executive officer of the Franchise Tax Board in its 55-year history.
Selvi Stanislaus, 45, was the unanimous choice of the three-member
Franchise Tax Board on Wednesday, following several hours of
closed-door deliberations.
She edged out interim FTB Director Will Bush, who until this week was
widely considered the leading contender for the top job.
Stanislaus' appointment, which is subject to Senate confirmation, is
effective Tuesday. She succeeds Gerald H. Goldberg, who retired in
2005.
Stanislaus told The Bee she was humbled and thrilled to be picked for
the $129,418-a-year job as head of the second-most-important tax
agency in the United States, next to the Internal Revenue Service.
"I am so honored to have this great chance," said Stanislaus, who will
oversee 6,000 FTB employees nationwide.
A senior tax attorney at the Board of Equalization since 1996 and a tax
law professor, Stanislaus will meet FTB staff today to develop a
transition plan.
On Wednesday night, she extended an olive branch to Bush, who has
worked at the board since 1975.
"He's done an outstanding job, and I am looking forward to working with
him," Stanislaus said.
Controller Steve Westly, who chairs the FTB, issued an unusually terse
statement, saying he would work with Stanislaus to boost tax collections.
"We've proven that we can raise revenues without raising taxes, and I
know she is committed to taking this effort to the next level," Westly said.
The FTB itself issued a brief five-sentence news release announcing
Stanislaus' appointment.
Lenny Goldberg, executive director of the Sacramento-based California
Tax Reform Association, said past FTB leaders worked hard to preserve
the integrity of the tax system by resisting corporate and political
pressure. "I hope she can continue that tradition," Goldberg said.
Board of Equalization Chairman John Chiang, who is a voting member of
the FTB, said there were no hard feelings among himself, Westly and
Finance Department Director Michael Genest, even though their
closed-door meeting lasted several hours.
"It was unanimous and collegial," Chiang said.
"I've had the privilege of working with Selvi," Chiang added, noting she
appeared before his board to brief its members on complex corporate
tax issues.
"She's very engaging, and she's an independent thinker who calls them
as she sees them and brings all the arguments to the table," Chiang
said. [Courtesy: Sacramento Bee]
