Betty Yee

#asianpacificamericanheritagemonthProfilesApril 25, 2023

Betty Yee is an American politician with a long and distinguished career in public service. Yee grew up in the Bay Area and attended UC Berkeley, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a Master’s degree in Public Administration. After college she served as a staff member for several California legislators, including Willie Brown and Barbara Boxer.

In 2004, she was elected to the California State Board of Equalization, where she worked to ensure that California’s tax laws were enforced fairly and equitably and advocated for tax code reform.

In 2014, Yee was elected as California State Controller, responsible for overseeing the state’s finances, auditing state agencies and programs, and administering payroll for state employees. She is the first Asian-American woman to hold statewide office in California.

Throughout her career, Yee has been a strong advocate for fiscal responsibility, government transparency, and social justice. She has also been a leader on environmental issues, supporting policies to promote clean energy and combat climate change.