Malia Cohen
- Controller: 2023-present
Bio
Malia Cohen, 48, is a former elected member of the Board of Equalization and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. She worked as a field organizer in now-Gov. Gavin Newsom’s first campaign for mayor of San Francisco. After the election, she was his chief of staff. She also worked for San Mateo County Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson and started a consulting firm for public policy and social media. She was elected to the Board of Equalization in 2018 and was its chair in 2019 and 2022. Born and raised in San Francisco, she received her bachelor’s degree in political science from Fisk University and a master’s degree in public policy and management from Carnegie Mellon University. She and her husband live in San Francisco with their daughter.
Job Description
The controller is responsible for disbursing state cash, including payroll for state employees. The controller helps administer two of the nation’s largest public pension funds and serves on 70 state boards and commissions. The controller also stores and returns property and money that Californians haven’t claimed. The controller oversees 1,600 employees and has a budget of $442 million.
Influence
There are three categories of donations after they are elected that encourage a working relationship between the donor and the official. The three categories are: 1-Gifts, 2-Travel, 3-Behests.
|
Giver
|
Value
|
Date
|
Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Carnegie Mellon University | $658.92 | Oct 31, 2024 | 2024 Carnegie Mellon Alumni Awardee: Pittsburg, PA |
Sponsored Travel
Officials are allowed to have their expenses paid for domestic and international travel that is related to their work including, for example, trips to conferences or to tour places facing issues similar to California. There is no limit on the amount of travel expenses a official can accept. The trips are often funded by companies or organizations with interest in state policy.
|
Giver
|
Value
|
Date
|
Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| UBER Technologies | $25,000 | Apr 8, 2019 | Support the Black History Month Closing Ceremony and Cultural Experience |
| AT&T California | $15,000 | Jan 9, 2019 | Support the Black History month closing ceremony and cultural experience |
| Facebook, Inc. | $15,000 | Feb 20, 2019 | Support the Black History Month Closing Ceremony and Cultural Experience. |
| Wells Fargo Foundation | $15,000 | Feb 25, 2019 | Support the Black History Month Closing Ceremony and Cultural Experience |
| Golden State Warriors | $5,000 | Feb 11, 2019 | Support the Black History Month Closing Ceremony and Cultural Experience. |
| Recology | $5,000 | Feb 20, 2019 | Support the Black History Month Closing Ceremony and Cultural Experience. |
| SF Safe | $5,000 | Mar 25, 2019 | Support the Black History Month Closing Ceremony and Cultural Experience |
| Comcast Financial Agency Corporation | $5,000 | Mar 1, 2019 | Support the Black History Month Closing Ceremony and Cultural Experience |
| KP Financial Services | $5,000 | Mar 11, 2019 | Support the Black History Month closing Ceremony and Cultural Experience |
| AirBnB | $5,000 | Mar 22, 2019 | Support the Black History Month Closing Ceremony and Cultural Experience |
| San Francisco Giants | $5,000 | Jan 28, 2019 | Support the Black History month closing ceremony and cultural experience |
Behests
These are unlimited payments made “at the behest” — or request — of a official to a third party. The behest might involve, for example, a official requesting a donation be made to a school district or a job fair. Behests must be reported if they exceed $5,000 from a single source in a year.
|
Giver
|
Value
|
Date
|
Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Wells Fargo | $15,000 | Mar 10, 2020 | Support the Black History Month Closing Ceremony and Cultural Experience |
| $15,000 | Mar 12, 2020 | Support the Black History Month Closing Ceremony and Cultural Experience | |
| Salesforce Equality | $10,350 | Feb 24, 2020 | Support the Black History Month Closing Ceremony and Cultural Experience |
| Golden State Warriors | $5,000 | Feb 7, 2020 | Support the Black History Month Closing Ceremony and Cultural Experience |
| Comcast Financial Agency Corporation | $5,000 | Feb 4, 2020 | Support the Black History Month Closing Ceremony and Cultural Experience |
| San Francisco Giants | $5,000 | Jan 30, 2020 | Support the Black History Month Closing Ceremony and Cultural Experience |
| Kaiser Permanente - Northern California Region | $5,000 | Feb 28, 2020 | Support the Black History Month Closing Ceremony and Cultural Experience |
| AT&T California | $5,000 | Nov 18, 2020 | FPPC Note: section was left blank in the original 803 that was emailed to the FPPC. |
Behests
These are unlimited payments made “at the behest” — or request — of a official to a third party. The behest might involve, for example, a official requesting a donation be made to a school district or a job fair. Behests must be reported if they exceed $5,000 from a single source in a year.
|
Giver
|
Value
|
Date
|
Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Women in California Leadership | $25,000 | Jul 15, 2021 | FPPC Note: section was left blank in the original 803 that was emailed to the FPPC. |
| Women in California Leadership | $2,500 | Jul 15, 2021 | FPPC Note: section was left blank in the original 803 that was emailed to the FPPC. |
Behests
These are unlimited payments made “at the behest” — or request — of a official to a third party. The behest might involve, for example, a official requesting a donation be made to a school district or a job fair. Behests must be reported if they exceed $5,000 from a single source in a year.
|
Giver
|
Value
|
Date
|
Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T California | $6,000 | Feb 21, 2022 | Annual Gala - to support activities of the professional association: MCLEs, advocacy for |
| Women in California Leadership | $2,500 | Jul 22, 2022 | Recipient of a Minerva Scholarship reward. |
| Women in California Leadership | $2,500 | Jul 22, 2022 | Recipient of a Minerva Scholarship reward. |
Behests
These are unlimited payments made “at the behest” — or request — of a official to a third party. The behest might involve, for example, a official requesting a donation be made to a school district or a job fair. Behests must be reported if they exceed $5,000 from a single source in a year.
|
Giver
|
Value
|
Date
|
Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile USA, Inc. | $28,000 | Jul 28, 2023 | Sponsored a reception honoring Black elected leaders |
| Building Industruy Association | $5,000 | Nov 21, 2023 | Sponsored a reception honoring Black elected leaders. |
Behests
These are unlimited payments made “at the behest” — or request — of a official to a third party. The behest might involve, for example, a official requesting a donation be made to a school district or a job fair. Behests must be reported if they exceed $5,000 from a single source in a year.
|
Giver
|
Value
|
Date
|
Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Kaiser Permanente, Kaiser Health Foundation Plan, Inc | $10,000 | Jan 2, 2024 | Sponsored a reception honoring Black elected leaders |
Behests
These are unlimited payments made “at the behest” — or request — of a official to a third party. The behest might involve, for example, a official requesting a donation be made to a school district or a job fair. Behests must be reported if they exceed $5,000 from a single source in a year.
Previous Election (2022):