Fiona Ma

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Fiona Ma

Fiona Ma (馬世雲) 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.

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.

1 Education
2 Experience
3 Campaign contributions scandal
4 Organized crime scandal
5 External links

[edit] Education

Ma is a CPA with an MBA and Master’s Degree in Taxation.

[edit] Experience

Before becoming a Supervisor, Ma started her public service in 1995 as a part-time district representative for former state Senate President John Burton, where she learned to navigate the California legislature. While working in Senator Burton's office, Ma worked on issues including Medi-Cal, childcare licensing, professional licensing, job training, secondary education, workers’ compensation, unemployment compensation, preschool and childcare funding.

[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 defeneded 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."

[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."[1]