Philip Angelides

Philip Angelides (pronounced Ange-lead-ess) (born c. 1954) is the state treasurer of California. After losing in the general election on his first attempt, in 1994, he was elected to office as a Democrat in 1998 and re-elected in 2002. A graduate of Harvard University, Angelides worked for a number of years for the state of California's Housing and Community Development agency (from 1975 to 19830, and later in the private sector as a land developer. He was appointed president of AKT Development Corp. (a company owned by one of his business and political mentors, Angelo Tsakopoulos) in 1984, and in 1986, founded his own land development company, River West. Sacramento area environmentalists criticize him for contributing to the area's sprawl, although he took a significant financial risk when he built Laguna West, a pioneering attempt at creating a pedestrian friendly and environmentally sustainable community which has had a major impact on later suburban developments.

Angelides began his career in politics early, running for Sacramento City Council against a popular incumbent in 1973, as a college student (he lost). He ran again for City Council in 1977 (and lost) - these races, however, fostered relationships with political and business mentors that lead to later opportunities. He also served as the chairman of the California Democratic Party from 1991 to 1993. His work in that time helped to lead to not only to Bill Clinton becoming the first Democrat to carry California in twenty-eight years but also to California being the first state to elect two female senators in the same election, Democrats Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein. However, Angelides has been critized by many for his overly agressive campaign tactics and penchant for negative campaigning.

As Treasurer, he has been a leader in the corporate reform movement, working to increase standards for disclosure and financial reporting and has worked to protect the state's creditworthiness during a series of revenue shortfalls precipitated by California's "dot com" era economic downturn. In his role as trustee of the California Public Employees' Retirement System (one of his duties as state treasurer), he has led initiatives to spur economic progress in California communities through targeted investments, to increase investments in environmentally clean technologies, and to pressure corporate America to address global warming.

In early 2005, he announced his intention to run against Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 2006 election, having made little secret of his ambition for the Governor's Office from the time that Schwarzenegger was elected in 2003.[1]

Angelides and his wife, Julie, reside in Sacramento, where Angelides was born and raised, and has spent most of his adult life. They have three daughters - Megan, Christina, and Arianna.[2]

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