Michelle Park Steel

Member of Board of Equalization, Third District

Take 10 | Full biography

America’s Highest-Ranking Korean American Elected Official

Elected to the Board of Equalization in 2006, Michelle Steel Serves as the country’s highest ranking Korean-American officeholder and California’s highest ranking Republican woman. A successful businesswoman and longtime taxpayer advocate, Michelle Steel represents more than eight million people in the Third District, which includes the counties of Imperial, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, and portions of Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties.

On the Board of Equalization, Michelle Steel’s first priority is protecting taxpayers. Michelle’s commitment to taxpayers began at an early age when she watched her mother fight an unwarranted Board of Equalization tax bill. As an immigrant small business owner, Michelle’s mother lacked the resources to successfully fight a massive state agency and reluctantly acceded to the Board’s demands.

As one of California’s fiscal officers, Michelle Steel promises to protect taxpayers from the overbearing government that her family encountered. A signatory if the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, Michelle Steel will oppose all new taxes and tax increases. When adjudicating tax appeals, she will always presume that a taxpayer is innocent until proven guilty.

Before taking office, Michelle Steel Served as Deputy Board of Equalization Member to Claude Parrish. Her public policy experience also includes service as a Member of the California Orange County Deputy District Office: KA Community Commission and Member of the Tax Advisory Committee for the State Board of Equalization.

Over the past decade, Michelle Steel has served on the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, California World Trade Commission, Los Angeles County Department if Children and Family Services, and Los Angeles Airport and Fire Commissions.

Recognizing her extensive public policy experience, the President appointed Michelle Steel to the White House Conference on Aging, her second presidential appointment. Michelle also serves as a Board Member for the Korean American Republican Association and as an Honorary Chair of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 2006 Gubernatorial Campaign.

Michelle Steel has spent her life actively involved in her community, beginning as a Radio Seoul Commentator – a position she continues to hold. She has been an instrumental Volunteer for several youth organizations, including Options House, a local emergency shelter helping runaway children, and the Coalition of Brothers and Sisters Unlimited, an African-American after-School Program.

Educated in Korea, Japan, and the United States, Michelle holds a degree in Business from Pepperdine University and is fluent in Korean and Japaness.

Michelle and her husband, Shawn, have been married for twenty-five years. They live in Palos Verdes, where they are reising their two children – Cheyenne, 19 and Siobhan, 16.