Peter Verbica

Peter Verbica was born in San Jose, California. He earned a bachelor's degree from Santa Clara University in 1983 and a graduate degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1992. He also earned a J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law in 1999. As of 2022, Verbica was the managing director at Silicon Private Wealth and Viant Capital. He also worked as an adjunct professor of economics at San Jose State University.[1]

Verbica has been affiliated with the following organizations:[1]

SJ Symphony Foundation, Chair of the Investment Committee

Pine Ridge Association at Henry Coe State Park, Former VP

Los Gatos Masonic Hall Corporation, Former President

Digital Bridges Committee, Former Chair

Military Care Committee, Former Chair

Hakone Foundation, Former Vice Chair

CCR, Former President

SPARC, Former President

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Peter Verbica was born in San Jose, California. He earned a bachelor's degree from Santa Clara University in 1983 and a Master of Science degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1992. He also earned a J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law in 1999. As of 2026, Verbica is a managing director, principal and Certified Financial Planner® at Silicon Private Wealth. He also worked as an adjunct professor of economics at San Jose State University. He won a top two slot in the Board of Equalization, District 2 primary race in 2022.

Verbica has been affiliated with the following organizations:

SJ Symphony Foundation, Chair of the Investment Committee

Pine Ridge Association at Henry Coe State Park, Former VP

Los Gatos Masonic Hall Corporation, Former President

Digital Bridges Committee, Former Chair

Military Care Committee, Former Chair

Hakone Foundation, Former Vice Chair

CCR, Former President

SPARC, Former President

Free Guitars for Kids, Santa Cruz Sounding Board Member

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Affordability -- End California's high taxes, reform CEQA to allow for more housing, end weird gas blends which have dubious benefits, lower DMV fees, stop printing money which debases the U.S. dollar).Water infrastructure -- Californians approved billions for new reservoirs, none of which were built, and are needed to help fight wildfires and put food on our tables.Immigration reform -- reform immigration in California which helps ag and high-tech businesses and provide a Bracero 2.0 program with a clear, expeditious path to legal employment.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

We need to restore affordability, accountability, and common sense to California public policy. Sacramento has over-promised and under-delivered, leaving high taxes but poor outcomes in education, employment, and economic mobility. Over-regulation, ad hoc fees, and bureaucratic expansion have made housing unaffordable and squeezed small businesses.

We must refocus education on teachers, meritocracy, and STEM so students can compete globally. At the same time, we need pragmatic energy and environmental policies—protecting places like Monterey Bay while ensuring safe, reliable, and affordable energy. The path forward is one of relentless pragmatism: real results that strengthen our economy and improve everyday life.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

* Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association PAC

Hon. Tom Campbell, former U.S. Congressman, Educator

Jessica Patterson, Chair emeritus, California Republican Party

SVGOP

Santa Cruz Republicans

Brian Higgins, Executive Director emeritus, Monterey Republican Party

Santa Cruz County Republican Central Committee

David Drew, Chairman, Monterey County Republican Party

Peter Ohtaki, former Mayor of Menlo Park, CA; former candidate for US Congress, CD-16

Pearle Salters, Tribal Tutor

Kristen Collishaw, Chairwoman emeritus, Santa Cruz Republicans

Carlos Montalvo, Avocado Farmer, Tech Executive

Jim Pooley, Former Deputy Director General, World Intellectual Property Organization

California Congress of Republicans

Video for [the profile publisher]

Video submitted to BallotpediaReleased March 14, 2022

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Peter Coe Verbica is a fifth-generation Californian, who learned the importance of a strong work ethic growing up on a cattle ranch. Trained in business, real estate, law, and as a Certified Financial Planner®, he brings extensive professional experience to the Board of Equalization, which oversees 58 county assessors who value and tax property throughout California. He currently serves as a Managing Director at Silicon Private Wealth and Viant Capital. Peter understands that Californians want good-paying jobs, safe neighborhoods, housing for teachers and first responders, and high-quality schools. As a volunteer, Peter has actively supported schools, military service men and women, youth ballet, the symphony, Asian-American culture, and California State Parks, including Henry Coe State Park, named after his great grandfather. A father of four daughters, the oldest of whom served in the US Navy, Peter believes in service to one’s community and Country. He is the former Chair of the Military Care Committee, which provided hundreds of care packages to US sailors and Marines. He is a graduate of Bellarmine, Santa Clara University, and MIT. He is a published author whose works appear in over 40 anthologies. Former President of the California Congress of Republicans, Peter Coe Verbica is part of the new, inclusive CAGOP — led by the accomplished Latina, Jessica Patterson. He is a member of Saint Francis Episcopal Church.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Californians Want Good-paying JobsCalifornians Want Safe NeighborhoodsCalifornia Needs Housing for Teachers and First Responders

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

* Lower regulations which kill higher-paying jobs!

Lower taxes!

Stop government waste -- including billion-dollar trains to nowhere boondoggles!

Build better water infrastructure -- billions were voted on for such expenditures by California voters!

Prepare for better firefighting through clear-eyed forestry management!

Stop CEQA abuse so that first-time home buyers aren't priced out of the market!

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

California property owners need to be treated fairly and have a venue which they can turn to in the event of government overreach.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to the late Harvard professor, Richard Pipes. His family fled the Nazis invading Poland. They came to the States in 1940. Pipes wrote the seminal book PROPERTY AND FREEDOM, The Story of How through the Centuries Private Ownership Has Promoted Liberty and the Rule of Law (1999). Pipes also wrote about the Soviets and Russia, addressing converse models of a free society. As property rights are diluted in the United States, so too dims liberty's star.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

No writer articulated the weaponization of language better than George Orwell. 1984 is one of his best known works and is troublingly prophetic.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Elected officials are servants of their constituents.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Training in real estate, law and finance makes me uniquely qualified to serve on the Board of Equalization.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Quintessential to a Board of Equalization seat is to always remember that one is ultimately a representative and advocate for the California taxpayer.

What legacy would you like to leave?

The middle class and high-quality employers are leaving California in droves. Tesla, HP, Charles Schwab, Oracle and many other companies have moved their headquarters from California to states such as Texas, Florida and Tennessee. I would love to be a force for good in reversing these trends.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

One of the most significant events that I can remember is our manned landing on the moon on July 20, 1969.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was working summers on Rancho San Felipe, our family's cattle ranch in the foothills of Northern California. I gathered cattle, built fences, trained horses, fixed spring boxes and worked on fire breaks.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Book of Proverbs. Each time I read it, there's a new opportunity for personal growth.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Sherlock Holmes, of course.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Having renters and consumers understand that high taxes and policies which restrict supply (i.e., housing or energy) impacts the cost of services and goods. Those most impacted: the less fortunate, immigrants, and the next generation.

What responsibilities of this office do you personally consider the most important?

Treating California taxpayers fairly and never forgetting that the BOE is there to serve them -- not the other way around.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

California taxpayers should know about the Taxpayers' Rights Advocate Office.

According to https://www.boe.ca.gov/tra/

"The Taxpayers' Rights Advocate Office helps taxpayers who are unable to resolve a problem through normal channels. Our goal is to protect your rights and ensure your tax problems are handled promptly and fairly."

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

I believe that first and foremost, public servants should seek to serve taxpayers efficiently and have empathy for their efforts to comply with the labyrinth of State regulations and laws. Coming from private industry gives a public servant such a perspective.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

With training in real estate, finance and law, I believe that I'm ideally suited to serve on the Board of Equalization.

Tell us your favorite joke.

"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'" ~ President Ronald Reagan