AsianWeek is proud to endorse and urge the re-election of Willlie Brown for Mayor and Terence Hallinan for District Attorney of San Francisco.

A vital part of the Asian American journey to become full partners in American society revolves not only around our ability to politically empower ourselves, but also the opportunity to contribute and display our commitment and talent to matters outside of just our community. Not only do we strive to elect qualified Asian American candidates to public office, but also we hope that they will govern and legislate for all of American society.

This goal can only come through a combination of increased Asian American participation in the political process, i.e. voter registration and turnout and the partnering with mainstream American political leaders.

In San Francisco, Brown and Hallinan have been exemplary in not only performing their elected duties but also in reaching out and integrating Asian Americans into the political mainstream. Throughout the continental United States, few can match the courage and commitment of Brown and Hallinan in forging a partnership with Asian Americans to govern and administer justice on behalf of all of a major city like San Francisco.

While increased funding for vital Asian American social services and easing oppressive residential zoning ordinances is important, Brown has also shattered establishment politics in San Francisco. His early administration appointments of Asian Americans to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors as well as to the police chief’s, port director’s and purchaser’s spots, have demonstrated his courage to stand up and assimilate Asian Americans into governing roles as never before.

Hallinan has had a similar record. Violent crime has gone down a staggering 40 percent, particularly significant in a city in which a large portion of the small businesses are Asian American owned and where the total population is expected to be close to 40 percent by next year’s Census. He has hired more Asian American assistant district attorneys and investigators than his predecessors combined over the same period; tremendously important given the misunderstandings and miscommunications that often occur when different cultures interconnect.

Finally, Hallinan’s attention and development of the Hate Crimes Division in his department is especially noteworthy, and increasingly relevant, given that it’s only two years before the 20th anniversary of Vincent Chin’s beating.

As Asian Americans approach the 21st Century, AsianWeek can’t think of better partners -- given their proven record of empowering and integrating Asian Americans at the highest levels of the governing and political structure -- than Brown and Hallinan.

Both Brown and Hallinan have earned and deserve re-election and four more years. Vote Dec. 14.