Horn a Plenty of South Bay Candidates
September 1, 2008
APAs hope to fill South Bay political void
Silicon Valley has produced an impressive array of Asian American politicians, from pioneers Norman Mineta and Mike Honda, who began their political careers in the ’60s and ’70s, to Jose Esteves, the current Milpitas mayor, and the eight Asian American city council members serving in seven cities, five of whom are former mayors.
But there’s something lacking. Between the national level, which Honda now serves at, and the city level, “there’s a huge void that’s waiting to be filled right now in Silicon Valley,” said Michael Chang, a former mayor of Cupertino.
Many believe Paul Fong, a candidate for State Assembly, has a good chance of winning this November. Asian Americans are also on the ballot in races for Santa Clara County Supervisor (Districts 2 and 3), Saratoga City Council, Milpitas City Council and San Jose City Council (District 2).
Fong’s experience and key endorsements from Reps. Honda, Anna Eshoo and Zoe Lofgren, combined with a heavily Asian 22nd State Assembly District that comprises Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Cupertino, Mountain View and parts of San Jose, puts the election in Fong’s favor, according to Chang, now a professor at De Anza College.
Fong, a professor at Evergreen Community College and a community college trustee for the Foothill-De Anza community college district, has helped three dozen politicians get into office since being part of Mineta’s 1975 congressional campaign.
Fong wants to focus on the environment, and as a community college trustee, he hopes to tackle the $4 billion cut in state education. As for social-justice issues, Fong wants to change SB 899, the workers’ compensation bill that allows insurance companies to provide less compensation to minorities, women and the elderly because they are predisposed to certain injuries or illnesses.
Michelle Lew, president and CEO of Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI), the largest Asian American social services agency in Santa Clara County, credits Fong for having a tremendous impact on Silicon Valley through his work at AACI, where he is an active member of the Board of Directors.
“Through AACI, Paul has been instrumental in making sure that government funding goes to serving low-income Asian immigrants, providing healthcare, mental health services and services for domestic violence victims,” Lew said.
The political action committee Asian Americans for Good Government has also been supporting Fong’s candidacy, according to chairman Hsing Kung — a good sign considering nine out of ten candidates the group supported in 2006 won their primaries.
As for the race for the District 3 seat on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, representing the north and west of San Jose, Sunnyvale and Milpitas, the Asian American candidate is Sunnyvale Councilman Otto Lee. Lee beat out APAs Daisy Chu, wife of San Jose city councilmember Kansen Chu, and Joe Esteves, mayor of Milpitas, in June to make the November runoff.
If Lee wins, it will be the second time an Asian American has ever been elected Santa Clara County Supervisor since Rep. Honda won in 1990. If Fong also wins, then South Bay Asian Americans will be represented at all levels of government — a big step forward for a county that’s more than one third Asian American.
Lee has been called the green mayor of Sunnyvale and is most proud of beginning a revitalization of downtown Sunnyvale.
Fong advised Lee when he ran for city council, and now they are cooperating with each other on their campaigns. Because their districts overlap, they share the same group of supporters and have combined resources and workers to share the campaign workload.
Lee said, “budget and balance is very significant at the county level right now” because California has declared a fiscal state of emergency. He also wants to focus on security through sheriff and regional enforcement and on gang prevention by providing after-school programs. Lee is also endorsed by Reps. Honda and Eshoo.
Other Asian American candidates around Santa Clara County include George Shirakawa, a member of the East Side Union High School District Board, who is running for the District 2 seat on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors; Attorney Ash Kalra, running for San Jose City Council District 2; probation community worker Heidi Pham, running for Milpitas City Council; and Aileen Kao, who is running for re-election on the Saratoga City Council.
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Megan,
FYI
Sunnyvale Councilmember Otto Lee did beat out Jose Esteves, mayor of Milpitas, but he did not beat Kansen Chu’s wife, Daisy Chu. She actually dropped out of the race well before the June election.
FYI, the Asian American Small Business PAC also strongly supported Paul Fongg’s candidacy with an significant independent expenditure campaign targeting Asian American voters.