By James Tabafunda
Northwest Asian Weekly
Asian Americans around the country have made history in 2009 in their efforts to become part of the political realm.
Leland Cheung
City Councilor-elect Leland Cheung, 31, won his race to become the first Asian American and youngest member on the Cambridge (Mass.) City Council. He is a graduate student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management.
Mona Pasquil
A former member of the Democratic National Convention’s Rules and Bylaws Committee, Mona Pasquil has been appointed interim lieutenant governor of California. She takes over for Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, who won his race to represent the state’s 10th District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
She becomes the first Filipino American to be appointed to the second highest position in California state government.
Edward Chen
In California, Edward Chen, an Obama nominee for a federal judgeship, still awaits his approval by the Senate Judiciary Committee. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, the U.S. magistrate from San Francisco would become the first Asian American federal judge in the state’s Northern District.
Alex Wan
Alex Wan, a candidate for Atlanta (Ga.) City Council, District 6, received 32.2 percent of the votes on Nov. 3 and advances to a Dec. 1 runoff election against Liz Coyle, who received 22.84 percent of the votes. If elected, he would be the first Asian American on the Atlanta City Council.
Compiled here is an informal list of notable Asian American candidates who have won their races for political office. It is, by no means, comprehensive. ♦
James Tabafunda can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
NOTABLE STATE CONTEST
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Mark Keam (D), attorney and businessman Running for Virginia House of Delegates, District 35 Result as of Nov. 20: won with 50.65 percent First Korean American to serve in state government and the son of Korean immigrants. |
NOTABLE CITY CONTESTS
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Victor Manalo (D), incumbent Running for Artesia (Calif.) City Council Result as of Nov. 20: won with 32.63 percent Serves as Mayor Pro Tem and becomes Mayor starting December 2010. |
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Sam Patel (D) Running for Blythe (Calif.) City Council Result as of Nov. 20: won with 14.49 percent |
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Barry Chang (R), businessman Running for Cupertino (Calif.) City Council Result as of Nov. 20: won with 16 percent |
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Tzeitel Paras-Caracci (D) Running for Duarte (Calif.) City Council Result as of Nov. 20: won with 18.69 percent |
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Michiko Oyama-Canada (R) Running for Hawaiian Gardens (Calif.) City Council Result as of Nov. 20: won with 14.55 percent Born in Spokane, Wash., her motto is, “I have never forgotten why I was elected, which is to serve the citizens of this city.” |
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Jeff Gee (D) Running for Redwood City (Calif.) City Council Result as of Nov. 20: won with 24.5 percent City council’s only Redwood Shores resident. |
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Ken Ibarra (D), architect and incumbent Running for San Bruno (Calif.) City Council Result as of Nov. 20: won with 48.6 percent Ran unopposed for re-election. |
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David Lim (D), Alameda County deputy district attorney Running for San Mateo (Calif.) City Council Result as of Nov. 20: won with 23.3 percent |
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Karyl Matsumoto (D), mayor and incumbent Running for South San Francisco (Calif.) City Council Result as of Nov. 20: won with 26.6 percent |
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Margaret Chin (D) Running for New York (N.Y.) City Council, District 1 Results as of Nov. 20: won with 86 percent First Chinese American to represent Chinatown district and an immigrant from Hong Kong. |
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Peter Koo (R), founder of a chain of Flushing drugstores Running for New York (N.Y.) City Council, District 20 Results as of Nov. 20: won with 48.5 percent Immigrant from Hong Kong who takes over John Liu’s vacated seat. |
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John Liu (D) Running for New York (N.Y.) City Comptroller Results as of Nov. 20: won with 76 percent First Chinese American elected to citywide office and born in Taiwan. |
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Lloyd Hara, Seattle port commissioner and small business owner Running for King County Assessor Results as of Nov. 20: incomplete, currently 34 percent Third-generation Japanese American. |
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Marilyn Strickland, Tacoma City Councilmember Running for Tacoma Mayor Results as of Nov. 20: incomplete, currently 51.2 percent Born in Seoul, Korea, daughter of a U.S. soldier and an immigrant and elected to the at-large position eight City Council seat in 2007. |