2011 CAUSE Research Project

Compilation of Case Studies

Action, Power, I nfluence Profiles in Courage

Andrew Angeles Sungwoo Chon Connie Chu Rebecca Han Ellen Hou Anh Thu Tran Matthew Wong Alexander Zou

Politics as a Tool of Influence

The CAUSE interns are proud to present the 2011 research project, a compilation of case studies of prominent individuals ranging from local politicians in Southern California to state officials. In addition to this compilation, the CAUSE interns have employed social media, like Facebook, Twitter, and the CAUSE website, in an effort to share the case studies and project our message.

foreword

The number of Asian Pacific Islander (API) elected officials is rising. Today, there are many examples in our federal, state, and local governments. As a community we have made significant progress, yet there is so much more we can do. The purpose of this project is to encourage political participation in the Asian American community. Through these case studies, we hope to motivate and inspire Asian Americans to become more involved in our government. Politics determine the rules and norms that mold our reality, and we owe much more to ourselves and to each other than to sit back and let the political process unfold without our input.

sincerely,

CAUSE

2011
Interns

foreword

table of contents
Foreword ..................................2 About the Case Studies ............4 Case Studies Sukhee Kang .........................6 Mike Gin ...............................8 Miller Oh .............................10 Steven Ly .............................12 Leland Yee ...........................14 John Chiang ........................16 Ronald Lew ........................18 Jeremy Yamaguchi .............20 Fiona Ma ............................22 Gary Yamauchi ...................24 Tam Ngoc Tran ...................26 Call to Action ..........................28 About the Interns ....................30

table of contents

Our case studies run the gamut, from statewide officials to local city councilmembers. Yet they all have one thing in common: the experience of being an Asian American in the United States. Below are the individuals whose stories serve as models for others to follow.

about the case studies

SUKHEE KANG
Position: Mayor of Irvine Education: Korea University Ethnicity: Korean

MIKE GIN
Position: Mayor of Redondo Beach Education: University of Southern California Ethnicity: Chinese

MILLER OH

Position: City Councilmember of Buena Park Education: University of California, Los Angeles Ethnicity: Korean

STEVEN LY
Position: Mayor of Rosemead Education: University of California, Los Angeles Ethnicity: Chinese

LELAND YEE

Position: California State Senator, District 8 Education: UC Berkeley (Bachelors), San Francisco
State University (Masters), University of Hawaii (Ph.D)

Ethnicity: Chinese
about the case studies

JOHN CHIANG

Position: 31st California State Controller Education: University of South Florida, Georgetown University Law Center Ethnicity: Taiwanese

Position: U.S. District Court Judge Education: Loyola Marymount University, Southwestern University School of Law Ethnicity: Chinese

RONALD LEW

JEREMY YAMAGUCHI
Position: Mayor Pro Tempore of Placentia Education: California State University, Fullerton Ethnicity: Japanese and Caucasian

Position: Speaker Pro Tempore, California State AsEducation: Rochester Institute of Technology, Golden Gate University, Pepperdine University Ethnicity: Chinese

FIONA MA

sembly; California State Assemblymember,12th District

GARY YAMAUCHI

Position: Mayor of Alhambra Education: Gardena High School Ethnicity: Japanese

Position: Immigration Reform Activist Education: University of California, Los Angeles; Ph.D candidate at Brown University Ethnicity: Vietnamese

TAM NGOC TRAN

about the case studies

SUKHEE KANG
T
oday, Irvine, California is an established political network about as close to an urban in which to ground a potential utopia as one can find in the political career. For immigrants United States. In fact, in 2008, like Kang, politics was not the Money Magazine ranked Irvine prioritymaking a living was. as the fourth best place to live in But there are often certain incithe country, and last year the FBI dentstipping pointsthat galnamed Irvine as the safest big vanize people to action, that trigcity in the country. Furthermore, ger the latent leadership qualities Irvine is among the company of of seemingly ordinary citizens. the wealthiest and most eduSukhee Kang was one of those cated cities in the United States. seemingly ordinary citizens, and And the man at the helm of this his tipping point was the 1992 metropolitan wonderland is the Los Angeles Riots. Kang notes, mayor, first-generaThe 92 incident tion Korean-Amer- But there are often cerwasa wakeican Sukhee Kang. tain incidentstipping up call to me. Upon first glance, pointsthat galvanize The 1992 riots Sukhee Kangs story devastated many people to action, that doesnt seem to procommunities within vide for a natural seg- trigger the latent leaderthe City of Los Anue into the mayors geles, resulting in ship qualities of seemingly office. After earning dozens of deaths, his bachelors deordinary citizens. over a billion dollars gree at Korea Univerin property damsity in Seoul, Kang age, and worldwide criticism and immigrated to the United States. mockery of Los Angeles. The KoLike many immigrants of his genrean-American community was eration, Kang had no intention of particularly hard hit. The Koreanentering the realm of American American community not only politics, let alone heading a major suffered severe property losses, American city. After all, he was an but also fell victim to systematic immigrant who had little familiarinjustices perpetrated by faulty ity with the new people and cullegal and governmental systems. ture that surrounded him. He had As a Korean American himself, neither experience in politics nor

political eureka!

sukhee kang

Kang felt compelled to act. The LA Riotswas my inspiration to get involved in the KoreanAmerican community, he says. Kangs latent leadership had been triggered, and he had begun his impressive journey as a community advocate and public servant. In 1993, at the recommendation of a friend, he joined the board of the Korean American Scholarship Foundation, where he would eventually serve as President in 2002. Kang also became involved in the Korean American Democratic Committee, achieving the position of President. Through his participation in the community and local politics, Kang gained recognition as one who was able to bring dissimilar peo-

ple together for progress, and those around him urged Kang to run for elected office. Kang, after much thought, decided to run for a seat on the Irvine City Council, which he narrowly won thanks to a robust fundraising effort and a tireless doorto-door grassroots campaign. The rest, as the adage goes, is history. Sukhee Kang would be reelected to City Council in 2006, elected Mayor in 2008, and reelected to the Mayors Office in 2010. Currently, Kang is embarking on a campaign for a seat in Congress. If elected, he would be the only Korean-American in Congress.

What makes Sukhee Kangs story remarkable is that it truly embodies the rags-to-riches ideal in the political sense. Kang arrived in California as a Korean immigrant who has now positioned himself to be a serious contender for a Congressional seat. He was inspired to political activism out of anger towards the injustices that his fellow Korean-American immigrants had suffered. He had no political background to give him an initial boost; instead, he relied on his personal conviction that an entire communitys voice could not be ignored in the mainstream political world. When asked his reason for entering politics, Kang simply responds, I wanted to do good for the community. He relied on a strong coalition built on trust and good old-fashioned hard work to propel him to his current position. I [strongly] believe that if you put in one hundred percent of your effort, then the result is always there, he says.
sukhee kang

perspective

MIKE GIN a true statesman

M
ike Gin is not your typical Republican. He is progressive. For example, Gin strongly supports the pro-environment agenda. He is gay. Gin was married to his spouse in 2008 when same-sex marriage was legal in California. He espouses the Tea Party, preferring to work across the aisle to reach pragmatic solutions. Gin is also Asian American, one of the few minority elected officials of the Republican Party. Today, Mike Gin is the mayor of Redondo Beach, a city with a population of approximately 66,000 people. involved in the Redondo Beach community, serving on commissions that dealt with architecture, land use, and planning.

I wanted to bring a different voice to the debate, a voice of problem-solving and solutions

In 1995, Gin threw his name in the hat to become a member of the City Council. It was an opportunity I was interested in at the time, he said. Despite battling against three better known opponents, Gin won the election with about 60 percent of the vote; thereby, avoiding a run-off election.

Throughout his life, Gin has always had an interest for politics. In high school, he was elected student body president. Gin was also elected to the student senate at the University of Southern California. After moving to Redondo Beach, Gin became a charter member of the historic preservation commission in 1989. Over the years, he continued to be

Since 2005, Gin has been mayor of Redondo Beach. As mayor, his main focus has been to bring the community together. Gin wanted to create an environment where our residents and stakeholders in the community feel they can take ownership of issues. As a result, Gin has been a major proponent of citizen task forces. For example, in 2005, the Redondo Beach harbor had an algae bloom problem. Under Gins leadership,

mike gin

a water quality task force was established. Frustrated with partisan politics in Washington, D.C., Gin ran for the seat of U.S. Congresswoman Jane Harman this year. I wanted to bring a different voice to the debate, a voice of problem-solving and solutions, Gin said. Had he won, he would have been an independent and progressive Republican. Gin said, I would cast votes and make decisions on what I felt would work best for our district and work across the aisle rather than have hard ideological posi-

tions that very frankly dont address the needs of our nations. Gin, the youngest and only son in his Chinese family, named his parents as his role models. He said, They always made sure the needs of myself and my sisters were provided for. While his parents are no longer with him, Gin expressed his gratitude what they taught him: the importance of education, working hard, and having good relationships with people. As for his identity of being an Asian American elected official, Gin said, Its part of who I am.

The story of Mike Gin is truly remarkable. It was because of Gins passion for politics and his community that he decided to make a run for elected office. Perhaps, what is most important, is Gins realization that politics requires working with your enemies, or those who you disagree with on the issues. Whether you are a Democrat or Republican doesnt matter, what matters is what you can do for the community as a whole. That is essentially who Mike Gin is. His willingness to work with those across the aisle shows that he is a true American statesman.

perspective

17.3 million- the estimated number of U.S. residents of Asian descent.

Source: 2010 Census Brief Overview of Race and Hispanic Origin http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-02.pdf

mike gin

MILLER OH
M
iller Ohs story is the story of an ordinary AsianAmerican. He wasnt anybody special; he didnt have connections to influential figures; he didnt have family members with a background in politics. I never thought aboutpolitics; Im not a politician, he says when interviewed. Mr. Oh was simply a normal person who one day, exasperated by the citys interference with his business, decided to do something about it. Today he is serving as the first-ever minority City Councilmember in the Orange County suburb Buena Park, a city where three out of four residents are non-Asian. business. When I need something, when I need help, they [the city employees] couldnt helpthey just punished me, he states. I couldnt accept it. In December 2009 he made up his mind to run foroffice. When Mr. Oh decided to run for City Council, he like many people had no idea how to start. This difficulty was compounded by the fact that he was an immigrant, less familiar with the norms and customs of the United States. He eventually found out what to do by asking questions and talking with people. First was Charles Kim, President of the Korean American Coalition, who directed the businessman to Fred Smith (now mayor of Buena Park). The future mayor gave Mr. Oh much-needed advice and contacted Josh Chebat, a man deeply involved in city politics. Mr. Oh hired Josh Chebat as his campaign manager a key

an average joe

I never thought about...politics; Im not a politician.

Mr. Oh was born in South Korea in 1957, just after the Korean War. Like many fellow immigrants, he didnt vote or pay attention to political news, concentrating instead on his business and his family. However, motivation came when the stubborn bureaucracy of Buena Park collided with his

10

5.6 million- the estimated number of California residents of Asian descent.

miller oh

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File, Custom Table 3,http://2010.census.gov/news/press-kits/redistricting.html

step: He brought me a campaign plan for three months, day-by-day. So I followed every single step that he asked me to do. I walked 8,000 houses, and I attended any event in the city 6 months prior to the November election. Another step involved courting the senior vote. Every single week, Mr. Oh says, he went to the Buena Park Senior Center to greet and meet everybody. At that place 300 to 600 seniors show up every day. It paid off; three weeks before the election, the president of the senior center endorsed him. That was huge, Mr. Oh states. There were other endorsements. Mr. Oh received the support of all the former Councilmembers. He did this by arguing that as the Korean population

is growing every single day, an individual who could represent and communicate with the community was necessary. As a first-time politician, Mr. Oh encountered some difficulties during the campaign. The letterhead the candidate used came under scrutiny, as did the place in which he lived and even his age. At the time, he says, nobody thought I could make it. But Mr. Oh did make it. The candidate took 16.2% of the vote, second to only Elizabeth Swift. This was enough to ensure his election to the City Council. Not bad for an ordinary Asian-American businessman who had had no interest in politics until today.

Remarkably, Miller Oh has succeeded in getting elected in a city in which Asians are still very much in the minority. Buena Park, according to 2010 Census figures, is 26.4% Asian-American. That Mr. Oh still was elected in a city with three out of four residents being non-Asian speaks to his skill at appealing to a diverse electorate. Mr. Ohs example shows that anybody with the will and dedication has a chance of becoming elected. You dont have to have a long history of political activism; you dont have to be a second-generation Asian-American born in the United States; you dont have to speak English perfectly. All you have to do is to take a chance.

perspective

miller oh

11

STEVEN LY
F
or many young adults, politics is never a topic of open discussion within a social atmosphere. It would be more acceptable to talk about the latest trends in technology or reality television shows, rather than discuss upcoming campaigns or issues that are affecting the state budget. For those who do get involved and run for an elected position, they do so at a much later age. Mayor of Rosemead, Steven Ly, is an exception to this rule. Steven Ly has always been interested in the politics and played a very active role in his community at a young age. He views politics as a way to effect change- positive change- in the community and to truly make a difference. Politics is a way to better your community through your own philosophy- whether youre a Republican or Democrat, Ly said.

paving the future

elected official. He stated that he would have done the behind the scenes work or kept it as a hobby. His young age was actually one of the reasons why [he] decided not to run for [city council] for a really long time. Even with a background in politics, a B.A. in Public Policy and Political Science, Ly still felt uncomfortable running for an elected office, due to the fact that [he] was so young.

He views politics as a way to affect changepositive change- in the community and to truly make a difference.

12

Ly always knew he would be involved in politics, but never thought he would run for the position of a public figure or an

After much encouragement from community members, Ly decided to run for the Rosemead City Council. Citizens of Rosemead felt that Ly was like the Son of Rosemead. [He] grew up in Rosemead, lived in the city since the age of three, attended all the local schools and remained deeply involved the community. Even throughout college, he worked on local issues such as building a Walmart Superstore in the city. Citizens felt that Ly was one of the few people who fully [understood] the community and knew all the

steven ly

issues affecting the community. In March of 2009, Steven Ly ran for councilmember in the City of Rosemead. After a tough campaign against an incumbent and a school board member, Ly won a seat on the Rosemead City Council by an astonishing 25 votes and became the youngest councilmember in history of Rosemead. This was an amazing accomplishment for the API

community, as well as an inspiration for younger generations. As for the future, Ly wants to finish his term as mayor and continue making an impact on the city. At the age of 26, this is just the beginning of his journey. He will surely be an inspiration for many years to come.

Steven Ly is an extraordinary example for young adults to be politically active. At age 24, he never thought of running for an elected position, yet he defeated the odds, ran a successful campaign, and won. In March 8, 2009, Ly made history. He feels that it is absolutely important to be involved in politics, whether its attending city council meetings, reading the newspaper, or even speaking to city council members on a regular basis. Speaking as a young adult himself, Ly continues to engage other youth to become more politically active through public speeches, community events, and providing support for those organizations that focus on youth leadership development. Ly also participates in a number of community organizations himself, such as Boys State and Students Advocating to Voter Empowerment (SAVE), to help educate younger generations about politics and the importance of becoming politically active.

perspective

46

The percentage growth of U.S. residents of Asian descent between the 2000 and 2010 censuses, which was more than any other major race group.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File, Custom Table 3,http://2010.census.gov/news/releases/operations/cb11-cn123.html

steven ly

13

LELAND YEE
T
he number of Asian Americans in elected offices throughout the state of California is climbing. On November 8, yet another glass ceiling may be broken. The person who became the first speaker pro tempore of Asian descent is now competing to become the first elected Chinese American mayor of San Francisco. That man is none other than California State Senator Leland Yee. speak the childrens primary language and who understood the history and culture of the newcomers. As a result of his opposition to closing the program, a number of education centers, Latino Education Center, Chinese Education Center, and the Filipino Education Center continue to exist today. Over the years, Yee continued to rise in California politics. In 1996, he was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Six years later, in 2002, Yee was elected to the State Assembly. In his first year as a state assembly member, Yee was appointed to the leadership team and served as the first Asian American speaker pro tempore. In 2006, Yee was elected to the State Senate. One of Yees most significant pieces of legislation was a bill to ban the sale of violent video games to minors. He said, parents should have more of a say over what our kids learn and play.

shattering the glass ceiling

14

Yee, whose launch in politics was in response to ensuring challenging curriculum for his children, was first elected to the San Francisco Board of Education in 1988. As a school board member, Yees goals were to improve schools and instruction. His lasting legacy there: preventing a program that helped immigrant kids to ease the transition from their old homes to new homes from being cut. According to Yee, the program gave immigrant children teachers who could

On November 8, yet another glass ceiling may be broken.

leland yee

A psychologist, Yee says these violent video games are harmful to kids. Unfortunately, his law was deemed unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. This year, when then-Mayor Gavin Newsom resigned to become Lieutenant Governor, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors appointed Ed Lee to

become interim mayor. Lee became the first Chinese American mayor of San Francisco. We are making tremendous progress in representation, Yee said in response to the historic moment. However, the one we have never been able to achieve is mayor, he added. That position is what Yee hopes to call his on November 8.

Leland Yees rise in local and state politics has been a long, steady climb. Yee, who probably never intended to run for elected office, has achieved what few Asian Americans have been able to achieve. His accomplishments, of which there are many, came about as a result of his dedication to his work in whatever elected capacity he has held. Yees continued presence in Americans serves as a positive testament to all, especially to the growing Asian American community. His continued successes show that truly, anybody, can achieve what was once thought of as the unachievable. The Asian American community should be proud to have such a role model in the political realm.

perspective

48 total of 3.4 million Asians voted.

percent of Asians turned out to vote in 2008 up 4 percentage points from 2004. A
Source: Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2008 http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/voting/cb09-110.html

leland yee

15

JOHN CHIANG
M
ost dont really know what the state controllers job is, but in the middle of June 2011, people discovered how powerful this position is. The chief fiscal officer actually handles disbursements, money, cash, unclaimed property and more. He is essentially our states accountant. June 15 marks the constitutional deadline of the state budget. Every year the California legislator struggles with devising a budget on time. The budget has been notoriously know to be months late, but in 2011 it was different. California Democrats passed a budget on time in order to avoid punishment. The year before Californians voted on and passed prop 25, which allowed legislators to pass a budget with a mere majority, but if it was not passed by the deadline pay would be withheld. Therefore lawmakers wanted an on-time budget; the problem, however, was that the first budget they passed was not truly balanced rather, it used a variety of tricks and gimmicks to create the appearance of a balanced budget. The governor

a position of power
Jerry Brown swiftly vetoed the first budget passed leaving California without a financial plan. In 2004, Californians made it illegal for legislators to pass or a governor to sign an unbalanced budget. Does this dilemma meet the standards to withhold pay of legislators? Even though lawmakers passed a budget on time, does it really have to be balanced?

You never do anything you believe is wrong

John Chiang is the states controller and is responsible for issuing the paychecks of government employees. Chiang made a decision that forced lawmakers into action. Chiang used his judgment to try and better the community. Chiang saw that a balanced budget was necessary. Chiang suspended the pay of legislators. Though the lawmakers passed a budget on time, Chiang saw it as unbalanced and it did not fit the requirements. Chiang said, It comes out with my signature and if it comes out with my signature I have to make sure that it is legal. Salaries were withheld forcing lawmakers to collaborate and make cuts into the budget. The

16

john chiang

governor was pushed into numerous meetings to consider the budget. Legislators were angered and irritated by Chiangs decision. On June 30, Jerry Brown signed into law a new balanced budget of the state of California. This was a rarity. This was the second time in a decade that an on time balanced budget was passed. The balanced budget was signed just two days shy of the new fiscal year. This allowed

Chiang served as chief of staff to Brad Sherman, a member of the California Board of Equalization. When Sherman decided to run for U.S. Congress and was successful, this left his position on the board of equalization open. State law says that whoever is chief deputy shall discharge the position until the governor puts up an appointment. People told Chiang to go after that position because it is one of the 12th highest offices in the state. He initially didnt want to do it. Chiang commented I was always interested in social justice, so I said Okay, Ill give this a go. Continuing on to the Board of Equalization put Chiang into a position to run for state controller. As state controller Chiang finds the most rewarding part of this job is that you help people. However, he finds that the most challenging part is trying to educate the public. He finds that involvement is essential because everything government does has an impact on your life.

perspective

legislators to receive their pay one again. Those two weeks of deliberation, bickering, and panic paid off with a balanced budget. Chiangs decision gave the state hope to try and get out of a financial crisis. Without his decision to suspend pay, the budget may have been late by months. Legislators had to cooperate with the governor to create a necessary budget. This would not have been done so quickly without the Controller John Chiangs decision.

1.5

million- the number of businesses owned by Asian-Americans in 2007, an increase of 40.4 percent from 2002.

Source for the statements referenced in this section, unless otherwise indicated: 2007 Survey of Business Owners via American FactFinderhttp://factfinder. census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en

john chiang

17

RONALD LEW
W
hen it comes to one discrimination and confronted of the first trailblaz- crime that his community iners in the Asian Pa- stilled on its own, paving his fucific Islander American com- ture as an attorney and leader. munity, the Honorable Ronald Though the Chinese comS.W. Lew is by far one of the munity in Los most influential. Angeles was Since law is the key to Lew is more than very tight-knit, just notable for his this integration [beeven Lews famprestigious job in 1987, he was the tween our community ily members and first Chinese Amer- and the greater com- friends knew this isolated way of ican judge ever life was not susmunities in America], I to be appointed This as a Federal Dis- started working imme- tainable. would be no way trict Judge in the continental U.S. diately with commu- for them to survive long-term, For Lew, his fa- nity groups to help at especially as mither proved to be integration in the field norities continued the greatest influto face prejudice. ence on his life and of law. Lew has said, motivated his caSince law is the reer path. His father key to this inteimmigrated to the U.S. from gration [between our comChina at the time that the Chimunity and the greater comnese Exclusion Act emerged. munities in America], I started As a result, it took many years working immediately with until the family began raising community groups to help at children in the U.S., with the integration in the field of law. future judge born as one of nine. As an Asian American After being drafted into the who grew up in the 1940s and U.S. Army, Lew began to prac1950s, Lew faced tremendous tice law, not only for his fathers

an early trailblazer

18

ronald lew

dream, but also because he wanted to see an Asian involved in public service. He wanted to bring about the innovation his parents talked about, that the immigrants had to be reliant on the greater community and begin to trust their new environment. Starting off at the City Attorneys office, Lew continued to climb in the ranks, later serving as an appointed judge at L.A.s Municipal and Superior Courts. In particular, Lew had to deal with the crime that was rampant in his Chinese community, as gangs emerged and preyed on their own residents, and he worked to convince people that

the foreign court system could be of help. He remained extensively involved in API community organizations, also looking to the court as a way to act for the publics interest. Since his appointment from President Reagan in 1987, Judge Lew continues to serve on the federal bench in the Central District of California, and most recently, took the time to fill in for the late Arizona Federal Judge Roll, who was killed in the 2011 Tucson shooting, proving he is an API that is never afraid to make an impact.

As a Federal District Court Judge, Lew exemplifies a powerful, influential Asian American. His father may have inspired his path, but he ultimately stuck with it because he loved the subject field. Judge Lew notes, It was a different era. We had to struggle to exist, that [was] the key. His statement rings true; todays generation is living in a much more progressive age. Albeit all the advancements achieved, much improvement still needs to be made. Judge Lew said, We are so far ahead from where we were in the past, but we still have a lot of problems... try to make a difference and create a greater consciousness for fair play and equal opportunity. number of single-race Asian military veterans. About one in three veterans was 65 years and older. 158,183 The
Source: 2009 American Community Survey http://factfinder.census.gov

perspective

ronald lew

19

JEREMY
E
lected as a city council member of Placentia in 2008 at the age of 19, Jeremy Yamaguchi is one of the youngest elected officials in California and the youngest in Orange Countys history. Further, Yamaguchi ran in a race with six candidates for three open seats and he received the highest total vote count. The question becomes how did he do it? If you talk with Yamaguchi, the first thing he will tell you is that he did not intend to get involved with politics. Instead, what Yamaguchi did, was get involved with the community through his volunteer work. Some of the organizations he has been involved with include Placentia Neighborhood Watch, Placentia Heritage Parade and Festival, Placentia Cultural Arts Commission, Placentia Chamber of Commerce, Placentia Police Department, and the

YAMAGUCHI

19 and counting
Yamaguchi ran in a race with six candidates for three open seats and he received the highest total vote count.
Boy Scouts of America. Yamaguchi came to realize that his work throughout the community brought him closer to politics by coming into contact with community leaders and the players in local government. It was through volunteering that Yamaguchi gained insight to how the city operates. Therefore, Yamaguchi while younger in age had an edge over the other city council candidates. Ya m a g u c h i says that his need to give back to the community comes from his family who are community-oriented. His father is a sergeant in the citys police department and his mother volunteers with the citys neighborhood watch. He lives by the statement that the greatest things in life arent necessarily what you get in a paycheck but the people you meet and what you can take back. As a result of his work

20

jeremy yamaguchi

and close ties to people in the community, he was able to gain support for his election. He had name recognition because of his visibility in the community and the network of contacts of people he met from his volunteer work with the city, nonprofit organizations, and the school district. In fact, Yamaguchi has a historic record of three thousand community service hours! At Yamaguchis swearing-in ceremony, a reporter pointed out that he was now his dads boss, since his dad works for the city.

However, Yamaguchi was more interested in getting to work for the residents of Placentia. He is currently finishing his first-term in office and plans to run for reelection in 2012. Outside of his work for the city, Yamaguchi is currently a senior at Cal State Fullerton majoring in political science with a minor in music. After graduation, he plans to continue his education by attending law school. Yamaguchi is unsure of what his political future holds, but dont count him out!

Jeremy Yamaguchi is a perfect example of how young adults can be politically active and make a difference. Even though during his campaign, people questioned whether he could do the job of a city council member because of his age, Yamaguchi has proved that age is not a negative factor. When asked how to get young people active and involved in politics, he suggested peer pressure. Not the negative connotation that the phrase has, but the act of young people and their peers learning and researching about the issues together and even going to vote together. He believes it is essential to get young people politically active because they pay taxes and live under the same rules and regulations of government that older Americans do.

perspective

23.6 2009 while 9.6 percent was 65 or older.

Source: Population estimates http://www.census.gov/popest/estimates.html

Percent of the single-race Asian population that was under age 18 as of July 1,
jeremy yamaguchi

21

FIONA MA
O
ne out of ten Asians has hepatitis B. If there is liver cancer in an Asian family, it is probably from hepatitis B. When Speaker pro tem of the state assembly Fiona Ma first found out that she inherited this silent disease from her mother, she remembers, I didnt know what to say. I didnt want to tell anybody, but people need to talk about it. She first started talking about it five or six years ago, and now consistently puts the spotlight on hepatitis B in hopes of raising awareness. Most dont understand that hepatitis B is a blood born and blood related disease. Through education and awareness this people can recognize that hepatitis B is not passed by touch or breathing the same air. Ma saw the stigma of having this silent disease and wanted to fight against it. She used her position in politics to make May 2009 hepatitis B awareness month in California. She also used government to introduced Assembly Bill 158, which tried to get MediCal expanded for those with chronic hepatitis B.

changing our views

I didnt know what to say. I didnt want to tell anybody, but people need to talk about it.
Mas work with hepatitis isnt the only way she has utilized politics. The speaker pro tem has also done work on domestic violence. Before Ma got elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, she was at a press conference for a family. A young woman in the Richmond district, not far from where she lived, had been brutally murdered in front of her children. Ma thought, How could our system fail someone like that? The man that committed the murder had five different felony accounts and he was still allowed out on

22

40.6
fiona ma

Source: Population projections http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/population/cb08-123.html

The projected number of U.S. residents in 2050 who will identify themselves as Asian or Asian in combination with one or more other races. They would comprise 9 percent of the total population by that year.

the streets. Ma realized that the system was a mess and it had to be fixed. She is now the Chair of the Select Committee on Domestic Violence. She authored and co-authored numerous domestic violence bills, from making it easier for judges to give restraining orders to

re-allocating money to domestic violence shelters. These two issues are just a glimpse of what the Assemblywoman fights for. She has an array of matters that she is both passionate about and utilizes government to help fix the system.

Though Ma represents the most Asian population in San Francisco, getting the Chinese to vote was very hard. Voting mentality differs among Asian ethnic groups; in China, government is not popular and so, Mas parents tried to dissuade from politics for seven and a half years. However, Ma ran for the San Francisco board of supervisors and ran in the Sunset District, realizing that education was essential to show why you elect Asian Americans. She had to show that we understand the culture and we are going to be there to fight for the things that we care about. Ma also utilized direct targeting with language through newspaper or TV. Language matters, so she had eight different pieces of language. Every vote counts so she had to figure out a way to connect with the individuals. Most Asians dont care or dont see the point, but education to make them realize that government does matter is the real challenge. However, the Asian vote in her elections wasnt the only votes she had to have. Her goal was to get at least 1/3 of the Asian vote and also get her share of other cultures e.g. German, Italian, Hispanic. Ma utilized the strategy of connecting with people in her elections and has been successful.

perspective

fiona ma

23

GARY YAMAUCHI
from bowling alley to city hall

ary Yamauchi began his career as a professional bowler of all things. Being an elected official was one of the last things on his mind. In fact, he had no political ambitions. But what he did have was a call to service. Yamauchi was very involved in the community as a member of the Alhambra Rotary Club, the West San Gabriel Valley YMCA, and the Alhambra Chamber of Commerce and it was this fact that thrust him into the local political arena. Yamauchi himself calls his path into local government an unusual story. During that time in Alhambra, the city council was divided. One of the five members was hospitalized and could not return for votes. As a result, the council was split two against two. It put the city in a stalemate and no work could be done. There needed to be another council member to break the tie. The council knew that they would need to appoint someone, but they had to agree

Not only was he able to help Mimi, but it showed him how all these groups and various organizations in the city are able to come together for a cause.

on a person together. Thus, the city council looked to Yamauchi who is extremely active in the community and friends with all members of the council. He was asked by the council if he would take the position and Yamauchi agreed. But before Yamauchi could be appointed, the city councilman who was hospitalized returned. However, this set the stage for Yamauchi to run for elected office. When the seat for city council was open, Yamauchi ran on a platform of community involvement and service. Yamauchi said that he wanted to run for the city council because he believes that the city council position is the highest level of community service. This was his very first election in 2004 and he won! He ran again in 2008 unopposed and was re-elected. It is evident when you meet with Mayor Yamauchi that he is genuinely concerned about the

24

percentage of single-race Asians 25 and older who had a bachelors degree or higher level of education. This compared with 28 percent for all Americans 25 and older. 50 The
Source: 2009 American Community Survey http://factfinder.census.gov

gary yamauchi

people of Alhambra. He shared a very touching story which he views as one of his proudest moments as an elected official. As mayor, Yamauchi started a campaign fundraiser for Mimi Alvarez, a young lady with an unknown disease in which she cannot be in any form of light. Nobody knew what Mimi had and the only possible form of hope was for her to travel to Boston and meet with doctors there. Unfortunately, Mimi needed to travel in a private jet and have caretakers with her because of her disease. Mayor Yamauchi created the campaign in order to raise funds for her to travel to Boston. He called the campaign Mimis Journey of Hope. Yamauchi planned to raise ten thousand dollars, but with the help of the community raised around forty thousand dollars! He said that the best part of this was when she returned and he saw her outside in the sun at an event. Yamauchi got a little choked up when he

related how the family sent him pictures of Mimi at the voting booth voting for the first time. This was a definite highlight for Yamauchi and one of the most emotional times for him as mayor. Not only was he able to help Mimi, but it showed him how all these groups and various organizations in the city are able to come together for a cause. As the first Asian American city council member in Alhambras history, Yamauchi feels the need to set a good example as an Asian elected official. Yamauchi says that he needs to be better than average and a step ahead of other council people, in order to help the next Asian who comes along. Yamauchi hopes that people will look at an Asian candidate and say our last Asian council member wasnt so bad, lets give this candidate a chance!

Gary Yamauchi is an example of an individual who made the transition from community service to public service, which in Yamauchis eyes are essentially the same thing. He passionately supports Asian political empowerment and would like to see all Asian Americans get involved in their own communities. The involvement in organizations provides an Asian presence which in turn could prompt others of Asian descent to become active. It is from this group of active Asians that candidates we need for elected positions in government will emerge.
gary yamauchi

perspective

25

TAM NGOC TRAN

A
lmost unparalleled, the while unable to return to Vietissue of immigration in- nam for risk of persecution and spires the fiercest de- refused entry back to Germany. bates and the loudest outcries. Without birthright citizenship, Yet a surprisingly prominent Tam Tran was officially stateface in the midst is that of a less. Lingering in immigration young Vietnamese student, Tam limbo, they settled in Orange Ngoc Tran, who is described County, where she graduated as reserved but has empow- from Santiago High School in ered thousands, even after her Garden Grove. She would go on tragic death. In a rather unique to earn her Bachelors Degree situation, Tams parents were from UCLA before pursuing a rescued by the Gerat Brown UniI am lucky... to share Ph.D man navy after fleeversity, but there ing Vietnam as boat my story and give voice is no question that people. During their considers to thousands of other Tam time in Germany, herself a Southern Tam and her young- undocumented students Californian through er brother were who cannot. But I know and through. born, but the family In May 2007, that when I return home planned on reunitTam testified being with relatives in tonight, Ill become marfore a House JudiCalifornia. As Tam ginalized once again. ciary Committee, once said about where she pasthis decision, afsionately advocatter all, this was America. In ed for the Development, Relief the hopes of being sponsored and Education for Alien Minors for citizenship, they arrived to (DREAM) Act. For the budding the US when Tam was six, in filmmaker and activist, this was search of the American dream. an unprecedented stage to exHowever, the family was de- plain the struggles of being an nied political asylum in the US,

california DREAMer

26

11 Number of Asian Americans in the California Legislature.

Source: http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/apilegcaucus/members.htm

tam ngoc tran

undocumented student: to be pressured to turn down prestigious fellowships, to be forced to make compromises so young, to simply be used to thislosing things [she has] worked hard for. While creating a path to citizenship for striving students, the proposed legislation was not only a matter of using her college degree to the fullest. It was also a matter of a lifelong identity. Tam stated: I hate filling out forms, especially the ones that limit me to checking off boxes for categories I dont even identity with. Place of birth? Germany. But Im not German. Ethnicity? Im Vietnamese, but Ive never been to Vietnam. However, these forms never ask me where I was raised or educated. I was born in Germany, my parents are Vietnamese, but I have been American raised and educated for the past 18 years.

Three days after the 24 yearold testified, Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested her parents and brother as fugitives from justice, though they had been regularly reporting to officials for work permits. As Tam temporarily went into hiding, a movement of DREAMers was sparkedRep. Zoe Lofgren and the public rallied for the familys eventual release. On a Saturday morning in May 2010, Tam and Cinthya Felix, her best friend and fellow DREAMer, were hit in an automobile accident. By 6pm that day, two extraordinary leaders of immigration reform would be lost. As the community reflects one year laterafter the DREAM Act reached its first Senate hearing in June and after the California DREAM Act was signed in Julywe see that the legacy of Tam is still very much alive.

Tam Tran shatters the misconceptions about undocumented immigrantstheyre uneducated; they dont pay taxes; and they dont want to contribute to society. For the thousands who qualify for the DREAM Act, they look for the passage of this bill to get a higher education, to contribute to society, and to fully use their talents to help their community.

perspective

tam ngoc tran

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Though you may not be interested in a career as a lawyer or an elected official, these stories should spark a desire to become more involved and aware of the government, its officials, and their policies. No matter your field of work, government impacts everything in your life. Take ahold of the power and influence you have as a rising, young API and act now. As our community struggles to improve, we need more to rise and help us grow and truly thrive, as a better informed, influence-yielding, united people.

call to action

RUN FOR

OFFICE
You never know, you might just win!

VOTE!
And not just in the general election; vote in that City Council election nobody is paying attention to.

be informed
Dont be surprised by an unwelcome change.

contact

community leaders

Tell them what you like and dont like about the community.

VOLUNTEER

Communities can always use the help.

A small bit of assistance, in a timely fashion, can do tremendous good.

donate

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call to action

member of Congress
The calls that members of Congress receive are their number one way of judging public opinion.

contact your

stay in touch
Its the only way to achieve lasting change.
We are so far ahead from where we were in the past, but we still have a lot of problems try to make a difference and create a greater consciousness for fair play and equal opportunity.
-U.S. District Court Judge Ronald S.W. Lew

PARTICIPATE
Political participation requires firstgeneration immigrants to realize that what happens in America is just as important as what happens in India or China. It requires getting immigrants to fill out ballots in a language they arent familiar with, and to do this on a regular basis, time and again. Change, to quote a famous man, will not come easy. But, with the proper strategies and institutions championing it, change can be done.

get involved

Theres no telling what you can achieve just by being involved.

call to action

29

meet the interns

Andrew Angeles
Year & School: Freshman at Univerisity of Chicago Office Placement: CA Senator Kevin De Leon Role of Projecxt: Project Lead, Staff Writer for Fiona Ma and John Chiang Year & School: Junior at Princeton Univerisity Office Placement: LA Public Works Commissioner Paula Daniels Role of Project: Community Relations Coordinator, Staff Writer for Sukhee Kang

Sungwoo Chon

Connie Chu

Year & School: Sophomore at UC Santa Barbara Office Placement: CA Assemblymember Mike Eng Role of Project: Design Editor, Staff Writer for Steven Ly

Year & School: Sophomore at UC San Diego Office Placement: CA Assemblymember Warren Furutani Role of Project: Public Relations/ Volunteer Coordinator, Staff Writer for Judge Ronald Lew

Rebecca Han

Ellen Hou

Year & School: Graduate of Loyola Marymount University Office Placement: U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu Role of Project: Social Media Coordinator, Staff Writer for Gary Yamauchi and Jeremy Yamaguchi

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about the interns

Year & School: Sophomore at George Washington University Office Placement: CA Senator Lou Correa Role of Project: Copy Editor, Staff Writer for Tam Tran

Anh Thu Tran

Matthew Wong

Year & School: Graduate of UC Davis Office Placement: CA Senator Carol Liu Role of Project: Community Relations Coordinator, Staff Writer for Mike Gin and Leland Yee

Year & School: Junior at Pomona College Office Placement: State Controller John Chiang Role of Project: Staff Writer for Miller Oh, Researched Call to Action Information

Alexander Zou

THANK YOU

We would like to thank the 2011 CAUSE Leadership Academy sponsors Southwest Airlines, Southern California Edison, Chinese American Citizens Alliance, and Mr. Nelson Tan. We would also like to thank the CAUSE Board, especially Charlie Woo, Chairman, and Carrie Gan, Director of Programs. Both have put an incredible amount of dedication and effort to empower the next generation of leaders. As interns, we have had the opportunity to interact with the API community and to develop as leaders. During our meetings with community leaders and elected officials, we have gained political awareness and insight into API issues. Thank you for providing us with an invaluable and unforgettable experience.

about the interns

31

A Special Thanks to Our Sponsors

Mr. Nelson Tan

CAUSE Leadership Academy Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE) 260 S. Los Robles Ave. #118 Pasadena, CA 91101 Office: (626) 356-9838 Fax: (626) 356-9878 info@causeusa.org www.causeusa.org