Keith Kamisugi

(APRIL 4, 2008) Dozens of Asian Americans in California and in other states are hoping to stand out in crowded fields of candidates to become Democratic National Convention delegates for presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama.

Many of the Asian American delegate candidates are heavily involved in the Obama campaign as grassroots volunteers. Some have traveled to other states to help the Obama campaign in the various primaries.

Pledged district-level delegate positions will be elected by Democratic caucuses on April 13. The deadline for candidates to file as delegates was April 2. Obama was allocated 107 district-level delegates from California’s primary election results. The delegate selection plan goals set by the California Democratic Party include having nine percent of its delegation be represented by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

Many of the districts have 50 or more candidates for just a handful of delegate spots (http://tinyurl.com/2kts4c). Delegate positions are also allocated between women and men in each district for gender balance. In some districts, there may only be one Obama delegate, resulting in a spot for a candidate of only one gender. There are also separate spots for At-Large delegates and Party Leaders and Elected Official delegates, which will be chosen at a May 18 party meeting.

Some of the Asian American delegate candidates for Obama in California are profiled below.

Jay Chen, Hacienda La Puente Unified School District Board Member (Hacienda Heights, Congressional District 38): “I am running to be a delegate for the National Convention because I think it is important that the API community is represented at what will likely be the coronation of the next President of the United States. I am a firm believer in Barack Obama and I know that he can lead our nation to a much better place than where it has been the last seven years. My support for Obama began before he even won his first primary, and since that time I have been an unofficial cheerleader for him in the ethnic press, and have supported him on Skylink TV, Channel 18, as well as in the newspapers World Journal and Sing Tao. I will continue to champion his candidacy at the convention and continue to find ways to promote him to the API community.” (http://www.electjaychen.com)

Roger Hu (Palo Alto, Congresional District 14): “In August 2007, I attended Camp Obama in Chicago and became involved in the organizing efforts in our Congressional District, which includes Palo Alto, Mountain View, Stanford, Sunnyvale, and Saratoga. As the Team Coordinator for CD-14, I’ve helped recruit new volunteers, enlisted many people to take on leadership roles, designed the group’s first web site, and helped to open and run two field offices in Palo Alto. I’m running because I believe that I can most effectively carry the voice of our group to Denver and advocate on behalf of our candidate.” (http://www.husfiredup.com)

Angelica Jongco (San Francisco, Congressional District 12): “After eight years of failed policies, I’m hungry for a leader that I can be proud to call my president. I could not be more certain that Barack Obama is that leader, a responsible steward for the future of my niece and nephews-and my own children one day. And I look forward to telling them and whoever else will listen that I-a woman of color, a daughter of Filipino immigrants, a young and hopeful civil rights lawyer-helped turn the pages of history to make an Obama presidency happen now.” (http://www.angelicaforobama.com)

Serena Kirk (Sacramento, Congressional District 5): “Sen. Obama needs delegates who are committed and loyal supporters, and who are dedicated to his historic movement for change. For almost a year now, I have spent hundreds of hours on the ground working with hundreds of Obama supporters across Sacramento to energize and empower our communities, to help elevate a true leader that can create the change our country desperately needs. In addition to these past months of community grassroots efforts, I have had the opportunity to participate with Senator Obama himself on national TV in a San Francisco Women’s Roundtable Discussion on the Economy, where I was able to speak to the challenges that individuals in California are facing, especially as a working single parent such as myself. I would be most honored to represent Sacramento and the Asian American community as a delegate for Barack Obama.” (http://serena.apaforobama.com)

Henry P.T. Lo, Garvey School District Board Member (Rosemead, Congressional District 32): “I am running as a Delegate and giving my support for Barak Obama. I am asking all Asian Americans to support the nominee this fall at the DNC who has a true vision and leadership to take this country forward. It is time that we jettison old ideas from the previous century and embrace new ideas for the 21st century.” (http://myspace.com/henrylo4garvey)

Teddy Ky-Nam Miller (Oakland, Congressional District 9): “When George W. Bush was re-elected in November 2004, I left this country and returned to my mother’s Viet-Nam. Even in our progressive East Bay, where Barbara Lee speaks for me, the United States of America’s disappointing and stupendously idiotic choice to keep Bush in the White House was too much to bear. After a year in Hanoi, I returned from Viet-Nam to attend UC Hastings Law School, where I serve as student body president. Since Obama declared his candidacy, my faith in the Democratic Party has been restored and electrified by the tremendous grassroots activity generated by fellow Obama supporters. I am running to be a delegate to do all that I can to ensure that Hillary’s forces do not engage in a superdelegate coup and to represent the progressive, diverse area I call home.” (http://teddyforobama.org)

Dan Nguyen-Tan (Chico, Congressional District 4): “As a former Chico City Councilor in a district that has consistently voted for Republicans to statewide and national office, I understand the importance of reaching out to moderates and independents to build winning coalitions. I’m heartened by the vast number of moderates and independents I know who are drawn to Barack Obama’s campaign and message. I believe Obama’s candidacy will help down-ticket candidates running in less progressive districts because his message of hope and change is attracting more voters, especially independents and moderates.” (http://dan.apaforobama.com)

Jennifer Pae (Oakland, Congressional District 9): “As a young woman and a daughter of Korean immigrants, I cannot sit idly by and let the next 25 years of my life continue down this course. My generation has played an integral role in Senator Obama’s candidacy as I have seen fellow Obama precinct captains and volunteers in Oakland, San Francisco and Nevada. If given the opportunity, I would like to continue working to ensure that Obama wins this year’s election.” (http://votejennpae.com)

Anhoni Patel (San Francisco, Congressional District 8): “”Senator Barack Obama’s campaign has drawn voters from every demographic and crossed ethnic, religious, generational and party lines to create a movement unlike many of us have ever seen. I am running to be a delegate for Barack Obama from Congressional District 8 because I want, as an Asian American, to be a part of the political process. I want to represent my community and support the candidate of my choice. I am the Bay Area Chair and Spokesperson for South Asians for Obama (SAFO), a national grassroots organization in over ten cities that works to support Barack Obama’s candidacy; I have helped run one of the largest call centers in California; I have participated in numerous Get-Out-the-Vote efforts, and organized various fundraisers and socials to raise awareness about issues integral to our community.” (http://anhoniforobama.com)

Oiyan Poon (Los Angeles, Congressional District 33): “”Barack Obama has inspired me to become engaged and not just merely aware of the process. With the health care system as broken as it is, we need someone who is gifted in bringing people from all walks of life to work together to collectively solve the problems we face. I walked into the Obama office and signed up to be a Precinct Captain! I got to know my predominantly Latino and African American neighbors, organized house parties, and got them information about voting. I received lists of Chinese speaking voters in other communities and used my limited Chinese speaking skills to encourage them to vote for Obama. I went to Las Vegas and Hawai’i to help with get out the vote efforts. I have called voters in Texas and Ohio, and continue to call voters in Pennsylvania.” (http://oiyan.apaforobama.com)

Brian Wang (San Francisco, Congressional District 8): “Twenty years ago, my mother cast her vote in the Democratic primary for Jesse Jackson because she wanted to believe that someday her Asian-American son could become President. I don’t think it is possible for me to reach that goal, but I believe that Senator Obama will be the first leader who can truly represent the diversity of people and ideas that our country was founded upon. Barack’s success would demonstrate the shining promise of the fulfilled American Dream to our discouraged and disillusioned world. His message of hope inspired me to organize Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in San Francisco to participate in promotional films, targeted neighborhood canvasses, Asian-language phone banks and outreach parties. I am committed to the Obama campaign because I want to honestly tell my children, 20 years from now, that they can become President someday. (http://brian.apaforobama.com)

Michelle Yuen (San Gabriel Valley, Congressional District 26): “Obama is my choice for president because his vision of America’s future directly aligns with my own personal goals for change. His intelligence and communication skills will guide our country to truly becoming a great nation in this new global economy. This leader has called me to action. I am proud and honored to have the chance to be a pledged delegate for Barack Obama.”
(http://miyuen.apaforobama.com)

Obama supporters running for or elected as delegates in other states:

Ramey Ko, Founder of Asian Americans for Obama (Austin, Tx., Senate District 14): “I’m running for national delegate because Barack Obama is the change we need. I first met Sen. Obama when he was one of our professors at the University of Chicago Law School. I volunteered for his 2004 Senate campaign and knew then and there that he had the vision, judgment, and integrity to be President. I founded Asian Americans for Obama in December 2006 and have worked on grassroots organizing in Texas and nationwide in the Asian American community. Please stand with me and Sen. Obama as we stand for change in Denver this summer! (http://www.rameyko.com)

Arun Kumar (Texas): “Having taught civic education to underprivileged minority students in inner city Philadelphia, started an organization to increase dialogue amongst students of different social groups and political ideologies, worked in the State Capital, been nominated to Boys Nations, and recently been selected as a Truman Scholar Finalist for my commitment to inculcating more active citizenship, I strongly believe that better democracy requires citizens to be more actively engaged in their democracy. I trust only one man to renew the American people’s commitment to civic responsibility and build a working majority to push through a progressive agenda: Senator Obama. An Obama Presidency as an opportunity for Americans to renew their commitment to civic responsibility and to engage in a serious and sophisticated discussion about the issues that will shape and frame our lives.” (http://www.studiold.com/arunvenkataraman)

Paul Igasaki, former vice chair of U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, of Alexandria, Va., and N. Minh Le of Chevy Chase, Md., are also running for delegate positions in their respective states.

AAPIs elected as Obama delegates from Illinois in February include: Sonia Desai Bhagwakar, Nancy Chen, Selma D’Souza, Naisy Dolar, Sunil Puri and Kim Lang.

There are other Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders running for delegate. Complete lists of Obama delegate candidates in California are online at http://tinyurl.com/3dhzjp. A list of Obama caucus locations in California is available at http://tinyurl.com/2tpqfu.

For more information and an updated list of Asian Americans running for Obama delegate positions, visit www.AsianAmericansForObama.com.