Ken Yang for Arkansas State Auditor

Ken is a native of Benton, Arkansas, and first generation immigrant of Taiwan. His father fled China in 1949 during the Communist Revolution and later with Ken’s mother immigrated to the United States in 1983.

Ken’s parents are owners of a Chinese restaurant in Arkansas and he was taught at an early age the value of hard work. It has allowed Ken to live and pursue the American Dream to this day.

Ken graduated from Benton High School summa cum laude and lettered in high school tennis.

Ken’s immense love and passion for politics and helping people grew with his participation of Arkansas Governor’s School, an invitation to the National Model United Nations for high school students, and an internship at the Saline County Prosecuting Attorney’s office. He would later serve as the Saline County District Court case coordinator at the Prosecutor’s office at the age of 20.

Ken went on to attend Hendrix College where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and was presented with an Outstanding Leadership and Service award. He also was an academic honors athlete and lettered in NCAA III tennis.

Following college, Ken was offered the position of Campaign Manager for then State Representative Mark Martin’s campaign for Arkansas Secretary of State at the age of 21. In this capacity, Ken spearheaded volunteer organization, coalition outreach, fundraising, and communications strategy for the campaign. He was also  a key surrogate for Martin.

Ken’s efforts steered the campaign to an historic victory. Mark Martin became the 1st Republican Secretary of State elected in Arkansas since Reconstruction.

During the 2012 election cycle, Ken joined Newt 2012 as a key member of the national field team with which he traveled to six different states. Ken served as the State Field Director for Ohio and Alabama, staffing the Speaker and top surrogates and managing the field team. Once the Republican primary season ended, Ken was hired on as part of the Romney Victory Field Staff in Ohio. His office consistently led the state in direct voter contact with phone calls made and doors knocked. This would later warrant visits to his office from Governor Romney, Congressman Ryan, and Senator Rubio.

Ken currently handles Governmental Affairs at Arkansas Family Council, an organization of 10,000 families and churches throughout Arkansas with a mission of promoting, protecting, and strengthening traditional family values. He is a Senior Advisor to American Pride Strategies.

http://votekenyang.com/meet-ken-yang/

Dr. Kai Zhang, Carving a Niche as a Unique Coalition Builder

In 2008, Zhang felt it was time to organize Chinese Americans who were of the same political persuasion and work for the common good. He worked with Jim Cheng (now Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade), Tony Yeh and many Chinese Americans to establish the Chinese American Republicans Virginia Association or CARVA. 

He was elected the first president of the association. The organization is affiliated with the State Republic organization, and is directly under the leadership of the Republican party of Virginia.

It is the first Chinese political organization of its kind in the nation, with a clear mission to promote political participation and promote Asian community interests. It has been successful in bringing together Chinese Americans from Taiwan, Hong Kong, mainland China, and in working together for common interests and benefits for the community.

CARVA helps promote other Chinese communities through cultural, commercial or social events. It has worked with the Asian Community Festival, Chinese Traditional Dancing Groups, the Chinese American Chamber of Commerce, Americans of Taiwan Origin, Chinese Sunday Schools and other regional organization. 

 

  Remarked CARVA President Tony Yeh: “He was able to unite Chinese Americans in this region who from different parts of the world and with different backgrounds to work together as a united political force, and provide influence to the regional politics process.”

 

Robert S. Wertz, Jr., Commissioner of the Revenue for Loudoun County, Virginia has known Dr. Zhang for about a decade. “He has helped numerous Republican candidates on the local, state and national levels as a grassroots volunteer.”

He added: “In all my dealings with Kai, he has been diligent, friendly, and unassuming. His interest in service is not for personal gain, but to make the community and Commonwealth a better place to live and work. I have always viewed Kai as a peacemaker, one who looks for common ground to solve problems. He doesn’t sacrifice his beliefs for the sake of consensus, but treats everyone respect.”

Read more: http://www.asianfortunenews.com/article_0412.php?article_id=22

Democrat 'Racial slurs' aimed at Asian Republican wife draw McConnell's ire

Source: AP 

WINCHESTER, Kentucky (AP) — Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell lambasted a liberal group on Saturday for criticizing the Asian heritage of his wife, former Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, calling its Twitter messages "racial slurs" and "the ultimate outrage."

McConnell forcefully defended Chao, who was born in Taiwan and who moved to the U.S. as an 8-year-old with her family aboard a freight ship.

"They will not get away with attacking my wife in this campaign," McConnell told about 100 home-state supporters at a Republican dinner in Winchester. "This woman has the ear of (at)McConnellPress — she's his (hash)wife," the group Progress Kentucky tweeted on Feb. 14. "May explain why your job moved to (hash)China!"

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/03/02/mcconnell-chao-twitter-kentucky/1959635/

Harmeet K. Dhillon for Vice Chair of the California Republican Party

As a lifelong conservative our party MUST win again.  Conservative fiscal values and principles of individual liberty and responsibility will only return to California through the Republican party.  As a small business owner, I want to see California’s economic freedoms restored and taxpayers protected."
 

Harmeet Dhillon was born in Chandigarh, India in the home of a physician. She moved to America at the age of two, living throughout the United States and making her proud to become an American citizen.  As a first generation immigrant who has lived in the Bronx, rural North Carolina, Washington DC and now California, she has gathered a special collection of life experiences that shaped her character, conservative beliefs and American patriotism.


In 2005, Dhillon was elected to the San Francisco County Republican Central Committee.  In 2008, she enthusiastically ran for State Assembly in the eastern half of San Francisco making history as the first Indian American major party nominee for state office in California history. She ran an aggressive campaign, receiving nearly double the vote of GOP registration in one of the most liberal districts in California.  During her campaign,  Dhillon met her husband Sarvjit, a retired nuclear engineer who worked for the Public Utilities Commission after starting nuclear power plants around the country. 

In 2011, after Dhillon was elected Chair of the San Francisco Republican Party, Dhillon and her husband sailed to their own wedding on Angel Island, and were married by a Republican judge. In 2012, she started her own small business, manufacturing and selling California made yarn, inspired by her husband who wanted to purchase products made in California.  Through her small business and her law firm she has created economic opportunity for Californians and knows the challenges job creators face every day from oppressive regulation and taxation.

http://www.dhillonforcrp.com/

Shawn Steel: Republicans can win over Asian voters, if they try

Shawn Steel, California's National Republican Committeeman, and a former chairman of the California Republican Party writes:

In the wake of Mitt Romney's narrow loss to President Obama, much has been said about improving Republican outreach to Hispanic voters. While that is true and necessary, there is another neglected voter demographic with whom the GOP can make more immediate and significant headway: Asian-Pacific Islanders.''

In a national election decided by 4 points or less, tiny pools of voters are crucial. Asians are America's fastest-growing immigrant community, and Asian voters constitute 2 percent to 7 percent of registered voters in half of the traditional 10 swing states. This isn't exactly classified information, yet Team Romney seemed oblivious to it.

In a national election decided by 4 points or less, tiny pools of voters are crucial. Asians are America's fastest-growing immigrant community, and Asian voters constitute 2 percent to 7 percent of registered voters in half of the traditional 10 swing states. This isn't exactly classified information, yet Team Romney seemed oblivious to it.

Shared conservative values make Asians the best potential citizens for rapid integration into Republican Party. For example:

» Economic achievement makes Asians the immigrant group most rapidly assimilated into the middle class in U.S. history.

» Asian-Americans enjoy longer marriages and have fewer children out of wedlock, and their families are more intact than the general population's.

» First-generation Asian-American voters generally distrust government due to experience in their homelands, where bribery was the local currency for getting permits and permission. Generally speaking, they frown on government regulation of their businesses.

The GOP is the middle-class party, and Asians would feel more welcome if properly engaged.
Read more: http://washingtonexaminer.com/republicans-can-win-over-asian-voters-if-they-try/article/2515666

Asian Republican Mayors

Jeremy Yamaguchi, 23, is said to be California's youngest mayor. He governs in Placentia. He is joined by fellow Mayor Ling Ling Chang, of Diamond Bar. Both are Republicans. Credit Dave Colby

Supervisor Janet Nguyen to Run for State Senate with Support of the Senate’s Republican Leaders

GARDEN GROVE, CA — Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen today announced that she will be a candidate for State Senate in the new 34th district and that she had already secured the support of the Senate’s Republican leaders, including Senate Minority leader Bob Huff and Senate Republican Caucus Chairman Ted Gaines. Nguyen currently represents 60% of the 34th district as a County Supervisor.

“The people of our area work hard to build a better life for themselves and their children,” said Nguyen. “They care about our schools, the local economy and the safety of their neighborhoods. They want and deserve results and care little about the partisan debate in Sacramento.”

Nguyen said that her priorities for the district are to make sure local schools are fully funded, give tax and regulatory relief to small businesses, increase public safety and make sure that seniors maintain access to quality health care. She says the state legislature needs to reduce waste, control spending and concentrate on growing the economy and bringing jobs back to the state.

“Janet Nguyen is a public servant who works tirelessly for the people of her district. She will be a great addition to the State Senate and I am pleased to endorse her,” said Senate Minority Leader Bob Huff.

“Last year, California voters chose to raise taxes. Now we need more responsible representatives in Sacramento who will use those new funds wisely, balance the state budget and not keep coming back to hard working Californians looking for more,” said Nguyen.

State Senator Mimi Walters called Nguyen the ideal candidate for the 34th district. “Janet knows what it takes to run and win tough campaigns because she has done it time and time again. She is a tenacious campaigner and a dedicated public servant,” said Walters.

The 34th district contains the heart of Orange County and all of the area known as Little Saigon. Over 90% of the registered voters in the district live in Orange County, with the remainder in Long Beach.
Janet Nguyen was elected to the Orange County Board of Supervisors in February, 2007.

In doing so, she became the first Asian-American and the first Vietnamese-American to serve on the Board of Supervisors, and the youngest Supervisor ever to be elected in Orange County. In 2008, Nguyen was honored by Latino OC 100 for her contributions to the Latino community. Janet previously served on the Garden Grove City Council and as Vice President of Government and Public Affairs for the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. Janet, her husband and children live in Garden Grove.

During her tenure as a County Supervisor, the County has maintained a balanced budget every year while also being able to set aside money into the reserve. The County of Orange restructured its Retirement Medical and Pensions Programs, resulting in savings of $992 million to the County’s unfunded liability.

As part of an effort to reclaim local neighborhoods from the control of gangs, Janet joined the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and local law enforcement agencies to obtain a permanent gang injunction against local criminal street gangs.

http://www.janetforsupervisor.com/

The GOP's Big Asian-American Problem

Still overlooked in the immigration discussion are Asian Americans, who are the fastest growing demographic group in the country—and one of the most diverse. The bulk of Asian American immigrants (83 percent) come from China, the Philippines, India, Vietnam, Korea, and Japan. At present, they’re 5.8 percent of the total population, nearly half of whom live in the West, with a large concentration on the Pacific coast. Seventy-four percent of Asian American adults were born outside of the United States, and in 2009—according to the Pew Research Center—Asian American immigration outpaced Hispanic immigration for the first time in recent history:

Read more: http://prospect.org/article/gops-big-asian-american-problem

Tri Ta Race for Westminster Mayor

UPDATE: Tri Ta won the mayoral election of Westminster on Tuesday. He just immigrated to the USA at age of 19 and has made great strive in the political process by becoming the … Continue reading →

Asian Republican Irvine Mayor-Elect Steven Choi

Steven Choi was elected Mayor of Irvine in November 2012. He was elected to the Irvine City Council for the first time in 2004 and was re-elected to a second term in 2008. Previously, he served 6 years as an elected Trustee of the Irvine Unified School District.

Steven is a passionate and experienced educator. After earning his bachelor's degree from Kyung Hee University in Seoul, South Korea, he immigrated to the United States as a Peace Corps language instructor for the State Department in August, 1968. He then continued his post-graduate studies, earning his master's degree in Library Science from Louisiana State University, and his Ph.D. in Library and Information Science at the University of Pittsburgh. Since then, he resumed his teaching career, primarily in higher education at several universities and colleges including USC, UCI, California State University, Los Angeles, Henderson State University in Arkansas, Saddleback College, and most recently, Coastline Community College.

In many ways, Steven's vision for the City is to maintain and improve the quality of life for its citizens by assuring responsible growth, effectively managing traffic, keeping Irvine as one of America's safest cities, and providing quality education for our children, while ensuring the City's fiscal stability and growth.

Irvine's cultural and ethnic diversity and harmony serves as a very important role on Steven's agenda. Enthusiastic about expanding Irvine's cultural diversity, he has organized and participated in many largescale city events such as the Irvine Global Village Festival and Korean American Day Festival. He also values Irvine's wonderful assets comprising of its aesthetic beauty, high standard of living, and high intellectual standards. Most importantly, he is strongly aware of the importance of listening to the voices of Irvine residents. He sends out highlights of the City's news via his eNewsletter on a steady basis, encouraging residents to get involved by asking for their opinions on particular issues and proposals discussed at the City Council Meetings.

Hoping to provide a sufficient educational and desirable experience for Irvine residents, he is exceptionally committed to supporting programs for children and senior citizens. Steven has contributed to Irvine's education as the founder and director of highly academically successful Dr. Choi's Academy. The Academy focuses on providing tutoring and academic enrichment programs for students. Along side Steven, his wife, Janie, has also been serving Irvine children over 21 years with Kumon Math and Reading academic program.

In addition to his City Council appointments, Steven is a member of the Concordia University President's Advisory Council and Irvine Library Advisory committee. Steven is also Irvine's key representative of the Orange County Public Library Advisory Board, the Orange County Vector Control Board, and the Santa Ana River Flood Protection Agency Commission.

Since 1993, Steven has lived in Irvine with his wife, Janie, and their two children, Daniel and Michelle, who attended Eastshore Elementary, Lakeside Middle School, Rancho Middle School, and University High School. Daniel received his BS from Stanford University and his MD from UCSD. He is now working as a resident physician at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Michelle received her BA from UCSD and now attends the University of Michigan Law School.

 

stevenchoi.org

Little Saigon gets its first (Republican) Vietnamese American mayor

In the weeks leading to his historic win, Tri Ta roamed Westminster City Hall, often hearing: "Hello, Mr. Future Mayor. This way, Mr. Mayor."

The six-year councilman would greet fellow workers with a salute or a handshake but didn't respond to the titles.

"I'm grateful to have the trust of so many people," he said during a gathering to help residents prepare for natural disasters. "I like having the chance to meet new faces."

After Tuesday's election, he'll have plenty of opportunity as the first Vietnamese American mayor in a city that gave birth to Little Saigon -- the largest Vietnamese district outside the country itself.
Ta, currently the city's mayor pro tem, won more than 42% of the vote in the five-candidate race.
On Wednesday, he continued making the rounds, visiting radio stations for interviews. He and his wife, Que Anh Doan, a pharmacist, are authors of three books of poetry. They live with their two daughters in the Mission del Amo mobile home park near Little Saigon.

In previous years, two other Vietnamese American candidates - Chuyen Nguyen and Andy Quach - mounted mayoral campaigns. But both failed.

Now Ta, 39, can claim victory. As he drove from one appointment to another after the election, buzzed on just a couple of hours of sleep, he reflected: "I'm so happy. The phone has not stopped ringing" with more than 100 callers, in addition to Facebook messages.

Ta, recruited for the job by current Mayor Margie Rice, said he's been learning the ropes by attending meetings in her place. He expects the next month to fill up with the details of transition, before taking the oath of office Dec. 12.

"She has guided me," he said of Rice, "and I want to continue her good work. I am thankful for the city staff, for my community members and for support across this whole city. I truly thank everyone."

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/11/westminsters-first-vietnamese-american-mayor-.html