Assembly District 18 Special Election:
Endorsement meeting was held on June 3rd. No candidate received the required 60% of the vote. Therefore, the Caucus has no official endorsed candidate for this special election. But we do encourage everyone to VOTE NO on the recall of Governor Newsom and vote for your preferred AD18 candidate.
Candidates Response to Caucus Questionnaire
Who, among the candidates, is most ready to address the needs of the LARGEST racial/ethnic group in Alameda County — Asian Americans?
Find out how they have and are planning to address pandemic recovery for community members and anti-Asian hate. All four candidates who responded to our Caucus questionnaire have been invited to respond to our questions at the forum.
Victor Aguilar, San Leandro Council Member. Questionnaire Response
Candidate Name Victor Aguilar
City and zip code of residence. San Leandro
What is your campaign website address? www.victorforca.com
Are you an APA Caucus member? Yes
How long have you lived in the district which you are seeking to represent? 10+ years
What are the names of any community or nonprofit organizations with which you have been an active volunteer in the past 3-5 years. Stonewall Democratic Club, Brownie Mary Democratic Club, San Leandro Democratic Club, Lavender Seniors of the East Bay. National League of Cities (NLC): Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Local Officials (LGBTLO) 2nd Vice President (2019 – 2020) & Vice President (2020 – 2021); Hispanic Elected Local Officials (HELO) – Member; Information Technology and Communication (ITC) Federal Advocacy Committee (2021- 2022) Email * victoraguilarforforassembly@gmail.com
CANDIDATE QUESTIONS
1. What actions have you taken to address anti-Asian discrimination/bullying/harassment? Please explain in what capacity you have acted and whether any of these actions were prior to 2020. (i.e., as school board/city council member, as parent/advocate/organization)
I have attended and supported the AAPI Community in their work in celebrating AAPI and stopping AAPI Hate in San Leandro. I have voted to support funding to host AAPI events during AAPI month in San Leandro. I also supported both Council member Azevedo & Lopez events and will continue to listen to the community members and uplift their voices.
2. Do you believe that the State Legislature has been doing enough to address anti-Asian harassment/discrimination/attacks? Please explain your response. Yes and No.
Yes, because I do believe the leadership of the AAPI Legislative Caucus has been an important facet of support for the AAPI community and they have brought forth an impressive amount of positive and worthwhile legislation. However, I believe in order to truly address pervasive anti-Asian hate, it will take systemic change. Root causes should be addressed such as implementing inclusive Asian American history in our k-12 classrooms, economic justice, and real work to transform public safety. We know the status quo is not working and more policing doesn’t mean prevention.
3. What are the current issues of concern to the 110 K Asian and Pacific Americans living in AD 18 and how will you address them?
The AAPI Community is diverse and different diasporas have different issues of concern. However, we know that with the rise of AAPI Hate, safety is the top priority for many of our community members. However, we continue to hear countless terrifying stories from around the Bay Area. We know Asian Hate is not new. The AAPI community is still dealing with the legacy of the blatantly discriminatory laws set forth in the abhorrent Chinese Exclusion Act.
4. In 2018, 17,000 APA residents in AD 18 were living at or below the poverty level. Do you believe this number has changed since COVID-19 and what can the state do to address their needs?
Yes, I do believe that the economy is poised for a “K-Shape” recovery. The economic affluent, (including some APA residents) are thriving while those who are near the poverty line have only seen further hardship. The state must do more. we must provide continued economic stimulus to those struggling. When the COVID-19 crisis subsides we must extend the eviction moratorium for both homeowners and tenants who are financially insolvent due to the pandemic.
5. What have you learned about Asian Americans in the past year that you were previously unaware of and how has that impacted you?
I have learned that many AAPI folks have experienced daily microaggressions from colleagues and strangers alike. Many do not report or share these experiences. This impacts me personally because as a person of color myself married to an AAPI person, I found it extremely difficult to fathom that many people are not afforded the platform that my spouse and I share that gives us the ability to simply speak out. This harsh reality cuts to the core of my very being. I will do everything in my power to elevate the voices of those who are silenced and oppressed within the AAPI community.
6. What resources (people/organizations) will you tap to increase your knowledge and understanding of the on-going needs of the 110K Asian and Pacific Americans living in AD 18?
In terms of the APA Democratic legislative agenda, I will work with the AAPI Legislative Caucus and consult with APA Dems directly. Having these frank conversations will continue to enrich my knowledge and guide my understanding of the AAPI community in AD18. I want to work with groups such as Parivar when working on behalf of the AAPI LGBTQ community. I would also look to work with APEN to guide me on any Asian-centric environmental issues that may arise. 7. Please identify any Asian Pacific American candidates whom you have publicly endorsed/supported over the past 5 years including this election cycle. If there are none, please explain. James Chang, Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board Sean Kumagai – City Council, Dublin Benny Lee – City Council,
Mia Bonta, Alameda School Board Member. Questionnaire Response
Candidate Name: Mia Bonta
City and zip code of residence. Alameda 94501
What is your campaign website address? www.miabonta.com
Are you a registered Democrat? Yes
How long have you lived in the district which you are seeking to represent? 20+ years
What are the names of any community or nonprofit organizations with which you have been an active volunteer in the past 3-5 years? Black Women Organized for Political Action; California Black Women’s Collective, Black Achievers’ Alliance, City of Alameda Democratic Club, Stonewall Democratic Club, Sierra Club, Oakland Rotary
CANDIDATE QUESTIONS
1. What actions have you taken to address anti-Asian discrimination/bullying/harassment? Please explain in what capacity you have acted and whether any of these actions were prior to 2020. (i.e., as school board/city council member, as parent/advocate/organization)
I have led efforts as School Board President to broadly address bullying and harassment in our schools, as well as specific efforts since becoming aware of the rise in hate crimes against the AAPI community which coincided with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. Do you believe that the State Legislature has been doing enough to address anti-Asian harassment/discrimination/attacks? Please explain your response.
I believe the Legislature can do more to address anti-Asian harassment, discrimination, and attacks. I am guided by the Asian American Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus recommendations, which emphasize community-centered solutions to interpersonal hate violence, rather than funneling additional resources to law enforcement in communities which have already been disproportionately policed. We must address the root causes of violence– unequal access to housing, education, employment, healthcare, transportation, and immigration status, which make these communities vulnerable, and laws which criminalize poor communities of color. Additional steps include establishing a rapid response network to track and respond to incidents, providing bystander training to educate and empower allies, increase funding and support for restorative justice programs, ensuring victims funds are accessible without having to collaborate on a criminal case, funding culturally competent, language accessible mental health services for victims, and funding community-based ambassador programs.
3. What are the current issues of concern to the 110 K Asian and Pacific Americans living in AD 18 and how will you address them?
I believe the current issues of concern are, in addition to the rise in AAPI hate, issues of homelessness / affordable housing, COVID-19, and school reopening / education. I support the state’s efforts in Project Roomkey / Homekey at getting the homeless housed in hotels, which are being transitioned into more permanent housing.
I support repealing Costa-Hawkins and empowering cities and counties on rent control, and believe we must be responsible with how we increase housing density to ensure that communities of color are not shut out of the housing conversation, and further gentrification is avoided. The most immediately critical challenge is supporting the 18th AD and the state’s residents in recovering from the devastating impacts, and in particular, the inequitable impacts on communities of color, of COVID-19. We will be facing years of COVID-relief and recovery, and we need to ensure that our essential workers are treated as the crucial and essential workers that they are, with full throttled advocacy and support, even after the worst of the pandemic has subsided.
I have seen firsthand how the systems in our state — from education and the criminal justice system to health care and housing — often fail to provide for all Californians. The pandemic has further exacerbated systemic inequalities, while exposing once again the precariousness of so many people’s livelihoods. I am ready to go to Sacramento to fight for our East Bay communities and ensure Californians of all backgrounds get a fair shot. As School Board President for a district with 10,000 students, COVID-19 created the most challenging year of my career. Facing immense pressures from students, family, the community, and our workers, we also struggled with changing and conflicting public health guidance coming down from the state and federal governments.
I had to make some of the toughest decisions of my life during COVID, balancing the many conflicting interests, changing guidelines, with the very visceral, heartfelt, and desperate needs of parents, students, and teachers, and the need to ensure we gave our students some semblance of school and learning opportunities during COVID. I had to make a lot of tough decisions to ensure we approached distance learning, reopening, employee contracting, and more, through an equity lense and to ensure we were focused on not just the loudest voices in the room, but those who would be most impacted by our decisions.
In our district, I’m proud of the fact we were able to get our teachers vaccinated more quickly, our classified staff vaccinated and back with hazard pay, and our students back into the classroom, as one of the first school districts in the Bay Area to reopen schools.
4. In 2018, 17,000 APA residents in AD 18 were living at or below the poverty level. Do you believe this number has changed since COVID-19 and what can the state do to address their needs?
I suspect this number has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the state can help address their needs through a combination of direct financial support, culturally competent anti-poverty and homelessness programming, and supporting community nonprofits which help assist impoverished members of the AAPI community.
5. What have you learned about Asian Americans in the past year that you were previously unaware of and how has that impacted you?
I have worked alongside the AAPI community for a long time, as well as our Black and Latino communities, but what this year has shown so clearly is the depth of solidarity between the AAPI community and our Black and Latino communities, as an attack on one is an attack on all. This AAPI-Black solidarity goes back decades, from the Civil Rights Movement to Vietnam War protests and anti-war movement, and more recently with Asians for Black Lives, demonstrating that the common goal is racial equity, and the burden of white supremacy is felt by both communities.
6. What resources (people/organizations) will you tap to increase your knowledge and understanding of the on-going needs of the 110K Asian and Pacific Americans living in AD 18?
Among individuals: Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan, Oakland City Councilmember Sheng Thao, and Oakland Unified School District Board Member Aimee Eng, among others. Among organizations: Asian Pacific American Democratic Caucus of Alameda County, APALA – Alameda, Asian Americans for Affirmative Action – Asian Law Caucus, Chinese for Affirmative Action, Oakland Asian Cultural Center, and Asian Pacific Environmental Network, among others.
7. Please identify any Asian Pacific American candidates whom you have publicly endorsed/supported over the past 5 years including this election cycle. If there are none, please explain.
I have been most actively involved in supporting my husband Rob Bonta’s Assembly races and appointment as Attorney General. Among other AAPIs, I also supported Verna Castro’s campaign for Alameda Unified School District – Fundraised, assisted with the County Democratic Party endorsement process, sat on the campaign committee, walked precincts.
Janani Ramachandran, Oakland Attorney. Questionnaire Response
Candidate Name: Janani Ramachandran
City and zip code of residence. Oakland, 94606
What is your campaign website address? www.jananiforca.com
Are you an APA Caucus member? Yes
How long have you lived in the district which you are seeking to represent? I have lived in Oakland for the past 4 years, but was born and raised in the East Bay.
What are the names of any community or nonprofit organizations with which you have been an active volunteer in the past 3-5 years.
-California State Bar (member) – Women Lawyers of Alameda County (Board Director) – Men Creating Peace (Board Director) – Family Violence Appellate Project (Former Board Director) – MHFirst (volunteer hotline worker) – Alameda County Democratic Party (Associate member) – Oakland Tenants Union (member) – Tenants and Neighborhoods Councils, East of the Lake Local (member) – Indivisible East Bay (member) – East Bay Democratic Socialists of America (member) – Oakland East Bay Democratic Club (member) – Coliseum Task Force (member) – Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom (member) – Community Democracy Project (observing member) – Stonewall Democrats (member) – Wellstone Democrats (member) – East Bay Women’s Political Alliance (member) – California Young Democrats – API Caucus (member) – Asian Pacific American Democratic Caucus (member) – East Bay for Everyone (member) – East Bay Young Democrats (member) – Sierra Club, Northern Alameda County Group (member) – Coalition for Police Accountability (member) – East Bay Permanent Real Estate Cooperative (Community Owner) – ACCE – Oakland (sustaining member) – New Leaders Council, Oakland Chapter (2021 Fellow) – LGBTQ Victory Empowerment Fellowship (2020 Fellow) – Equality California Northern California (2019 Fellow)
CANDIDATE QUESTIONS
1. What actions have you taken to address anti-Asian discrimination/bullying/harassment? Please explain in what capacity you have acted and whether any of these actions were prior to 2020. (i.e., as school board/city council member, as parent/advocate/organization)
As an AAPI woman, granddaughter and daughter of immigrants from South Indian villages, and as a part of the LGBTQ AAPI community – my personal identities impact my understanding of the deep racial injustices and inequalities that plague our state. I was motivated to run for office because of the vast underrepresentation and lack of legislative attention, until very recently, for causes that impact my fellow AAPI community.
If elected, I would be California’s first South Asian Assemblywoman, our first LGBTQ API Assemblywoman, and our only current API Democratic Assemblywoman. I believe that my visible presence as a legislator can vastly improve the everyday experiences of individuals who share my identities, draw attention to our needs, and create inclusive, institutional change.
In my current role as a Commissioner on the California Commission on Asian Pacific Islander American Affairs (which I have served on since 2019), I have raised my voice alongside my fellow Commissioners to support statewide legislation and budget asks to combat AAPI hate crimes, establish a dedicated hotline, fund restorative justice programs, bolster the ability of community-based organizations to respond to growing violence, among other new initiatives spearheaded by the API Legislative Caucus.
I have also helped organize and participate in the Commission’s monthly public hearing sessions with a wide variety of AAPI community groups across the state– which has influenced and shaped my understanding of the deep and nuanced issues AAPI individuals face in the current year.
This past month, I spoke on a two-person panel alongside Congressman Ted Lieu on the importance of intersectional policy initiatives to combat anti-AAPI. And earlier this year, in the wake of both anti-Asian violent crimes and also exasperating gun violence within Black communities in my district, I am constantly pushing for solidarity. I have connected with grassroots organizations doing important racial solidarity work, and co-authored an opinion piece alongside a Black Democratic Party Delegate and fellow social justice attorney on the importance of such solidarity.
I have been committed to justice and anti-discrimination efforts to support my fellow AAPI community in every environment I’ve been in. I’ve never shied away from raising my voice to call out everyday racism and racial ignorance. For example, when working at a legal aid office in 2018, when the all-white legal team was representing Vietnamese and South Asian domestic violence survivors and making harmful cultural assumptions about their body language in court, I challenged them to be more aware of their implicit biases, and explained to them the additional struggles that Asian survivors face in courtrooms based on such stereotypes. I worked with these clients closely to understand their distinct cultural needs, and highlighted the role that their distinct religious and cultural background had on the dynamics of abuse she endured. I then helped develop trial strategy for that accounted for these culturally-specific perspectives – and we ultimately won restraining orders for these women.
Similarly, when serving on the then-majority-white board of a legal nonprofit from 2018-2021, I actively questioned the organization’s lack of diversity compared to the populations it served – including a significant portion of Asian clients. I questioned the seemingly ineffective outreach to API populations that lacked nuance or cultural sensitivity, and helped implement constructive changes. Even while in law school, I have respectfully called out select professors that acted in ways particularly insensitive to API women that hindered our ability to equally participate in classroom discussions, and worked to have nuanced conversations to ensure that my fellow API sisters did not continue to experience exclusion and prejudice.
2. Do you believe that the State Legislature has been doing enough to address anti-Asian harassment/discrimination/attacks? Please explain your response.
As a Commissioner on the CA Commission on APIA Affairs, I have been a part of the process to ensure that the budget proposals for API Equity are passed. I have been privy to the specific dollar amounts requested for twelve initiatives over three years, including budget asks and bills such as SB 17, AB 557, and AB 886. I am particularly heartened by the efforts behind AB 886, now carried by Assm. Chiu, which prioritizes culturally competent mental health services and restorative justice grants – two issues I have been a fierce advocate for over the course of my career because as a direct services provider, I have seen the value of the life-saving work of such initiatives. I am also thrilled to see the budgetary asks specific to inclusive economic development, to offer technical assistance and outreach grants to small businesses that comprise our beautiful Chinatowns, Little Indians, Little Saigons, etc. While I certainly believe these budgetary asks are a good start, I also believe we must go much farther. We need a budget that truly prioritizes and centers the voices of our AAPI community – and the fact that the Commission on which I serve – the only statewide commission dedicated to our interests – only received any budget at all last year, is telling that our needs repeatedly go unprioritized. That being said, I look forward to doing everything in my capacity to ensure the API Equity budget asks are passed, and once elected, will introduce legislation that expands these measures. While I support all of the proposed bills, the two I am particularly
3. What are the current issues of concern to the 110 K Asian and Pacific Americans living in AD 18 and how will you address them?
• Economic development. We need to support the ability of small businesses that comprise our beautiful Little Saigons and Chinatowns to bounce back in the post-pandemic recovery period. We need to offer all individuals the ability to pursue meaningful work opportunities that pay a living wage and offer benefits. We need to support our youth entering the workforce, and the varied career paths they may choose to take whether or not they are able to attend a four-year college.
• Addressing domestic and community violence. We must re-imagine our justice system to heal survivors of family violence and perpetrators of harm in order to end toxic cycles of violence. We must root out racism and stop hate crimes against our AAPI elders. We can start to by prioritizing funding restorative justice programs, supporting community-based organizations that support and protect elders, and expand mental health services.
• Better funding for public education. California ranks 41 out of 50 states in dollars spent per child, and we have some of the lowest average testing scores nationwide. We must invest in our youth – and offer quality education for all so that every child has a chance to succeed.
• Expanding access to healthcare. I will work towards ensuring that every Californian has access to quality care, starting with our own Medicare for All network.
• Addressing climate change. We must act quickly, because California’s extreme climate events and deadly toxic pollutants harm us all – especially many of us in the AAPI community who are specifically prone to chronic illnesses. Moreover, 2 million homes are presently at extreme risk of wildfire due to climate change. We can save our planet while creating hundreds of thousands of well-paying jobs by passing a Green New Deal with an equity lens.
• Addressing our homelessness and food insecurity crisis. Our array of AAPI communities in this district come from cultural backgrounds that prioritize the need to take care of one another, through shelter and food. I will work to ensure California provides more strategic, impactful, and culturally-relevant services for our 160,000 houseless neighbors.
4. In 2018, 17,000 APA residents in AD 18 were living at or below the poverty level. Do you believe this number has changed since COVID-19 and what can the state do to address their needs?
The largest numbers of AAPI individuals living in poverty are concentrated in Oakland – and based on my community legal and social services work in Oakland, I have a deep understanding of the nuanced challenges of individuals in poverty in this region. During the pandemic, as an attorney I have worked with AAPI individuals – especially women – experiencing increased rates of domestic violence, housing insecurity, food insecurity, and job loss. Prior to the pandemic, in the course of my social service and volunteer work, I similarly worked with our AAPI community living in poverty – while the challenges were vast and nuanced, they have only compounded in since COVID-19. My entire platform, most of which is detailed in the previous answer, addresses the needs of individuals in poverty. I would prioritize financially supporting small businesses in the post-pandemic recovery period being able to survive the pandemic, and pay their workers a living wage. I would prioritize implementing a single-payer healthcare system because we have vast numbers of AAPI individuals who are un- or under-insured, and this number is growing as more individuals have lost jobs, wages, and benefits during the pandemic. I would prioritize addressing not only our homelessness crisis, but also the ability of tenants – which comprise of nearly 60% of all households in the district – to stay in their homes by implementing stronger statewide tenant protections starting by repealing Costa Hawkins and the Ellis Act, especially as 3 million Californians risk being homeless with the pending expiration of our eviction moratorium.
5. What have you learned about Asian Americans in the past year that you were previously unaware of and how has that impacted you?
The most important thing I have learned in the past year about my fellow AAPI community is our resilience. Our ability to stand up and grow stronger in the face of rising violence and hate. Our ability to understand the importance of racial solidarity and do meaningful work to root out issues like anti-Blackness in our own communities. I am honored to be part of movements and organizations led and comprised of AAPI justice leaders, and energized with our potential to ring in a more equitable California full of tolerance and opportunity.
6. What resources (people/organizations) will you tap to increase your knowledge and understanding of the on-going needs of the 110K Asian and Pacific Americans living in AD 18?
I recognize that the term AAPI encompasses a broad range of individuals. While I understand many of the experiences of my fellow Indian-American community, I always recognize that I have to constantly educate myself on the needs of my AAPI sisters, particularly those groups who are underrepresented in systems of political power and capital. I will continue to work with a broad range of grassroots community-based organizations, including groups I am already a member of including APIENC and ASATA, and groups that I am currently connected to including APEN, AAPI- Force, APSC, APILO, AALJ, and others. I will also work closely with business groups and their leaders within, including the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce and Oakland Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce, particularly to highlight the needs of small businesses that need the support to grow and thrive during the pandemic.
7. Please identify any Asian Pacific American candidates whom you have publicly endorsed/supported over the past 5 years including this election cycle. If there are none, please explain.
Most recently, I supported and actively campaigned for Dorothy Proudfoot in her 2020 judicial campaign. I have also publicly and actively supported the campaigns of many AAPI individuals, including Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal, and Alex Lee.
Malia Vella, City Council Member, Alameda. Questionnaire Response
Candidate Name Malia Vella
City and zip code of residence. Alameda, CA 94501
What is your campaign website address? www.maliavella.com
Are you an APA Caucus member? Yes
How long have you lived in the district which you are seeking to represent? Born and raised
What are the names of any community or nonprofit organizations with which you have been an active volunteer in the past 3-5 years. Alameda Family Services California Democratic Party Fil-Am Caucus, Vice Chair Northern California California Democratic Party API Caucus, member Asian Pacific American Labor Association, member Filipina Women’s Network, member Filipino Bar Association of Northern California, member Guest Speaker, Pinay Powerhouse Conferences National Federation of Filipino American Associations Spectrum Community Services Inc., Board member
CANDIDATE QUESTIONS
1. What actions have you taken to address anti-Asian discrimination/bullying/harassment? Please explain in what capacity you have acted and whether any of these actions were prior to 2020. (i.e., as school board/city council member, as parent/advocate/organization)
The first vote I took on City Council in 2016 was to make Alameda a sanctuary city. I followed that up by coordinating know your rights clinics, and enacted meaningful tenant protections to prevent the displacement of many of our AAPI tenants. I have been a vocal advocate for the API community, most recently against anti-Asian hate and in support of API frontline workers. I am a visible and respected AAPI elected official representing our API community broadly, around the Bay Area.
2. Do you believe that the State Legislature has been doing enough to address anti-Asian harassment/discrimination/attacks? Please explain your response. No.
3. What are the current issues of concern to the 110 K Asian and Pacific Americans living in AD 18 and how will you address them?
a. Anti Asian Hate – We need to pass the Hate Crime Bills package (SB 17, AB 28, AB 557, AB 886) in full – to declare racism a public health crisis, create an Office of Racial Equity, strengthen our hate crime laws, establish and maintain an accessible toll free hotline for reporting hate crimes and discrimination, and fund CBO’s to provide culturally competent mental health services for victims of hate violence. I would also push to remove barriers to accessing services and participating in government by continuing access via remote participation and expanding language access. I would add that we need funding and these hotlines established immediately, because we can’t just wait until 2029 to address the underlying and inherent, systemic racism that has been pervasive.
b. Workplace Safety (https://www.advancingjustice- alc.org/wpcontent/uploads/2021/04/ALC-Workers-Rights-COVID-Report-202103- R7_digital.pdf) – We need more resources to small businesses so that they can comply with the evolving safety standards and protect their employees. We also need to expand access to testing and vaccinations and allow for more community clinic/culturally competent administration. Additionally, we need to create clear pathways for impacted workers to report unsafe conditions without the fear of retaliation.
c. Health & Economic Concerns Relative to COVID 19 – We must ensure that there is language support, funding for our CBO’s to help connect folks with programs, and culturally competent access to allow for better utilization all state relief/services including EDD, rent and small business grants, and other programs. We also need to remove barriers like requesting information that is not necessary or deters utilization by our most vulnerable communities. Finally, we need to equitably distribute the relief to communities who may not have access to traditional commercial lending.
4. In 2018, 17,000 APA residents in AD 18 were living at or below the poverty level. Do you believe this number has changed since COVID-19 and what can the state do to address their needs?
Without question COVID has increased that number. We need more legislation geared towards police accountability and transparency, we need to move to a system of universal healthcare for all, and to shift more resources/funding to things like universal childcare, education and higher education, and IHSS. We also need to invest in more first time homebuyer opportunities and create more career pathways while also increasing worker protections.
5. What have you learned about Asian Americans in the past year that you were previously unaware of and how has that impacted you?
I have become even more aware of how underrepresented we are at all levels of government. Most relevant is the fact that we have not had a democratic API woman in the state legislature since 2014 when Mariko Yamada termed out of the Assembly. Additionally, we have never had a Filipina serve in the state legislature. Representation matters and impacts our community. This is why, I, a Filipina democrat, am running for state Assembly.
6. What resources (people/organizations) will you tap to increase your knowledge and understanding of the on-going needs of the 110K Asian and Pacific Americans living in AD 18?
I will continue to work with and learn from Serena Chan, Phong La, and other API leaders and community groups to continue to increase my knowledge and understanding of the on-going needs of the Asian and Pacific Americans living in AD 18.
7. Please identify any Asian Pacific American candidates whom you have publicly endorsed/supported over the past 5 years including this election cycle. If there are none, please explain.
Aisha Wahab, Hayward City Council Sheng Thao, Oakland City Council D4 Nikki Fortunato Bas, Oakland City Council D2 Phong La, Alameda County Assessor Lily Mei, Fremont Mayor Raj Salwan, Fremont City Council Juslyn Manalo, Daly City City Council, Melissa Ramoso, Artesia City Council Marjan Philour, San Francisco Board of Supervisors Rob Bonta, Assembly District 18
Who can vote at this endorsement meeting?
All Caucus members who are present at this endorsement meeting and are 2021 members in good standing will be eligible to vote. Those who were 2020 members but have not yet renewed for 2021 need to do so as soon as possible and before the June 3 endorsement meeting.
https://apademcaucus.org/join-apadc/
For questions contact:
apademcaucusalamedacounty@gmail.com