Candidates

Ami Bera
Mazie Hirono
Mike Honda
Suzanne Lee
William Tong

Dr. Ami Bera, Community Leader and Physician

Running for Congress in California’s 3rd CD

www.beraforcongress.com

For over 15 years, Dr. Bera has served the Sacramento region as a physician and educator. Ami was born and raised in California at a time of great opportunity. He grew up in a vibrant household, benefiting from traditional values of discipline and hard work, solid educational foundations, and an underlying belief in the American dream.

Most recently, Dr. Bera served as Associate Dean for Admissions at the UC Davis School of Medicine and was the former Chief Medical Officer for the County of Sacramento. Today, at age 45, Ami is running to represent his district in the United States Congress.

The Sacramento Bee reports that Dr. Bera’s Republican opponent has one of the most contestable Congressional seats in California. Dr. Bera has been very successful in fundraising, and he and his staff are poised to receive nation-wide support for this key Congressional race.

Rep. Mazie Hirono, Member of Congress, Hawaii’s 2nd District

Running for United States Senate

mazieforhawaii.com

Fleeing domestic abuse in Japan, Mazie Hirono’s mother made a new home for her family in Hawaii. Her struggle inspired Mazie to overcome discrimination and launch a distinguished career in public service. Though English is her second language, Mazie graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Hawaii and earned her law degree from Georgetown University. She served two terms as Hawaii’s lieutenant governor before succeeding the late Patsy Mink as congresswoman for the state’s second district.

A national advocate for quality early education, Mazie was instrumental in creating Hawaii’s Pre-Plus Program as lieutenant governor and was named Pre-K Now’s “Pre-K Champion” in 2008. Mazie’s leadership in Congress has helped save or create 15,000 jobs in her state and secured $194 million in funding to prevent cuts to education. Mazie has also taken a hard line against the anti-woman, anti-family agenda of the current GOP House majority.

Before a competitive general election, Mazie will likely face former Congressman and Blue Dog Ed Case in a Democratic primary for the Senate seat. Republicans have recruited Republican former Governor Linda Lingle in an attempt to turn this blue seat red and gain control of the Senate. Supporting Mazie means both helping to hold the Democratic majority in the Senate and an incredible opportunity to elect the first Asian-American woman senator.

Rep. Mike Honda, Member of Congress, CA District 15

Running for Election in California’s 17th CD

www.mikehonda.org

Rep. Mike Honda currently represents the 15th Congressional District of California in the U.S. House of Representatives. As a representative of Silicon Valley, Mike is a leader on high-tech issues in Congress, working to develop technology solutions to solve problems inherent in aging federal infrastructures. Mike has led efforts to bring more security to the nation’s IT and aviation infrastructures while safeguarding the civil rights of passengers. As a long-time public servant before the birth of Silicon Valley, Mike has also focused his energy on important issues such as education, transportation, the environment, and civil rights.

In 2000, Mike was elected to the United States House of Representatives. Mike serves on the powerful House Committee on Appropriations.bio His subcommittees include: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch.

In 2005, Mike was selected by his Democratic colleagues to serve as a Vice Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, and is the Regional Whip for Northern California, Hawaii, American Samoa and Guam. Mike also has served as Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) and the Chair of the AAA-Fund’s Honorary Board, and is a widely-recognized voice for the cause of social justice, cultural tolerance, and civil rights.

Suzanne Lee, Community Leader and Educator

Running for Election to Boston City Council

www.suzanneleeboston.com

Suzanne Lee is a community advocate and educator with a long record of reforming public schools. As a principal, she led a high-profile turnaround of the Baldwin School, transforming a low-achieving and divided school into a nationwide model for reform. She also headed the Josiah Quincy School, which was named one of the top schools in Massachusetts.

Suzanne Lee has been active in the community for decades, bringing people together and helping new residents, immigrants, young people, seniors, and working families have a voice in local government. She organized the Chinese Parents Association to help parents take a more active role in their children’s education, fought to help local, unemployed garment workers get back to work, and collaborated with the Boston Foundation to address persistent poverty in local neighborhoods.

Beyond the schoolhouse doors, Suzanne has been an activist in the community for over three decades. In 1977, she brought residents together to form the Chinese Progressive Association, a highly-regarded, community-based organization that has stood up against police brutality, organized garment workers, and fought for affordable housing throughout Boston. In 1987, Suzanne fought to establish Boston’s first bilingual job-training program. Most recently, she helped lead the movement to provide Chinese and Vietnamese voters with bilingual ballots, allowing greater participation in the democratic process.

Rep. William Tong, CT State Representative District 147

Running for United States Senate in Connecticut

www.williamtong.com

Connecticut State Representative William Tong attended Phillips Academy (Andover), Brown University, and the University of Chicago Law School, where he studied Constitutional Law under Barack Obama. As an adult, William never forgot the long hours he spent as a child working side-by-side with his immigrant Chinese parents in their family restaurant. He spent nights and weekends washing dishes, cooking and waiting tables, and learning first-hand what it is to struggle, to run a small business, and to confront the challenges that working families face every day.

In his historic campaign for Connecticut State Representative in 2006, Rep. Tong soundly beat an entrenched Republican incumbent to make history as the first Democrat ever to represent the 147th District in the General Assembly, and the first Asian Pacific American elected at the state level in Connecticut’s history. In 2008, he was the first elected official in Connecticut to endorse then Senator, Barack Obama for President.

Rep. Tong made an impressive showing in his first quarterly fundraising total and his hiring of nationally-respected campaign staff. Talking Points Memo reported that, “Connecticut State Representative and Senate candidate William Tong is making a huge splash with his impressive second quarter haul…[bringing] in $550,000 before the June 30th deadline as reported by Politico.”