About AAA-Fund — Northern California
According to a 2005 U.S. Census Bureau study, Asian Pacific Americans (APAs) have significantly increased their potential power at the polls in California in recent years. The number of APAs in California eligible to register to vote (citizens who are 18 and older) increased by half a million between 2000 and 2005, from 2 million to 2.5 million. That increased their share from 10 percent to 12 percent of the state's population of eligible voters.
The mission of the Asian American Action Fund's Northern California Chapter is to encourage APA Democrats to participate in the political process and to empower the APA community so that we can address the severe under-representation of APAs in the political life of this country.
The Asian American Action Fund achieves its goals by identifying qualified Democratic candidates, providing them with financial and technical assistance, and building a local network of activists, funders, and supporters. Our membership makes this possible.
AAA-Fund members join by making a contribution to the Fund and pledging to contribute to the candidates we endorse. Through our membership, the AAA-Fund empowers our candidates with the tools, financial resources, and grassroots assistance they need for victory.
Endorsed Candidates
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| LAWYER, DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY PRESIDENT, COMMUNITY LEADER |
| Claudine Cheng
www.claudinecheng.com |
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Claudine
Cheng |
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Claudine Cheng is a long-time civic leader and an attorney who has dedicated herself to community service and to enhancing the quality of life in San Francisco. She currently serves as the president and chair of the Treasure Island Development Authority. Under Claudine's experienced stewardship, the redevelopment of this former Naval base is setting new national standards for green and sustainable development.
A 20-year resident of the Northeast waterfront who is deeply concerned about urban and neighborhood issues, Claudine is also an active director on the board of the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association. She is one of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's delegates to the California Democratic State Central Committee.
An Asian American and an immigrant, Claudine is a strong advocate for civil rights and equal opportunity. She was the first person from the West Coast to be elected national president of the Organization of Chinese Americans, and has received awards from many groups. She received her BA in International Relations from USC, and her law degree from Hastings College of the Law.
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| LAWYER, DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADER, COMMUNITY LEADER |
| David Chiu
votedavidchiu.org |
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David
Chiu |
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The eldest child of Chinese immigrant parents, David Chiu, 38, grew up in Boston and attended a Catholic high school in a working class neighborhood. David received a degree in government from Harvard College, a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School, and a master's degree in public policy from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.
At the age of 25, David became Democratic Counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee's Constitution Subcommittee and Senator Paul Simon's aide to the Senate Budget Committee. As Democratic Counsel, David's responsibilities for a wide range of constitutional, criminal and civil rights issues included drafting, negotiating and advocating socially progressive legislation.
David Chiu has lived in District 3 for the past 12 years, in the Russian Hill and Polk Street neighborhoods. David has been a hands-on leader in San Francisco and in District 3 in numerous capacities, and has received many awards for his efforts.
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Executive Committee Biographies
Marybelle C. Ang (AAA-Fund Board Member and California Chapter Chair): A Stanford and Northwestern Law-educated attorney, Marybelle Ang currently serves as a Regulatory Manager at Southern California Edison in Rosemead, California. Prior to joining Edison, Marybelle was an Attorney at the U.S. Department of Energy in Washington, DC where she counseled scientists on transportation and regulatory issues relating to the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository. Marybelle was also an associate at the law firms of Kirkland & Ellis and Baker Botts in Washington, DC. A visible community leader, Marybelle serves as Vice President of the Organization of Chinese Americans (Los Angeles Chapter). Before moving to Los Angeles, she was Secretary of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association in Washington, DC.
Gautam Dutta (AAA-Fund Executive Director and California Chapter Vice-Chair): A Yale and Georgetown-educated attorney and civic leader, Mr. Dutta has dedicated his career to public service. Currently, he serves as Deputy Director for the Political Reform Program at the New America Foundation. Prior to that, he was Founder and Principal Attorney of the Porta Justicia law firm, and Tax Counsel to now-California State Controller John Chiang. Mr. Dutta began as an SEC Enforcement Attorney in Washington, D.C., served as Law Clerk to the Honorable Gladys Kessler in Washington D.C.'s federal district court, and as a commercial litigator at Buchalter Nemer in Los Angeles. He plays an active leadership role in the City of Los Angeles, serving as a Commissioner on the Los Angeles Industrial Development Authority and Board Member of the American Civil Liberties Union and the South Asian Bar Association. He is fluent is several foreign languages, including Spanish, German, Hindi, and Bengali.
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