Candidate for
Council Member; City of Mountain View

Margaret was born in Palo Alto and raised in San Mateo by immigrant parents from Japan. She graduated from public schools, kindergarten through twelfth grade. She went on to Harvard University, worked her way through college, and graduated with a B.A. in government in 1992.

Upon graduating from Harvard, she returned home and joined the staff of Congresswoman Anna Eshoo's district office in Palo Alto. During her six years with Rep. Eshoo, Margaret began her service as an office assistant, moving into the role of scheduler, where she managed Congresswoman Eshoo's district activities. Margaret was quickly promoted to be a field representative, specializing in the areas of immigration, housing, civil rights, Asian Pacific American issues and as community liaison to the city of Mountain View.

In 1999, Margaret helped start up a leadership institute for high school and college students at De Anza College as its associate director, conceptualizing and establishing programs as well as handle administrative responsibilities for the institute. Later, Margaret owned and operated a small business indoor cycling fitness facility in Palo Alto.

In November 2002, Margaret Abe-Koga was elected to the Santa Clara County Board of Education, serving as the Trustee for Area 1, which covers Palo Alto Unified School District, Mountain View-Whisman School District and corresponding areas in the Mountain View-Los Altos High School District , Sunnyvale School District and corresponding areas in the Fremont Union High School District.

In her first year, Margaret served on the Board's Budget Subcommittee, Joint Legislative Subcommittee and the Strategic Planning Task Force. She also led the Board to establish an Alternative Schools Collaborative that brought stakeholders in alternative education together to formulate recommendations to better serve the County's students in alternative programs as well as to outreach to the estimated 6000 students who are not in school. This year, Margaret serves as the Board's Vice-President, chairs the Board's Policy Subcommittee, represents the Board on the Head Start Policy Council and is a member of the Joint Legislative Subcommittee.

Margaret has dedicated herself to giving back to her community in a variety of areas. In the City of Mountain View, she graduated from Leadership Mountain View in 2001 and currently serves on its Executive Council. She has been a Human Relations Commissioner and served as Chair last year. She successfully worked as a precinct captain for the Measure J school bond which passed in March of 2004. She currently serves on the Honorary Advisory Board of Nakayoshi Gakko, a Japanese cultural summer program for elementary school students held at the Mountain View Buddhist Temple and is a boardmember of Avenidas, a senior services organization.

Margaret has also been active with community organizations such as the Silicon Valley Japanese American Chamber of Commerce, San Jose Taiko (Japanese drumming performing arts group), where she served as Board President, the Japanese American Citizens League as a board member, in political organizations such as the Santa Clara County Democratic Central Committee where she served as Treasurer; as a boardmember of Democratic Activists for Women Now; and as the founder and a boardmember of the Silicon Valley Asian Pacific American Democratic Club. She also serves on the Honorary Advisory Board of Women's Voices Women Vote and is a member of the League of Women Voters, the Peninsula Democratic Coalition as well as the Democratic Century Club.

Margaret is a proud graduate of the Working Partnerships Leadership Institute Class of 2000. She has been recognized for her leadership and community service with Santa Clara County Supervisor Liz Kniss' Asian American Heroes award in 2001, and the Asian Americans for Community Involvement(AACI) Youth Leadership Award in 2004.

Margaret moved to Mountain View with her husband Yotto Koga, in 1998 when they purchased their first home. In October 2001, they had their first daughter, Aili and in May 2004, had their second daughter, Aina. She and Yotto also look after Margaret's parents who reside with them.