Candidate for
Council Member; City of San Jose; Council District 8

Minh Duong is the embodiment of the American Dream. His family escaped Vietnam in 1975, and came to American with little more than the clothes on their backs and hopes and aspirations of millions of immigrants who came to America in search of a better life.

Minh grew up in San Jose and attended local public schools--Leyva Junior High School, and William C. Overfelt High School where he was class valedictorian. While still in high school, Minh took classes at Evergreen Valley College and San Jose State University. Minh obtained a scholarship to attend U.C. Berkeley and obtained a bachelors degree in Economics, minoring in Mathematics and Statistics.

Growing up as an immigrant, Minh was acutely aware of the tremendous opportunity he'd been given in American. Minh's commitment to public service began at an early age. While in high school, Minh was elected President to 5 different organizations on campus. Minh's leadership continued in college, where he was the first Vietnamese American to be elected student body Senator at U.C. Berkeley and helped create the Berkeley Vietnamese Alumni Association.

After graduating college, Minh dedicated himself to business--feeling the best way to help the community would be as a successful business owner. Minh has owned businesses in the local San Jose community and has been active in a number of local organizations. Despite his relative youth, Minh has been a successful entrepreneur owning a number of retail stores and a furniture business on San Jose. Currently, Minh lives in Evergreen, with his wife Cynthia.

Through hard work, perseverance and faith, Minh has achieved a better life for himself and his family. Minh endured a lot of hardship in his quest for the American Dream and his family has been on the verge of homelessness. Minh lost his father at an early age, and had to provide for his mother and young sister.

Despite these challenges, Minh has survived and thrived. He views his candidacy for the San Jose City Council as the ultimate expression of giving back to a great community and the tremendous opportunity life in America has afforded him. Minh is ready to dedicating his life, boundless energy, and intelligence to the residents of San Jose.

Furthermore, Minh is well qualified for the City Council because of his involvement in various San Jose civic and community organizations, including:

• San Jose Small Business Development Commissioner
• San Jose Council Salary Setting Commissioner
• Chairman, Education Committee, District 8 Community Roundtable
• Vice President, Vietnamese American Committee Action Team
• Member, Evergreen Parents Task Force
• Member, District 8 Community Roundtable