Candidate for
Council Member; City of San Jose; Council District 7

I am running for the San Jose City Council to create effective and forward-thinking policies which positively impact people's lives. With experience, leadership and passion, I will serve the residents of District 7 to make this city a better and safer place to live, create new job opportunities for our residents, and continue to support our public schools to close the achievement gap. I left Vietnam during the fall of Saigon to seek freedom and democracy and to start a new life. The first several years were very challenging for my family and myself + learning a new language, trying to understand a new culture, and needing opportunities to support ourselves. Through hard work, I completed a degree in Business Studies at San Jose State University, while at the same time taking care of my extended family. For the next two decades, I worked to improve our community and city.

I worked in the City of San Jose in the Redevelopment Agency as well as other city departments, gaining experience about land use and the effective use of dollars to help solve our city's critical housing needs. In my job at the Redevelopment Agency, I worked directly with community agencies, neighborhood leaders and small businesses that included project areas in East Santa Clara St, Willow Glen and central San Jose neighborhoods. My efforts helped drive improved business and neighborhood conditions. I left the City/Agency after 15 years to establish my own business. I now own and manage an Insurance Agency in which we offer full-service, multiple insurance and financial products. My background gives me experience in community and business outreach, and I have worked effectively and harmoniously with both the labor and business communities in San Jose. I am a bridge builder who can bring all sides together to create positive change. I have lived in San Jose since 1984 and currently reside in District 7 my family.

District 7 is a great place! We have the Fairgrounds, Monterey Road, diverse businesses, several community centers, and our new and improved 101/Tully Road intersection. Our neighborhoods vibrate with activity and knowledge as evidenced by our libraries, baseball fields, and schools. I intend to continue to improve the activities of the district of and for the people. Community involvement is very important. As such, over a period of 25 years I have been active in my community. I have been involved with the Children Moon Festival (Founder), Museum of Art, Viet-American Cultural foundation, Viet Heritage Society, Advisory Board for KNTV channel 11, and many other community organizations. It is my intention to offer new approaches to the neighborhoods for involvement. For instance, in the Seven Trees area, a concerted effort by both the City of San Jose and the local school can facilitate and impact some of the problems with youth in the area. I have been a community leader for over 25 years in addition to being a successful small business owner.

I was elected to the East Side Union High School District Board of Trustees in November 2010. I will bring a new sense of commitment, creativity and consensus-building to the residents of District 7, working cooperatively with fellow City Council members, administrators, community members and community organizations.

As part of my community work, I have been a leader in San Jose, including the following:

- Chairperson of the Vietnamese Forum in 1990

- Organizer of the first Tet at City Hall to showcase the culture to city employees

- Founder of the first Vietnamese city employee association.

- Organizer of the first successful fund-raiser at the San Jose Arena to build a new Vietnamese Community/youth Center.

- Founder of the Mid-Autumn festival (now known as the Children Moon Festival) in 1992.

- In 2004, I swam from Alcatraz SF to pier 37 to raise awareness and fund to support Asian Battered Women.

- In 2010, I collaborated with the San Jose Police Department and helped coordinate the First Citizen Police Academy for the Vietnamese American citizen.

- Collaborated with other organizations for candle light vigil to advocate for a police shooting victim Daniel Pham and to release tape 911

- Leader in advocating for the name of Little Saigon project in San Jose.

As a board trustee of East Side, I have led the following projects:

- Led the review of district finances to help save the district about $250,000 per year.

- Championed the Homeless Students Project to bring a little joy to them during holidays.

- Worked with administrators to find solutions to bring revenue to the district with grant writers

-Collaborated with administrators to help identify solutions to the problem of high drop-out rates in the school district.

I have received numerous awards and recognition for my work with the community, including:

- Circle of Excellence Good Neighbor Award

-Martin Luther King Jr Award

- Human Relations Award for Advocacy on behalf of Youth from the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors

-Recognition from Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren for Public and Community Service

- Kindred Spirit Award from the Children's Discovery Museum.

I have also contributed many hours of volunteer work within our community.

Highlights include:

-Board Trustee of East Side Union High School District

-Board member of Boys Scouts of America

-Board member of Work2future

-VP of Little Saigon Foundation

-Founder/President of the Viet-American Cultural Foundation (VietACF)

-Served on the Board of Directors of the San Jose Museum of Art

-Served on the Advisory Board to KNTV Channel 11

-Served on District 8 Round Table

-Served on Diversity Project Commission

-Former Vice President External Affairs of Vacnorcal

Issues:

1. Make the district 7 community safe for everyone

- Hire more police officers to keep our streets, schools, and neighborhoods safe.

- Enhance SJPD Gang and Burglary units to make district 7 the safest community in the city

- Utilize social technology so that community and neighborhood associations can focus on fighting crime together.

2. Boost economic development and create high paying jobs.

- Work with city planning commission, city permits and local business to remove roadblocks to business growth
- Provide financial support such as incentive funds, tax-sharing program or credits, and cutting governmental costs where permissible.

- Provide a better economic environment to encourage existing and new business to grow in district 7

3. Solve our community homeless problem and provide additional services to senior and youth.

• Provide alternative housing and social services for our homeless residence, permanently remove homeless encampments

• Reestablish and improve services at community centers that focus on afterschool programs for students and health and activity programs for senior citizens

• Invite federal agencies such as social security administration, to move their offices to district 7