March 29 Update: I did not receive an endorsement from the AAPI Caucus.
For transparency, I am providing my answers from my application to Asian/Pacific Islander Caucus 2024 Candidate Endorsement survey so that my positions on these questions can be shared with constituents.
Q1: What office are you running for?
State Representative, House District 44
Q2: Have you held an elected position previously?
No
Please answer each question so that our caucus best understands your work in the Asian Pacific Islander Communities. As you answer each question, please be sure to specify the difference in your work with Asian communities & Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander communities- as AANHPI is a massive umbrella that includes hundreds of cultures, languages and experience different needs. It is crucial that as the AAPI Caucus that you display a proven track record of working with all communities in this umbrella and not just one. All question responses are private and will only be shared with members of the AAPI Caucus to help us best decide who will receive an endorsement.
Q3: Do you have AANHPI staffers on your campaign? (Yes/No)
No
Q4: If no, why?
It’s currently just me running for office. I have a couple of people who I look for advice from, but no staffers. I expect that endorsements and donations will start after convention when groups are more familiar with candidates in the field and can prioritize their support. I am reliant on garnering support to advance my campaign.
Q5: What is your understanding and knowledge of AANHPI communities in Salt Lake County?
The AANHPI community represents a large and diverse number of groups. Utah has a large Pacific Islander population that is growing, particularly for Tongan and Samoan communities. Utah also has a diverse Indian community.
Q6: What is your understanding of current needs of AANHPI voters in Utah?
I would ask for a conversation on this. If I am successful in my campaign one of my commitments is to listen and engage. Right now my focus includes defending diversity and inclusion in public and private spaces, protecting voting rights and restoring representation, supporting workers’ rights to organize, expanding public transit options, prioritizing clean air and water, and addressing homelessness through housing, drug programs, and mental health.
Q7: Understanding the current needs of AANHPI communities, what policies are you passionate about that will directly impact our communities? What policies and initiatives do you intend to implement in order to address the socio-economic disparities in Utah or Salt Lake County?
It may be best to see my stance on issues at https://utah44.com/issues/. I have also published key legislation that I would like to see worked on at https://utah44.com/proposed-2025-legislation/. I want to be as open as possible on what I call priorities, which I publish on my site.
Q8: Often times candidates seek the endorsement of minority caucuses without any true contribution to AANHPI communities, to help us better understand the impact & work you have done for these communities please answer the following: Please list AANHPI Led Community Based Organizations, Collectives & Service Providers that you have collaborated with to better understand issues being faced by our community. Please include outcomes & specific projects you have worked on with AANHPI Led Community Based Organizations, Collectives & Service Providers.
I work at an enterprise software company, and am a Project Lead for the Volunteer program, and a Pride Employee Network (OPEN) Employee Resource Group (ERG) representative. In that capacity I work with other ERG leads, specifically with the Professional Asian Leadership (OPAL), Women’s Leadership (OWL), and Generations of Leaders (GLO). We emphasize “unity in community”. Together with the other ERG leads we have hosted annual PIK2AR school supply drives, and internally host events like the OPAL Leadership Symposium, celebrating Asian Pacific Heritage Month, Mid-Autumn Festivals, Diwali celebrations, Lunar New Year, and Women in Tech. We also host trainings in unconscious bias, career development, mentoring programs, and confronting anti-asian racism. This is all not done by me, but the efforts are planned and hosted jointly.
Q9: What is your stance on Land Back & Indigenous Sovereignty?
I support Indigenous Sovereignty in respect to land, water, medical practices, childcare and religous observances. I think we need better support for infrastructure (energy, roads), physical addressing, voting, and representation. In regards to land back, I believe that California’s Reparations Task Force support specific state bills based on their findings (formal apologies, addressing health and wealth gaps, returning land). This may serve as a model at the federal level. Currently, a meaningful cash reparation at the federal level is challenging and not likely – political support, details of eligibility, meaningful payments, a system to identify recipients and manage distributed payments are lacking.
Q10: What policy issue is most important to you, and why?
I am first and foremost a disability advocate. I have two adult children with disabilities who I take care of. I’m a member of the Legislative Coalition for People with Disabilities (LCPD), and participate in the Utah Developmental Disabilities Council (UDDC) Advocacy and Leadership Program. My family participates in Special Olympics, and we are strong advocates for mental health issues. There are some excellent advocates on both sides of the aisle for disability and mental health legislation, but we have serious work to do for Medicaid expansion, improving availability of services for people with disabilities, expanding mental health care, addressing the homeless issue, and de-escalating engagements by law enforcement.
Q11: Why are you running for office?
My step into politics is based on where we as a community stand today. Divisive legislation and social campaigns are without empathy, that are breaking the networks in place for us to be informed, that are tearing at the fabric of our communities. There is an infiltration of local school boards, and the introduction of legislation in states that comes from national platforms that do not have our common interests in mind. There is disinformation in social media that is meant to be divisive, that tears on the intent and good will of society. I’m stepping into politics because the “our” in our voice needs to be represented. I have enough shared experience and humility to know that I should listen and understand before I speak, and that my actions affect a community that I love and have much respect for.
Q12: Would you like to speak at our AAPI Caucus Meeting on March 28th 7:00-8:00PM? (Y/N)
Yes