Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 5, 2004 

CONTACT: Hung Nguyen (877) 592-4140

VIETNAMESE AMERICANS PARTICIPATE IN ELECTORAL PROCESS AS CANDIDATES

The National Congress of Vietnamese Americans congratulates the pool of Vietnamese American candidates who participated in the November 2, 2004 elections throughout the United States.  As a refugee community that struggles and prospers with each opportunity, the Vietnamese American community understands the values that enable us to believe in and persevere towards the American dream.

Vietnamese Americans candidates in unsuccessful races include:

• Toan Le, Santa Clara County Board of Education (CA), 14,049 - 30.99%

• Nam Nguyen, City of Santa Clara City Council (CA), 2,918 - 16.75%

• Peter Chau Nguyen, Westminister School District (CA), 3,914 - 15.1%

• Zone Nguyen, District Judge 133rd Judicial District (TX), 457,672 - 45.80%

• Heidi Pham, Berryessa Union School District (CA), 6,666 - 29.76%

• Andy Quach (Rep), City of Westminister, Mayor (CA), 6,710 - 37.4%

• Khanh D. Tran, East Side Union High School District (CA), 18,785 - 13.20%

• Paul (Tuong Thang) Tran, City of Garden Grove (CA), 4,124 - 7.8%

Vietnamese Americans candidates in successful races include:

• Janet Nguyen, City of Garden Grove (CA), 10,606 - 20.0%

• Lan Nguyen, East Side Union High School District (CA), 25,393 - 17.85% - 1st Vietnamese American on this School Board

• Trung Nguyen, Garden Grove Unified School District (CA), 16,068 - 15.0%

• Kim Oanh Nguyen-Lam, Garden Grove Unified School District (CA), 17,512 - 16.3%

• Van Tran (Rep), State Assembly (CA), 51,170 - 58.1% - 1st Vietnamese American elected to CA State Legislature

• Hubert Vo (Dem), State Representative, District 149 (TX), 20,596 - 50.05% - 1st Vietnamese American elected to TX State Legislature (won by 38 votes, possible recount)

Also, on October 12, 2004, in a run-off race filled with racial tension and observed by the U.S. Department of Justice, Phuong Tan Huynh became the first-ever Asian-American on the City Council of Bayou La Batre, Alabama (410 - 56% to opponent's 328 - 44%).  There is now a Vietnamese American elected official in the hometown of "Forrest Gump."

These Vietnamese Americans represent only a small pool of individuals from across the United States who enjoy living in a free and democratic society.

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Founded in 1986, the National Congress of Vietnamese Americans is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community advocacy organization working to advance the cause of Vietnamese Americans in a plural but united America –  e pluribus unum – by participating actively and fully as civic minded citizens engaged in the areas of education, culture and civil liberties.  (www.ncvaonline.org)