为争取在市政区划中考虑亚太裔利益形成的圣地亚哥亚太裔联盟 (APAC – Asian Pacific American Coalition),在大选之年重新出发,由 Mitz Lee (菲裔)、Tim Nguyen(越裔)、Allan Chan(陈运仁,华裔)牵头组织了一场声势浩大的活动,将数量众多的本地亚太裔团体集中在一起,赢得了一次问政机会 – 九月十八日(星期二)在新乐宫大酒楼,请十六名竞选各级公职的候选人到场,深入到每一个团体中间,介绍自己并听取亚太裔选民对社会进步、教育改革、经济发展、亚太裔利益维护等方面的呼声和要求。这次行动卓有成效。
参加这次亚太联盟组织的圆桌之夜的十六位候选人为:Scott Peters,Many England, Marty Block, George Plescia, Marne Foster, Bill Ponder, Bob Filner,Scott Hasson,Carl DeMaio (派代表),Bernie Rhinerrson, Ruben Hernandez,Brian Maienschein,Mark Powell, John Lee Evans, Sherri Lightner,Dave Raberts,Steve Danon。
十六桌的主方各具特色,他们代表的是: San Diego Chinese American Association and Community、Asian Business Association, Cambodian American Community, Filipino American Community Empowerment, Greater San Diego Community, Korean American Association of San Diego, Lao American Coalition, Districti 6/Mira Mesa/Convoy Community, NAAAP San Diego,National Federation of Filipino Ameircan Associations, Pacific Islander American Community, Pan Pacific Law Enforcement Association, Rancho Penasquitos Community, San Diego Asian Film Foundation, Thai American Association of San Diego, United Parents for Education, Vietnamese Federation of San Diego等,有的以族裔聚团,有的以职业为号召,充分体现了亚太裔本身的多元化,闻声临时赶来参加活动的社团代表也不少。
本次亚太裔面对面问政行动引起社会各方面瞩目和关注,本地主流新闻媒体包括圣地亚哥第8频道电视台、圣地亚哥论坛日报(San Diego Union-Tribune)、和亚太裔多家新闻媒体到现场进行了采访报道,刚被评选为圣地亚哥亚裔小姐称号华裔学人张璐娜担任了本次大会司仪和敲锣手。(圣地亚哥华文网SanDiegoChinesePress.com)
San Diego Chinese American Association and Community
San Diego Chinese American Association and Community