加州聖地牙哥訊 – 新重劃第39國會眾議院選區民主黨籍候選人陳介飛在每月一次的海軍訓練活動中得知了自己已於上星期日在加州聖地牙哥所舉行的年度黨會議上正式獲得民主黨的背書支持的消息.

陳介飛表示: “我很榮興能接受民主黨的支持並期待能為身為國家經濟成長動力的中產與勞動階級以及中小企業們爭取權益.”

身為一名小型企業家和前財星500強企業商務顧問, 陳介飛目前是聖蓋博谷最大學區之一的哈仙達拉朋地學區教委以及前教委主席. 在他的領導下學區在教師零裁員與不放無薪假的狀態下每年提升了學術表現指標 (Academic Performance Index, API).

除了教委外, 陳介飛更同時身為為即將投入職場的學生們提供職業培訓課程的拉朋地谷區職業培訓計劃前主席, 並在學區內推廣了包括小學菜園, 中學外語課程, 與高中免費SAT課程等活動.

陳介飛同時表示, “我同時也為加州民主黨能肯定我過去的成果以及對我能帶領國家前進的能力所投注的信任感到驕傲. 那些固執的現任國會議員們只專注著維護自己的工作而不為一般的美國民眾創造新工作, 現在是到了該改變的時候了.”

代表一部份新第39國會眾議院選區的現任眾議員 Grace Napolitano也表示, “陳介飛教委是一位非常好的教委, 並且非常關注社區和國家; 他在國會將會是一名非常好的同僚.”

重劃的新第39國會眾議院選區將包含 Buena Park, Chino Hills (奇諾岡), Diamond Bar (鑽石吧), Fullerton (富樂頓), Hacienda Heights (哈岡), La Habra, La Habra Heights, Placentia, Rowland Heights (羅蘭岡), Walnut (核桃市), 與 Yorba Linda 等區域.

欲瞭解更多資訊, 請上網ChenForCongress.com.

聯絡人: Samuel Liu - 310-989-3858 - Samueltliu@gmail.com 或 chenforcongress@gmail.com

Tuesday, February 14, 201

JAY CHEN WINS OFFICIAL ENDORSEMENT OF CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC PARTY

San Diego, CA – Jay Chen, Democratic Candidate for the 39^th Congressional District, won the official endorsement of the California Democratic Party on Sunday at the annual state conference in San Diego.  Chen learned about his endorsement while performing his monthly Navy drill training in nearby Point Loma.

“I am honored to receive the support of the Democratic Party and I look forward to fighting for the middle and working class, and for the small business owners who are the lifeblood of our economy and engines for growth.”

A small business owner and former business consultant to Fortune 500 firms, Chen is the past-President of the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District, one of the largest school districts in the San Gabriel Valley.   Under his guidance the district increased Academic Performance Index scores each year without laying off or furloughing K-12 teachers.

His personal initiatives include building edible school gardens at elementary schools, creating foreign language programs at middle schools, and implementing free SAT classes at all high schools.   Jay is the past-President of the La Puente Valley Regional Occupational Program, which provides vital career technical training for students to immediately enter the workforce.

“I am proud of the recognition the California Democratic Party is giving to my record of results, and their faith in my ability to move our country forward.  The intransigent incumbents in Congress are too preoccupied with protecting their own careers instead of creating jobs for Americans.  It is time for a change.”

The 39^th Congressional District includes the cities of Buena Park, Chino Hills, Diamond Bar, Fullerton, Hacienda Heights, La Habra, La Habra Heights, Placentia, Rowland Heights, Walnut, and Yorba Linda.

“School Board Member Jay Chen cares deeply about his community and country, has been a very effective school board representative, and will be an outstanding colleague in our nation’s capitol” said Congresswoman Grace Napolitano, who has represented portions of the new congressional district.

For more information on Jay Chen for Congress please visit ChenForCongress.com.

Contact: Samuel Liu

310-989-3858

Samueltliu@gmail.com

This advertisement (which was shot in California) has it all; gong-banging, rice paddies, a young Asian woman speaking broken English, and above all, clear messaging meant to stoke anti-Asian and Anti-Chinese fears.  They even created a website with Chinese flags, characters, and iconography, meant to make Senator Stabenow seem un-American:  http://www.debbiespenditnow.com/

I was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, which is the area that Congressman Hoekstra represented.  I am appalled by his lack of judgment and insensitivity to the state of Michigan and to the strong population of Asian Pacific Islander Americans who contribute so much to the vibrant culture and economy of that state, as my own family did.

I am running for Congress because when people like you and I do not get involved in the political process, then people like Pete Hoekstra do.  We need to change the tone of Washington D.C. and that begins by getting the career politicians and ideological extremists out, and getting fresh, rational perspectives in.

20-year incumbent Ed Royce, who is also running to represent my district, has been an ideological equal of Congressman Hoekstra during the time they served together in Congress.  Both cosponsored and voted in lockstep on many anti-immigration bills.  However, the new district Ed Royce wishes to represent is 30% Asian Pacific Islander American, 30% Latino, and comprised of many immigrant families, such as my own.

Our community deserves to know where Congressman Royce stands on this inflammatory advertisement by his colleague; so far he has been silent.  His support of the anti-Muslim protestors in Yorba Linda, and attack on multiculturalism last year are worrisome.  Please join me in demanding an apology and retraction from Congressman Hoekstra, and request that Congressman Ed Royce do the same.

You can support my campaign by making a contribution today and sharing my message; I will always oppose xenophobia and racial stereotyping in Congress.  Our country deserves better representation than that.

Thank you,

Jay Chen

—

Please Join Honorary Co-Hosts

State Controller John Chiang 

Congresswoman Grace Napolitano

Congresswoman Judy Chu

For a Birthday Fundraiser in Support of

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

New Capital Restaurant, Diamond Plaza Shopping Center

1330 S. Fullerton Road Suite 207, Rowland Heights, CA 91748

Reception Begins at 6:30PM, Dinner Begins at 7:30PM

RSVP by February 19th to Samuel Liu: chenforcongress@gmail.com or (626) 513-2114

Please Make Checks payable to Jay Chen for Congress

Contributions or gifts to Chen for Congress are not tax deductible. Chen for Congress can accept contributions from an individual of up to $2,500 per federal election (the primary and general are separate elections). By submitting your contribution, you agree that the first $2,500 of a contribution will be designated for the 2012 primary election, and any additional amount, up to $2,500 will be designated for the 2012 general election. Federal law requires us to use our best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation, and employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $200 in an election cycle.

Labor Donated, Produced In-House

On the one year anniversary of Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties I wanted to share a link to the NBC story highlighting our school district’s adoption and recognition of that day a year ago.  Given the ever expanding diversity of our country it is imperative that we teach on the courageous fight of Fred Korematsu to bring about justice for Americans wrongly interned by their own government.  Lesson plans for teachers can be found here.

View more videos at: http://nbclosangeles.com.

What a year it has been!  From joining a bi-partisan political delegation to Southeast Asia to winning re-election with the top vote, it has been a memorable twelve months.  I look forward to sharing the highlights with you and I am excited by what 2012 will bring.

Jay Chen’s 2011 Year-in-review

Getting sworn-in for a second term by State Controller John Chiang on December 8, 2011

I am pleased to report that Hacienda-La Puente Unified had another great year thanks to our outstanding teachers and staff. For the first time our district Academic Performance Index broke the coveted 800 mark and we now have four schools scoring over 900.  We are also the only district in California with two National Distinguished Principals!

Prudent fiscal management allowed us to weather another round of state budget cuts without layoffs or furloughs, while allowing room to expand courses; I am thrilled that we broke ground on a new culinary arts program I advocated for that will provide job-ready skills to students.

I am also proud to have made our district the first in California to recognize Fred Korematsu Day; NBC news visited Los Altos High School to report on how we incorporated Mr. Korematsu’s brave fight against WWII discrimination into our curriculum.

The need to teach tolerance was highlighted when opponents of our Mandarin language program tried to recall me, claiming the program was Communist.  Thanks to strong community support, the recall fizzled out without garnering a single signature.

Seeking to raise student awareness of the political process, I organized a scholarship competition in April that asked students to formulate their own law to fix a societal problem.  Hugely successful, more than 80 students from the San Gabriel Valley participated.

My free college application seminars continue to grow in popularity; volunteers helped a record 70 seniors at La Puente High School with intensive one-on-one college application and career advice.

One of the most memorable events of the year was representing the United States in a bi-partisan political delegation to Southeast Asia.  It was fascinating to learn about the politics and culture of Indonesia and Malaysia, and the amazing food still haunts me!

Back home I was honored to be chosen the Democrat of the Year for my region, and I was humbled to be invited to meet President Obama at the White House; a once-in-a-lifetime experience I will never forget.

My year ended on a busy note; after a dedicated campaign I was re-elected to the board with the top vote!  I am honored to have strengthened the public’s confidence in me.

However, all of the excitement of 2011 pales in comparison with what will happen in 2012; Karen and I will be getting married in Antigua, Guatemala.  Thank you for sharing in our happiness, and I wish you and your family a fantastic 2012!

Sincerely,

Jay Chen

Tonight was a very special night.  We honored the extensive 20-year body of work of Norman Hsu and the impact that he has had in our district.  I was also sworn-in for my second term by State Controller John Chiang, a true champion for working families and public education.  I am looking forward to 2012 and I hope everyone has a safe holiday!

Over 70 students attended my college application review, the largest group assisted in what has become a popular annual tradition.  The 20 readers on hand included graduates of Harvard Business School, Caltech, Cal State Fullerton, Harvard College, Wharton, Rochester Institute of Technology, UC Riverside, University of Pennsylvania, UC Berkeley, and the University of Southern California.  Half of the readers were current students or graduates of Claremont McKenna College.  I want to thank all of the readers for taking the time on a Saturday morning to help our students improve their college applications, and I would also like to thank the staff at La Puente High School and especially Assistant Principal Danny Monarrez for hosting the vent.  Please  click the link for a gallery of photos.

2011 College Application Review, La Puente HS

Despite the turmoil and uncertainty created in school districts across the Valley by dwindling budgets and ever-increasing federal standards for test scores, voters largely returned incumbents to their seats Tuesday on school boards across the San Gabriel Valley.
While every district has its own unique issues, two districts with more notable conflicts were West Covina Unified and Hacienda-La Puente Unified.

West Covina Unified school board incumbents Steve Cox and Mike Spence found themselves under fire earlier this year after voting to terminate former Superintendent Liliam Leis-Castillo.

Following her termination, Leis-Castillo filed a lawsuit against Cox, Spence and the district, claiming she had been subjected to sexual harassment, a hostile work environment and that she was fired for discriminatory reasons.

In June, the board created another stir in the community when it voted to let the San Jose Edison Academy become independent of the district.

The school, now known as the San Jose Charter Academy, again found itself the center of controversy in September, when it was discovered that a district administrator had given it a $600,000 loan without permission from the board.

At the time, it was believed that the school would be unable to meet payroll without the loan.

The funds were later returned at the request of the board.

Though there was a large outpouring of support for Leis-Castillo at the time, her firing did not seem to deter voters from casting ballots for Cox and Spence, who held comfortable leads over their challengers in early returns. Incumbent board member Camie Poulos was in third place, but still far ahead of challengers Ian Jones, Stephani Broviak and David Barrile.
Cox said the election results showed that voters saw through efforts to “sidetrack” the election with “innuendos and half truths.”

“I’m honored that the voters have again put their trust in us and our ability to lead the school district,” Cox said.

Spence agreed with Cox, saying that it was clear the voters saw right through a “frivolous” lawsuit.

“They’ve trusted me,” Spence said. “This is this sixth time they’ve elected me.”

Over in Hacienda-La Puente Unified, where furor over Chinese-language classrooms made national news, voters appeared to return incumbent Board President Jay Chen to his seat by a wide margin. Challenger Gino Kwok seemed poised to take the seat left open when longtime board member Norman Hsu decided not to seek re-election.

In February, opponents of the Confucius Classroom launched a recall effort against the four board members who voted in favor of the program, including incumbent board President Chen and Hsu. The recall effort later failed when organizers didn’t gather a single signature.

Another issue that angered many members of the community was a proposal to move the district onto an early start calendar.

Under the new calendar, students would begin classes the first week of August, rather than the last, as is the case currently.

Supporters of the calendar said it would provide students with a better opportunity to prepare for Advanced Placement exams and would give them a “true” winter break.

Kwok said he believes his deep roots in the community, where he has lived since 1974, led to his success.

“It makes me feel very humble and appreciative that the voters of Hacienda-La Puente would place that level of trust and regard in me,” Kwok said.

Chen said he is looking forward to serving another four years on the board.

“I feel really lucky that the voters have given me another chance to continue what I’ve been doing for the past four years,” Chen said. “The positives we’ve been doing.”

Challenger Gloria Alderete was in third place, followed by Cindy Greenup in fourth and Sandra Mary Keat in fifth.

In other most other local school districts, incumbents were able to stave off challengers and keep their seats. Exceptions to this trend were El Monte Union High School District and Glendora Unified, where a 25-year-old political newcomer was in first place.

Azusa Unified: Incumbents Ilean Ochoa and Burke Hamilton held slim leads over challenger Yolanda Pena. Challenger Paul Naccachian was in fourth.
Baldwin Park Unified: Incumbents Jack White, Blanca Rubio and Christina Lucero were leading in a race for three seats in early results. Challenger Natalie Ybarra was in fourth, Mary Ferrer was in fifth and Deanna Robles was in sixth.
Bassett Unified: Challenger Joe Medina and Incumbent Laura Santos seemed poised to take two seats on the board. Incumbent Barbara Boyd did not run for re-election. Challenger Joshua Acevedo was in third place.
Charter Oak Unified: Incumbents Brian Akers, Robert Cruz and Joseph Probst all held comfortable leads over their challengers, David Rose and Lois Shade.
El Monte City School District: Two incumbents chose not to seek re-election this year, leaving their seats open to challengers. Of those challengers, Cathi Eredia was in the lead. Kien Lam was far ahead of Michael Kingsbury in second place.
El Monte Union High: Challenger Juanita Gomez led the pack, followed by incumbent Salvador Ramirez. Challenger Thomson Man was in third place, followed by incumbent Esthela Torres de Siegrist.
Garvey: Incumbents Janet Chin and Henry Lo appeared to keep their seats on the board, with Lo leading. Challenger Jason Otis was in third, followed by John Nunez.
Glendora Unified: Political newcomer Cory Ellenson, a 25-year-old law clerk, held a slim lead over incumbents Doris Blum and Douglas Ferrell. Blum and Ferrel were neck and neck for second place. Challenger Irene Miller was in a distant fourth.
Mountain View: Incumbents Mary Espinosa and Patsy Sutley were leading, with Espinosa in first palce. Challenger Irma Zamorano was in third.
Rosemead: Incumbent Ron Esquivel led the pack, followed by incumbent Randall Cantrell, who held a slim lead over challenger Qui Nguyen.
Walnut Valley Unified: In early results, challenger Phillip Chen was in the lead. Incumbent Larry Redinger was holding a comfortable second place. Challenger Ben Yip was in a distant third.
justin.velasco@sgvn.com
626-962-8811, ext. 2718