The start of the annual Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) Gala Dinner on Tuesday, May 15, 2007, was followed by  two more intense days for participants of the  Leadership Academy for Elected Officials.   After months and months of  staff preparation,   the Class of 2007 line-up is as follows:

6^th District Senator Mailo Atonio from American Samoa (D); Council Member Ken Chew, P.E., PMP, Town of Moraga, CA (D); State Representative Sue Chew,  Boise, Idaho (D); Skokie Park District Commissioner Jerry B. Clarito. Skokie, Illinois (D);

Mayor Jose Owen R. Diaz, CPF, Milan, Michigan (R); District IV Councilmember Charles Kong Djou, Honolulu, Hawaii (R); Mayor Laura Lee, Cerritos, California (D);

Mayor Andrew M. Luzod, Melvindale, Michigan (none); Mayor Michael Park, Federal Way, WA (I); State Senate Majority Whip Norman Sakamoto, Honolulu, Hawaii (D);

Member State Board of Equalization Michelle Park Steel, Rolling Hills Estates, CA (R); and Lt. Governor Aitofele T.Sunia of American Samoa (I).

The Eighth Leadership Academy started in 1999 to provide a workshop program for Asian Pacific Americans (APAs) who wanted to continue in the political pipeline whether they were from the city, town, state or federal levels of government.  This year’s program was sponsored by Verizon.

The Class of 2007 heard from APAICS Chair David Kim, who gave welcoming remarks, followed by APAICS Founder and Vice Chair Norman Y. Mineta.  APAICS Board members welcomed the opportunity to participate by moderating or introducing segments of the program with experts in various fields.  Janelle Wang, Associate Professor, Departments of Political Science and American Studies and Ethnicity, University of Southern California, spoke on Asian Pacific Americans’ (APAs) Political Attitudes and Behavior:  Diversity and Community.  Leecia Eve, Sr. Policy Advisor to Senator Clinton, spoke on “Moving up the Ladder.” APAICS Board Member Curtis D.W. Hom introduced Phil Nash to talk about “Taking Your Campaign On-Line.”  The last panel for the day  included touching base with the grass roots community, which included Christina Chen, Executive Director of APAI Vote; Ed Chow, Former Deputy Asst. Sec’y, Dept. of Veterans Affairs; Paul Igasaki, former EEOC Vice Chair and member of JACL; and Michael Lin, National Executive Director of OCA.   Past President of APAICS Clayton S.Fong moderated. 

“Men and women who are interested in advancing up the political ladder or wanting to acquire more skills and resources to help them in their career find the Leadership Academy workshops very informative as well as educational.  The participants always appreciated the opportunity to network with other APAs and to share political campaign stories, such as fund-raising, press, opponents, constituencies, etc.  It is very eye-opening,” said, APAICS President and CEO William H. (Mo) Marumoto.

APAICS   Corporate Advisory Board Member Leslie Moe-Kaiser, Corp. Relations Manager, State Farm, said, “Building a stronger APAI community is a goal that State Farm shares with APAICS.  The cross-section of elected APAI officials from American Samoa, California, Washington, Idaho, Michigan, and Illinois was a wonderful representation of coming together with one vision of putting more APIAs in the political pipeline.”

Moe-Kaiser further stated that “Seasoned professionals and politicians presented guidelines and how-tos on communications, political desires; statistical materials on APAIs; strategic use of on-line resources; and campaign strategies to enhance the career aspirations of the attendees.”

One of the last day’s workshop programs included Andrew Sun, Founder and Managing Director of Sun Associates, Inc., who spoke on “Focus, Focus, Focus – Communications Strategy in Politics.”

There have been many successful participants of the Verizon sponsored APAICS Leadership program, who after going through the Leadership Academy have better their political positions in their communities.  

State Senate Majority Whip Norman Sakamoto of Honolulu, Hawaii, said,  “The Leadership Academy for Elected Officials included several other Asian Pacific American Islanders from across the country.  I am confident that we ethnic immigrants or Asian-born Americans will be sharing the fabric that will lead Americans to greater heights.”

Another participant, Council Member Ken Chew from the Town of Moraga, California, said that “The 2007 APAICS Leadership Academy was by far the most effective forum I have ever attended.  It was very inspiring to learn from so many outstanding elected officials across the country.  I especially appreciated the tremendous energy, effort, and resources provided by everyone from APAICS to make this such a rewarding experience for me.”

The Leadership Academy for Elected Officials provides many of the resources and informational tools that the participants will need to move forward into higher political office.  State Representative Sue Chew from Boise, Idaho, said, “I found the research data presented in a unique and practical way!   The hands-on experience shared was invaluable!  APAICS should be commended for putting on The Leadership Academy for Elected Officials.”

In his closing remarks, APAICS President and CEO William H. (Mo) Marumoto expressed the hope that each participant will be able to utilize the information given them so that they will be able to move up the political pipeline.  Program facilitator Ruby G. Moy stated that “when you feel you have succeeded, turn around to help another APAI up the ladder.”