UPDATED:  November 29, 2008 11:26 PM
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APA Holds Inaugural Gala

WASHINGTON–Top Asian American elected officials and other Democrats will headline the pre-inaugural gala celebration on Jan. 19 here in the nation’s capital. Elected and appointed officials, as well as community leaders, are expected to play major roles in the new administration.

Leading them are the Gala honorary co-chairs: Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (D, HI), who is the new chairman of the powerful Senate committee on appropriations, Sen. Daniel K. Akaka (D, HI), chairman of the Senate committee on appropriations, another major panel; Congressman Mike Honda, Democratic National Committee vice chair; former Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta, and DNC APIA Caucus Chair Bel Leong-Hong.

At press time, President-elect Barack Obama had appointed Chris Lu as Cabinet secretary, the White House liaison to the Cabinet and government agencies. Lu was Obama’s chief of staff in the Senate. He was also a senior adviser during the campaign.

Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) leaders and celebrities will gather at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel to discuss their role in this year’s historic elections, as well as to celebrate the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama the following day.

In the morning briefings, participants will discuss the community’s voter participation and increasing political strength. Mandarin Oriental Washington, D.C. is located on 1330 Maryland Avenue, SW.

The events will mark the community’s largest involvement in presidential inaugural celebration history. Record numbers of Asian Americans who voted in this year’s elections supported President-elect Obama by a 2-1 margin, according to the Associated Press. Asian American and Pacific Islander community organizations turned out in force for voter outreach and voter protection programs.

Tickets to the Pearl Presidential Inaugural Gala were sold out within days, according to Gala Co-chairs Francey Lim Youngberg and Gloria T. Caoile. In the evening, there will also be and auction on limited edition jewelry by Diamond Cutters International. Proceeds will benefit the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program.

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