The Northwest Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans Political Action Committee
Endorses Dow Constantine for King County Executive

Seattle, WA – The Northwest Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans (NWCAPA) Political Action Committee announces its endorsement of Dow Constantine for King County Executive. Councilmember Constantine has a demonstrated knowledge on issues that concern the greater Asian Pacific American (APA) community. After an exhaustive interview process with several of highly qualified candidates, the Board of Directors are confident that Dow Constantine will best serve the needs of the APA community throughout his political endeavors.

During the endorsement process, Constantine shared about his life-long involvement with the APA community that gave him a particular perspective as a young adult. Constantine had early mentors like Ruth Okada, who had been in the camps, to fellow Boy Scouts from the first wave of the Vietnamese diaspora. Constantine further shared, according to the most recent Census figures, over 13% of King County’s population are Asians and that percentage continues to grow. He expressed a need to disaggregate data on the APA community because issues are vastly different within the community itself. As an elected, he consistently reached out to the APA’s to fill staff positions and internships to ensure he heard a representative perspective, and he also believed in mentoring young leaders was a vital element of his job.

“NWCAPA not only sought the most qualified candidate to serve as King County Executive, but also someone who is culturally attuned to APA values of quality and respect within the American family, and improving the lot for all. Dow’s leadership and advocacy for the APA community has led to many community successes, and we look forward to working with him at all levels of county government,” says NWCAPA board member, Frances J. Youn.

The mission of NWCAPA is to raise the visibility and increase the influence of Asian Pacific Americans in the electoral process by endorsing and providing financial support to political candidates for elected office who: share the values of the Asian Pacific American community; promote Asian Pacific American Appointees for government positions; champion issues of concern to the Asian Pacific American community.

For immediate release:
Contact: Frances J. Youn 206?436?9955
Frances.youn@gmail.com

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The NWCAPA is beginning its endorsement process for the 2009 primary elections for King County Executive.  The NWCAPA is non-partisan and works to raise the visibility and influence of Asian Pacific Americans in the electoral process by providing financial resources to select political candidates.  The NWCAPA endorses only outstanding candidates who have demonstrated support for the Asian Pacific American community in the following areas:

Share the values of the Asian Pacific American community;
Publicly support and promote Asian Pacific American appointees for federal, state and local positions;
Advocate on issues of concern within the Asian Pacific American community.

 
The NWCAPA 2009 candidate evaluation timeline:
Application due: June 30, 2009
Candidate interviews: July 2009
Endorsement announcement: Aug 5, 2009

If you are interested in seeking NWCAPA endorsement, you are encouraged to participate in our process. 

To receive the application form,  please contact NWCAPA’s Board Member, Frances J. Youn at 206-436-9955 or frances.youn@gmail.com.

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Federal Opportunities for Asian Pacific Americans and South Asians in the Northwest

With the election of President elect Barack Obama an unprecedented amount of opportunities could open up for the Asian Pacific American/South Asian community and other communities of color in regard to federal appointments here in the Pacific Northwest.  We live in a very special, diverse and unique region of the country and it has set the stage for new leadership at the federal level for various communities here in the Northwest.

The Northwest Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans (NWCAPA) is a political action committee that was created to promote a greater number of Asian Americans for Federal positions here in the NW region.  With positions such as US Attorney, to Regional Director for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Regional Director for Education, etc.  The list is countless for creating the most diverse pool of federal appointments in the history of the United States.

NWCAPA is seeking to encourage and solicit applicants for some of these federal opportunities.  It is more important than ever for Asian Pacific Americans to step forward and embrace these new opportunities that are being presented to us.  We never know if it will ever come again and if there is a time in history for our community to seriously imprint ourselves into the mainstream culture, this is the time.  Too often Asian Pacific Americans and other communities of color have been segregated, diminished and even persecuted within our own political system.  By having a more diverse impact at the federal level within our Pacific NW region, we will have the opportunity to bring progressive leadership and change to our communities.

Please submit a cover letter, resume/curriculum vitae; and list of (3) references. The cover letter should identify at minimum three agencies and positions of interest to you.

• Timing: While we will accept information on an ongoing basis we would prefer to have information by April 15, 2009.
• Review by NWCAPA: A Committee of NWCAPA will review resumes.  During the review process, NWCAPA will look to the following criteria: (a) qualifications and professional record of accomplishments; (b) record of community and policy service; and (c) awareness/understanding of APA communities and issues.  Due to time and capacity constraints, only candidates that NWCAPA would like to recommend will be contacted to obtain further information.
• Send attachments via email to info@nwcapa.com.  In the subject line of the email, please put your full name and indicate the agencies of interest to you (such as “First Name, Last Name: Treasury; Justice; and State”).

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Gary Locke

President Obama officially nominated former two-time Washington Governor Gary Locke for Secretary of Commerce.  Governor Locke was the first Chinese American governor in U.S. history and the first Asian American governor in the continental United States.  Locke is the third Asian American nominated for the Obama Cabinet, joining Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki and Energy Secretary Steven Chu.  Born into an immigrant family, Locke grew up in a public housing project for families of World War II veterans as a child.  He was an Eagle Scout, and through a combination of part-time jobs, financial aid and scholarships, Locke attended Yale University, earning a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1972.  As Secretary of Commerce, Lock will play a key role on the Administration’s economic team.  He will be responsible for fostering and promoting the nation’s economic development at home.  He will also be facing the challenges of the 2010 census, and will be in charge of the Economic Development Administration, which invests in locally-developed, regionally-based economic development initiatives that directly contribute to economic growth.

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