Ding Ding TV election edition – Get to know the candidates
Polls open from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm today for the election. If you are an eligible voter, please vote – make your voice heard!
If you care about any of the topics below, you should vote:
Abortion Anti-Asian Hate Crimes Diversity/Equity/Inclusion
Economy Education Family Gun violence
Immigration Jobs Racial Hate Social Justice
Information taken from California’s Secretary of State website:
All California active registered voters will receive a vote-by-mail ballot for the November 8, 2022, General Election.
All counties have early voting and drop-off locations.
Starting on October 29, Voter’s Choice Act counties will open vote centers.
In-person voting locations offer: same-day voter registration, replacement ballots, accessible voting machines, and language assistance to those who need it.
Check your voter registration status online at voterstatus.ca.gov.
Your ballot contains federal, statewide, and judicial candidates, 7 state ballot propositions, and local candidates and measures.
Return your vote-by-mail ballot by mail, or in-person to a secure ballot drop box, a voting location, or your county elections office.
All vote-by-mail ballots returned by mail must be postmarked on or before 8:00 p.m. on November 8, and received by November 15, 2022.
To learn more, visit California’s Secretary of State website.
Lily Mei (Mayor of Fremont, Candidate for State Senate)
Democrat Lily Mei is the first elected woman and Asian American mayor in Fremont’s 65 year history.
She previously served two terms as a School Board Trustee before being elected to the City Council. Lily Mei is running for State Senate.
Lily Mei participated in “Civic Leadership Forum “We Are All Americans.” She talked about what cultural traits the AAPI community can contribute to making America an even greater country. She spoke about strength and unity through the lens of her mum’s philosophy – one chopstick is easy to break. But a bundle is harder to break because they are together and united.
Innovation Dialog with Lisa Gillmor, Mayor of Santa Clara and Candidate for Re-election
For Innovation Dialog Diana Ding interviewed Lisa Gillmor, the Mayor of Santa Clara and the Candidate for Re-election.
Lisa spoke about how Santa Clara changed since her childhood and since her father was the first directly elected Mayor of Santa Clara. Diana wanted to know what are Lisa’s priorities as the Mayor, how is Santa Clara different from other cities in Silicon Valley, and what part of community outreach Lisa enjoys the most.
The two spoke about how Santa Clara is dealing with Anti-Asian hate crimes, homelessness and budget issues.
Innovation Dialog with Ann Hsu (Candidate for San Francisco Board of Education)
Diana Ding interviewed Ann Hsu, the Candidate for San Francisco Board of Education.
Ann outlined the three key issues she plans to focus on if she wins the election. Likewise, she addressed the recent controversy pertaining marginalized students. She apologized to the members of the community affected for using insensitive words and met with them to learn more about the challenges they face.
Diana asked Ann what are the biggest challenges San Francisco faces and what are her planned solutions. Also, Diana wanted to know how Ann plans to exercise respect and trust among the diverse community of San Francisco. Ann also answered a question on how politics benefited or hurt the public education.
Innovation Dialog with Christian Pellecchia (Candidate for Santa Clara City Council)
Diana Ding interviewed Christian Pellecchia, a Candidate for Santa Clara City Council, District 3.
Christian occupied many roles in his professional life and Diana wanted to know why he decided to run for Santa Clara City Council and which one of his roles he enjoys the most. Furthermore, Diana asked how his experience informs his decision to run for an elected official. Christian and Diana talked about the many challenges Santa Clara faces and what his priorities would be if elected. Christian is running a grassroots campaign and facing negative campaigns, Diana wanted to know how he addresses that.
The two also talked about how Christian plans to help ethnic small business owners in Santa Clara.
Innovation Dialog with Matthew Mahan, San Jose City Council and Candidate for Mayor
Diana Ding interviewed Matthew Mahan, San Jose City Council member and Candidate for Mayor.
Diana and Matthew spoke about his tech entrepreneur background and teaching career and how his experience informs his tenure as an elected official. Matthew also spoke about his priorities if elected as the Mayor of San Jose, what differentiates him from his competitors and current policies that are not working.
Diana and Matthew spoke about Anti-Asian hate crimes and what he plans to do about hate crimes if elected.
Sheng Thao (Oakland Councilmember, Oakland Mayor Candidate)
Sheng joined the office of Oakland’s Councilmember At-Large, which represents the entire city, and worked her way up to Chief of Staff. In that role, Sheng helped manage multiple City budgets, fought for affordable housing, helped small businesses open, worked to get guns off the streets, and fought for cleaner air and water.
Sheng knew she could do even more as an elected official herself. So she ran for City Council District 4 and won, becoming the first Hmong-American woman Councilmember in California history. She is running for the position of Oakland Mayor.
Sheng participated in Civic Leadership Forum Silicon Valley “We Are All Americans” where she spoke about discrimination and her suggestions on how to handle it.
Yang Shao (Fremont Council Member and Candidate for re-election)
Yang Shao is a longtime Fremont resident, who first served on Fremont Unified School District Board from 2014 to 2018, and then on the City Council over the last four years.
Through close communications with his constituents, he puts public safety, financial health and sustainability of the city government, and response to homelessness as his top priorities.
Yang Shao participated in Civic Leadership Forum Silicon Valley “we Are All Americans” where he spoke about pros and cons of Asian Americans being called the Model Minority.
Jay Chen (President of the Board of Trustees Mt. San Antonio Community College, Candidate for US Congress CA-45)
Jay Chen is a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Naval Reserves, Trustee for Mt. San Antonio Community College, and a small business owner.
As a school board member he created free college application workshops, free SAT classes and dual language Spanish and Mandarin language programs to ensure all students have a chance to thrive and succeed.
Jay Chen is running for Congress in California’s 45th Congressional district.
Jay Chen participated in Civic Leadership Forum Silicon Valley for the launch of “All of Us Belong Right Here” music video. He spoke about Anti-Asian hate and how it is nothing new. He said: “This is a great country because of its diversity. The minute we start to make the strength of our country feel unwelcomed, our country will start to suffer.”
Innovation Dialog with Malia Cohan, the first African American woman to serve on California State Board of Equalization
Malia serves on the California State Board of Equalization, the first African American woman to serve on the Board. She represents 10 million people living in 23 counties throughout the state.
Prior to being elected to the Board of Equalization, Malia served as President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. She currently serves as President of the San Francisco Police Commission where she is a strong voice for police accountability.
Malia is running for State Controller.
Otto Lee, District 3 Supervisor, Santa Clara County is running for re-election
When Otto first moved to Sunnyvale over 25 years ago, he immediately became an active member of the community. He served on the Sunnyvale Planning Commission and was then elected to serve on the Sunnyvale City Council from 2003 to 2011, including one term as Mayor.
In November 2020, Otto Lee was overwhelmingly elected to be the new Supervisor for District 3.
Otto Lee took part “In Time of Covid-19” video competition.
Yan Zhao is running for Saratoga City Council
Yan Zhao was elected to the Saratoga City Council in 2018 and served as Mayor in 2021. She is running for Saratoga City Council.
She spoke at Stop the Asian Hate rally in San Jose.
Assemblymember Ash Kalra represents California’s 27th District
Assemblymember Ash Kalra represents California’s 27th District.
He was first elected in 2016, becoming the first Indian American to serve in the California Legislature in state history, and was re-elected to his third term in 2020.
He spoke at Stop the Asian Hate rally in San Jose.
Assemblymember Alex Lee represents California’s 25th District
Alex Lee represents California’s 25th Assembly District which includes the Alameda County communities of Fremont and Newark, and the Santa Clara County Communities of Milpitas, San Jose, and Santa Clara.
Assemblymember Lee was elected in 2020 and became the youngest Asian American legislator ever elected and first openly bisexual state legislator in California history.
Evan Low represents California’s 28th District
Evan Low represents Silicon Valley in the California State Assembly after District 28 voters first elected him in 2014. At the time, Assemblymember Low was the youngest Asian American legislator ever elected to the Assembly.
Evan Low spoke at Stop the Asian Hate rally in San Jose.
Suvarna Bhopale is running for School Board, Sequoia Union High School District, Area A
Suvarna is a proud mother of two children, a lawyer, and has served as a Trustee for BRSSD for the past 9 years.
She is running for School Board, Sequoia Union High School District, Area A.
Santa Clara County Supervisor Susan Ellenberg is running for re-election
Santa Clara County Supervisor Susan Ellenberg represents a diverse population of more than 400,000 residents in District 4.
Prior to her election to the Board of Supervisors, Susan served on the San Jose Unified School District Board of Trustees from 2014 to 2018, and as the Board President in 2018. She has worked as a leadership development director, social justice educator, and real estate & land use attorney.
Fiona Ma, California State Treasurer
Fiona Ma is California’s 34th State Treasurer. She was elected on November 6, 2018 with more votes than any other candidate for treasurer in the state’s history. She is the first woman of color and the first woman Certified Public Accountant (CPA) elected to the position.
Fiona Ma participated in 2022 California Small Business and Forum and Workshop.
Rob Bonta, Attorney General of the State of California
Rob Bonta was sworn in as the 34th Attorney General of the State of California, the first person of Filipino descent and the second Asian-American to occupy the position.
Prior to serving in the Assembly, Attorney General Bonta worked as a Deputy City Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco, where he represented the City and County and its employees, and fought to protect Californians from exploitation and racial profiling.
London Breed, the Mayor of San Francisco
London Breed is the 45th Mayor of the City and County of San Francisco. She previously served as President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and Acting Mayor, leading San Francisco following the tragic passing of Mayor Edwin Lee.
She is the first African-American woman and only second woman to serve as Mayor.
Stephanie Nguyen is running for State Assembly
Stephanie Nguyen has fought to bring economic opportunity, health equity and social justice to the families whose lives are impacted most by these issues.
As a member of the Elk Grove City Council, Stephanie draws from her experience in business and finance to help the city develop economically by supporting businesses thereby increasing jobs.
Congresswoman Anna Eshoo
Like the Silicon Valley region she represents, Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo exemplifies innovation. She’s creative, productive, a problem solver and a consensus builder.
For over two decades in Congress, Rep. Eshoo has defended consumers, promoted American competitiveness and innovation, fought for access to health care for families and children, protected the environment, and encouraged development of clean energy technology.
Innovation Dialog with Congressman Ted Lieu
Ted W. Lieu represents California’s 33rd Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. Ted is serving in his fourth term in Congress and currently sits on the House Judiciary Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
He was also elected by his Democratic Colleagues this Congress to serve as a Co-Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee for a third time. Ted is a former active duty officer in the U.S. Air Force.
Dialog with Congresswoman Judy Chu
Judy Chu was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in July 2009. She represents the 27th Congressional District, which includes Pasadena and the west San Gabriel Valley of southern California.
Rep. Chu currently serves on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over legislation pertaining to taxes, revenues, Social Security, and Medicare.
California State Senator Dave Cortese
Senator Dave Cortese was elected in November of 2020 to represent State Senate District 15 which encompasses much of Santa Clara County in the heart of Silicon Valley.
Along with his accomplished career as an attorney and business owner, the Senator previously served on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors for over a decade, with four years as Board President, on the San Jose City Council for eight years, including two years as Vice Mayor, and as a trustee for the East Side Union High School District for eight years.
Congressman Ro Khanna
Congressman Ro Khanna represents California’s 17th Congressional District, located in the heart of Silicon Valley, and is serving in his third term.
Rep. Khanna sits on the House Agriculture, Armed Services, and Oversight and Reform committees, where he chairs the Environmental Subcommittee.
Raymond Buenaventura is running for Daly City Council
Ray Buenaventura is Member of the Daly City Council and served as the city’s Mayor in 2013 and 2015.
Ray is also an Attorney and Certified Criminal Law Specialist. He has been practicing law for over 23 years focusing on indigent criminal defense.
Carmen Montano is running for Mayor of Milpitas
Carmen Montano is currently serving as the Vice Mayor of Milpitas.
She served on the Parks and Recreation Commission, then on the Library Commission, and the Planning Commission. She was elected to the School Board in the year 2000-2008. She was elected to the Milpitas City Council in 2012 and served as Vice Mayor 2014-2016.
Santa Clara District Attorney Jeff Rosen
Jeff Rosen is a nationally recognized leader in criminal justice reform. Since 2011, Mr. Rosen has overseen the largest prosecutor’s office north of Los Angeles, serving a population of almost two million.
From gang homicides to human trafficking to cyber-crime, the DA’s Office prosecutes tens of thousands of cases in court each year and diverts thousands of others to achieve justice inside and outside of court.
