The national organization “AAPI LEAD (Asian American and Pacific Islanders Leadership Elected and AppointeD)”, established to enhance the political influence of AAPIs and amplify their voices in mainstream politics, has begun to make its moves.
On July 18, AAPI LEAD announced their support for expanding the number of LA County Supervisors and electing a professional manager during a press conference held in downtown LA. This press conference was organized by LA County Board of Supervisors Chair Lindsey Horvath. U.S. Representatives Judy Chu (D-CA) and Ted Lieu (D-CA) also attended the event to show their support.
Congresswoman Chu highlighted that “LA County has more Asian Americans than any other county in the U.S., with nearly 1.5 million AAPIs residing here. Despite this significant population, there are no supervisors representing the AAPI community.” She emphasized the importance of passing the reform plan to ensure representation for the Asian community.
She mentioned areas such as Koreatown, Monterey Park, Long Beach, Torrance, and Santa Clarita, where the Asian population has nearly tripled, and emphasized, “This expansion is not just a simple reform. We need to take measures that can represent the diversity of the region.”
David Ryu, the executive director of AAPI LEAD, stressed the significance of the proposed restructuring, noting, “This is the first such proposal since 1912 and represents a crucial and historic opportunity for our community.” He added that it may well be the most innovative empowerment opportunity for the Asian community in the next century.
On July 9, the LA County Board of Supervisors passed a government reform plan with a 3-0 vote, which proposes increasing the number of supervisors from five to nine and electing a Chief Executive Officer (CEO). If it passes a second reading, it will be officially placed on the November ballot as a county initiative.
The reform plan addresses the issue that since LA County’s inception in 1912, the population under its jurisdiction has grown from 50,000 to 2 million, leading to inadequate government services. The plan includes electing a county CEO to manage its $26 billion budget starting in 2028 and expanding the Board of Supervisors in 2032.
Meanwhile, AAPI LEAD is a national organization of Asian American elected and appointed officials, with approximately 350 members from local, state, and federal government positions across the United States.
BY NICOLE CHANG, YOUNGNAM KIM [chang.nicole@koreadaily.com]
