“I made a big mistake three months ago, but the campaign will continue, and I will reward you with victory.”
California State Senator Dave Min (D-Orange County), who is running for California’s 47th Congressional District, said on July 13 that he will continue to work earnestly with a message of apology to voters.
“I recognize that my mistakes in Sacramento have caused concerns and criticisms among my political supporters in Southern California. I bow my head and apologize, and I will work harder to gain more political support and raise more political funds from individual supporters,” he said.
Min was arrested in Sacramento on a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence of alcohol with a blood alcohol content above the legal limit of 0.08 percent and was released early in the morning on May 3.
Min’s campaign has raised more than $400,000 since announcing his candidacy, with over 90 percent of that coming from California. All of the money has come from individual supporters, and Min’s campaign said it is not accepting money from large corporations.
“As an environmentalist, I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to take money from oil companies,” Min said, “and I’m going to stick to that principle.”
Former California State Assemblyman Scott Baugh, who has emerged as a major contender, currently holds a slight lead with $500,000, but political observers say that Min has a better edge than Baugh in terms of political experience and other factors.
Regarding the two incumbent Korean American congresswomen (R), Min said, “It’s hard to evaluate them as a whole because they’re all representing different constituents in different districts. I’m going to represent the district with centrist Democratic values.”
With regard to Steven S. Choi (R), who is running for the California State Senate District 37, Min said, “I’m cautious to say because it’s a different party, but I have been saying in the party that we should look at his political power and potential to garner votes very carefully.”
Min’s campaign plans to spend more time talking to local voters during the California State Assembly recess.
BY INSEONG CHOI [choi.inseong@koreadaily.com]
