UCLA's New National APA Political Almanac Lists Over 2,000 Asian Pacific American Elected and Appointed Officials Nationwide

For Immediate Use
Media Copies, contact Letisia Marquez, (310) 206-3986
Classroom review copies, contact Ying Min Tu: aascpress@aasc.ucla.edu

December 5, 2007

"UCLA's New National APA Political Almanac Lists Over 2,000 Asian Pacific American Elected and Appointed Officials Nationwide"

The impact of 14 million Asian Pacific Americans on the upcoming 2008 presidential election is one of many topics examined in the new 13th edition (2007-08) of the National Asian Pacific American Political Almanac, which was released today in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C..

The 254-page almanac also documents the continuously growing numbers of Asian Pacific American elected and major appointed officials. It includes a listing of more than 2,000 Asian Pacific American elected and major appointed officials at the federal, state and local levels for 37 different states from Hawaii to Connecticut, as well as the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam and the Mariana Islands.

The UCLA Asian American Studies Center and the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) in Washington, D.C. compiled the 13th Edition of the almanac. Professors Don T. Nakanishi of UCLA and James S. Lai of Santa Clara University were the co-editors of the almanac, and Ann Nguyen of APAICS was the researcher. The publication is intended to provide the most comprehensive and up-to-date compilation of practical information, empirical research and policy perspectives on the electoral involvement of the nation's Asian Pacific American population in American politics. The almanac was supported by a major grant from the AT and T Foundation.

Since its initial publication in 1976 by Professor Nakanishi, the almanac has been an indispensable reference guide for students, community leaders, elected officials, researchers, journalists and others interested in the growing presence of Asian Pacific Americans in electoral politics.

"The Asian Pacific American population, which has grown rapidly during the past four decades to 14 million nationwide, is building a viable, multifaceted political infrastructure that will have an increasingly decisive impact on American politics throughout the 21st century," said Nakanishi, director of the UCLA Asian American Studies Center. "As voters, as donors, as public policy advocates and as elected officials, Asian Pacific Americans seek to no longer remain as spectators to the parade of politics, or as vulnerable victims of partisan power struggles.

"Instead they are striving to become more organized, more visible and more effective as participants and leaders in order to advance - as well as to protect - their individual and group interests, and to contribute to our nation's democratic processes and institutions," Nakanishi said.

Among the recently elected officials who are listed in the new political almanac are Bobby Jindal, Governor of Louisiana; Mazie Hirono, United States Congress member from Hawaii; California State Controller John Chiang; Connecticut State Representative William Tong; Ohio State Representative Jay Goyal; and Boston City Council member Sam Yoon.

The edition also features the latest census data on Asian Americans; exit polls from the November 2006 elections, as well as a national directory of Asian American and Pacific Islander political, civil rights, advocacy and legal organizations.

Analyses of current Asian Pacific American political activities, especially in relation to the upcoming presidential election, are offered by a diverse group of political scientists, elected officials and political organizers from across the country: Andrew Aoki, Augsburg College; Christine Chen, APIAVote!; Paul Fong, DeAnza Foothill College; Rep. Barbara Marumoto, Hawaii State Legislature; Natalie Masuoka, San Francisco State University; Vijay Prashad, Trinity College; Karthick Ramakrishnan, UC Riverside; Okiyoshi Takeda, Aoyama Gakuen University; James Lai, Santa Clara University; Kim Gerron, CSU East Bay.

The 13th Edition of the National Asian Pacific American Political Almanac (ISBN: 978-0-934052-42-9) can be purchased for $20, plus $5 shipping and handling; California residents add 8.25 percent sales tax. Bulk rates also are available. International Orders add $15.

The political almanac can be ordered through the UCLA Asian American Studies Center or the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies:

(1) Order through the UCLA Asian American Studies Center Press:

On-line Bookstore of the Asian American Studies Center Press (pay by credit card)

http://www.aasc.ucla.edu/aascpress/comersus/store/

Order by mail or phone:
UCLA Asian American Studies Center Press
3230 Campbell Hall, Box 951546
Los Angeles, CA.  USA.  90095-1546
(310) 825-2968
Make checks payable to "Regents of the UC"

Classroom Review Copies, Bulk Discounts: contact Ying Min Tu
aascpress@aasc.ucla.edu or fax 310. 206. 9844

(2) Mail orders through the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies:
Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies
1001 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 530
Washington, D.C.  20036.
phone:(202) 296-9200
e-mail at apaics@apaics.org
Make checks payable to "APAICS"

Mobilizing For Change: The Participation and Representation of Asian Pacific Americans in American Politics
by Don T. Nakanishi

Statement from the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS)
by David Kim

Grassroots Organizing Holds the Key to the Political Fortunes of Asian Pacific Americans in 2008 and Beyond
by James S. Lai

UCLA Asian American Studies Center

RESOURCE GUIDE

Issue Focus: What Do Asian Pacific Americans Have to Do in the 2008 Presidential Elections to Make an Impact? APA Voters, Issues, and the 2008 Elections
by Andrew L. Aoki

Apathetic and Apolitical? Asian Pacific Americans and the Next Steps for Building a Political Base
by Christine Chen

The Political Maturation of Asian Pacific Americans in California
by Paul Fong

Asian Pacific American Clout in 2008
by Rep. Barbara Marumoto

Asian Pacific Americans and the Immigration Debate: Key Issues for the 2008 Election
by Natalie Masuoka

Watada's Election
by Vijay Prashad

APAs and the 2008 Presidential Election
by Karthick Ramakrishnan

How Asian Americans Are Made to "Disappear" in US Presidential  Elections
by Okiyoshi (Oki) Takeda

WHEN ASIAN AMERICANS RUN: The Suburban and Urban Dimensions of Asian American Candidates in California Local Politics
by James S. Lai and Kim Geron

2004 U.S. CENSUS DATA

Asian Household Population by State
Percent Asian by State
Selected Age Groups and Median Age
Marital Status
Fertility
Household Type
Nativity and Citizenship Status
Asian Foreign-Born Household Population by State
Foreign Born by Year of Entry
Language Spoken at Home and English-Speaking Ability
Educational Attainment
Occupation
Median Household Income
2006 Elections: CNN Exit Poll Data
LA/SF/Oakland Poll(Asian Law Caucus/APA Legal Center of Southern California)
Highlights From the AALDEF Multilingual Exit Poll in the November 2006 Elections
National Asian Pacific American Political Organizations
State and Local Asian Pacific American Organizations

POLITICAL DIRECTORY

Key Federal, State, & Municipal Elected Officials Representation by
States: Aggregate Totals
Federal Officials:
Members of U.S. Senate
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives
AAPI Presidential Appointees
White House Staff
Resident Representatives
Judicial Appointees
State and Local Officials:
Alabama // Alaska // Arizona // California // Colorado // Connecticut // District of
Columbia // Florida // Georgia // Hawaii // Idaho // Illinois // Indiana // Iowa //
Kentucky // Louisiana // Maryland // Massachusetts // Michigan // Minnesota // Missouri
// Nebraska // Nevada // New Hampshire // New Jersey // New York // Ohio // Oregon //
Pennsylvania // Rhode Island // South Carolina // Texas // Utah // Vermont // Virginia //
Washington // West Virginia // Wisconsin // American Samoa // Guam // Northern Mariana
Islands