Peng Her: Stepping forward for Wisconsin District 81
By Heidi M. Pascual
Peng Her has come a long — in fact, very long — way. Once a 5-year-old
refugee from Thailand in the mid-'70s, the young-looking 36-year-old physicist,
owner of Taste of Asia Restaurant and well-known community activist, is now
running for the Wisconsin State Assembly's District 81. Unlike most other Hmong
who, like him, were forced to run for their lives when communists took over Laos
and ended up in foreign lands, Her wants to do more than just search for the
American Dream and remain a quiet, "mind-my-own-business" type of guy. After
years of community-related volunteer work in human services, economic
development, and social justice, and while working very hard to improve his and
his family's lives, Her has decided it's time to step forward on behalf of the
community where he lives and provide a much-needed voice for them in the
State Assembly.
His decision to run was sparked by his sense of activism and his observation
that the Asian community has long been labeled a "model minority" to
everyone's disadvantage.
"I've always felt that we are very obedient, very quiet when issues come up,"
Her said in an interview with Asian Wisconzine. "And as an activist, I knew that
in order to get our community to become more vocal and speak up for
ourselves, sometimes you have to lead by example. I think that by challenging
the system, by speaking up, and running for office, you lead by example. I want
to show our kids and grandkids that we can become elected officials, we can
become doctors and lawyers and principals and surgeons."
Her acknowledged that the American form of government has given every U.
S. citizen the opportunity to choose his/her elected officials, but that the
choices have not always been great. "I think oftentimes our elected officials
forget about the constituents they represent," Her stressed, pointing to corporate
Peng Her has come a long — in fact, very long — way. Once a 5-year-old
refugee from Thailand in the mid-'70s, the young-looking 36-year-old physicist,
owner of Taste of Asia Restaurant and well-known community activist, is now
running for the Wisconsin State Assembly's District 81. Unlike most other Hmong
who, like him, were forced to run for their lives when communists took over Laos
and ended up in foreign lands, Her wants to do more than just search for the
American Dream and remain a quiet, "mind-my-own-business" type of guy. After
years of community-related volunteer work in human services, economic
development, and social justice, and while working very hard to improve his and
his family's lives, Her has decided it's time to step forward on behalf of the
community where he lives and provide a much-needed voice for them in the
State Assembly.
His decision to run was sparked by his sense of activism and his observation
that the Asian community has long been labeled a "model minority" to
everyone's disadvantage.
"I've always felt that we are very obedient, very quiet when issues come up,"
Her said in an interview with Asian Wisconzine. "And as an activist, I knew that
in order to get our community to become more vocal and speak up for
ourselves, sometimes you have to lead by example. I think that by challenging
the system, by speaking up, and running for office, you lead by example. I want
to show our kids and grandkids that we can become elected officials, we can
become doctors and lawyers and principals and surgeons."
Her acknowledged that the American form of government has given every U.
S. citizen the opportunity to choose his/her elected officials, but that the
choices have not always been great. "I think oftentimes our elected officials
forget about the constituents they represent," Her stressed, pointing to corporate
power and special interest groups or lobbyists who have been recipients of elected officials' special attention. "I think this government is one that should
represent the people and should look at the issues that affect their constituents and then make and pass laws that will help those constituents."
Human services top Her's list of issues, which he vows to really work on if he gets elected. Having been on the Dane County Human Services Board for
several years, he has long recognized the need to focus on health care issues. "I truly believe that we, as a country, should and can provide universal
health care, for everyone, regardless of one's socioeconomic background or ethnicity," Her said emphatically. "I think universal health care is key to the
sustainability and viability of this country. I have advocated for that. Locally, senior care, elder care here in Dane County is very important to me. I've
advocated to the board and (County Executive) Kathleen Falk about the importance of adequate senior care as well as health care for our community to
make it viable and make it grow as it needs to grow."
Economic development is another big issue that Her is passionate about. "As a small business owner, I could see that without economic development
in the city of Madison and in Wisconsin, we will run the risk of not being the number one-ranked city in the United States, or we won't have that Madisonian
appeal that we have been accustomed to because of the lakes and the capitol being here," he observed. "One of my goals is to make sure that the
businesses that are here stay here, and that we attract new business to come here. When I talk of business, I'm not talking about building new condos
downtown, or building new condos in the district. I'm talking about attracting large manufacturing companies that will bring jobs to this district and to the
state."
To Her, the key to economic development is, first of all, having a sustainable workforce.
"Without a sustainable workforce, we can't have factories or manufacturing companies moving in, so we must also look at the community as a whole," he
explained, noting that economic development must be seen in tandem with community development. "By bringing them together, we can attract big
businesses, that would say, 'You know what, here's a district or a state or a city that has a well educated workforce, and if I relocate my company there, I
will have the workers I need, I will have the benefits … and then support both from the local and federal governments."
Education, which ALL people — especially from the working class — rely on to help them move up amidst the highly competitive American society, is
Her's concern as well. He said that the present Wisconsin educational funding system should be reformed. "I think that the current formula that they use to
calculate funding for the schools in Wisconsin could be changed a bit," he said. "I don't believe in the caps that we put on our schools. That's just
basically saying that we could only pay so much for the teachers who are teaching our kids and educating the future of this country, while lobbyists and
special interest groups and CEOs are paid millions of dollars. The most important people in the community, the educators who teach our children and
educate the future leaders, are being capped by how much they can make, or their school is being capped and handicapped by what they can spend on
their students, in the classroom, and in the school. So those are things that we, as a community and as a state, need to look at."
Her also hopes to contribute his thoughts about the government's fiscal responsibility to the community. "I want to make sure that the needs of the
community are met and that we're not spending on things that are wasteful," he said. "But yet, at the same time, I want to make sure things that are
needed, such as good education, universal health care and more companies and businesses that will employ our constituents, are met or worked on at the
state level."
Peng Her has a solid record of grassroots involvement, and this has given Her confidence to convince people to elect him. "I'm running as a viable
candidate," he said. "I have many years of experience sitting on boards and commissions for both city and county governments. At the Dane County
Human Services Board, for example, we have a $210 million budget (from which) the county has to provide services for all the folks in the county. I have
experience with (how to allocate) the budget. I also have experience with economic development since I've been with the City of Madison's Economic
Development Commission. One of the jobs we're working on now is to do strategic planning for the city of Madison for the next 25 years. We need to look
at how the city will grow, how we can plan for its growth and how to attract new businesses to the city of Madison. All these have given me the experience
and the knowledge to be District 81's representative in the State Assembly."
Her is running as a mainstream candidate to help him get all the votes he needs to win, but surely, he doesn't forget where he is coming from. "I came
from humble beginnings, and I know how it is and how it feels to be there," he said with all sincerity. "I think that someone who is not a political insider or
someone who has not been in the game very long or has no ties to special interest groups or large corporations brings in new perspectives, new vision and
can see things clearly. It will allow the common folk to talk to me and come and address their issues with me. I've really been supportive of what Sen. Russ
Feingold does, in which he holds townhall meetings throughout the state of Wisconsin. That's something that I admire, support and will do. That is the only
way that the common people get their voices heard. They do not need to contribute to the campaign; they don't need to pay lobbyists to come and lobby
me to represent you. You elected me and I want you to feel comfortable when you come talk to me as your elected official, saying 'These are the
concerns; these are issues that I'm being faced with. How can we address them?' Then let you and I work together to make sure those issues are being
addressed at the state level."
Looking at Her's record and reputation in the Madison community, and looking beyond his words during this interview, District 81 has, undoubtedly, a
leader who is stepping forward with a sincere desire and readiness to work for genuine reforms on issues that people care about.
Peng Her's brief background
Peng Her's story reflects that of many other Hmong kids who grew up in America's rural towns. They arrived in the U.S. with only their clothes on their
backs and couldn’t speak English. They depended on their sponsors for awhile, then struggled to stand on their own amidst tons of societal barriers. Peng's
father worked in a factory for more than 25 years, and with his mother, succeeded in raising seven children well. All of them graduated from college, are
leading successful lives, and "leading by example," in their own way. Peng Her earned his bachelor's and master's in physics and became a research
scientist in Argonne National Laboratories in Illinois before finding his calling in Madison, Wis. He met his wife, MaiZong, while looking for an opportunity
to volunteer at the Hmong National Development's educational conference. MaiZong was then HND's board president. They ended up settling in Madison
where both worked together while raising a family. They collaborated on a special project, the Hmong Traveling Exhibit, for the Madison Children's
Museum, which later hired Her as project coordinator. The exhibit became a showcase of Hmong history set in three segments: the Hmong in Laos; the
Hmong involvement in the secret army and the CIA; and the aftermath of the war that had the Hmong fleeing for their lives.
Her worked for MCM for three years until the opportunity to start his own business came up. Taste of Asia Restaurant has become Her's way of sharing
not only part of the Hmong culture through its cuisine but also the Hmong values of hospitality and friendship. His restaurant has become a meeting place
for many important community gatherings, including a listening session last year with Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and the Asian American community and the
brainstorming session, and later launching, of Asian Wisconzine in 2004.
Contact Peng Her at pengher@sbcglobal.net.
represent the people and should look at the issues that affect their constituents and then make and pass laws that will help those constituents."
Human services top Her's list of issues, which he vows to really work on if he gets elected. Having been on the Dane County Human Services Board for
several years, he has long recognized the need to focus on health care issues. "I truly believe that we, as a country, should and can provide universal
health care, for everyone, regardless of one's socioeconomic background or ethnicity," Her said emphatically. "I think universal health care is key to the
sustainability and viability of this country. I have advocated for that. Locally, senior care, elder care here in Dane County is very important to me. I've
advocated to the board and (County Executive) Kathleen Falk about the importance of adequate senior care as well as health care for our community to
make it viable and make it grow as it needs to grow."
Economic development is another big issue that Her is passionate about. "As a small business owner, I could see that without economic development
in the city of Madison and in Wisconsin, we will run the risk of not being the number one-ranked city in the United States, or we won't have that Madisonian
appeal that we have been accustomed to because of the lakes and the capitol being here," he observed. "One of my goals is to make sure that the
businesses that are here stay here, and that we attract new business to come here. When I talk of business, I'm not talking about building new condos
downtown, or building new condos in the district. I'm talking about attracting large manufacturing companies that will bring jobs to this district and to the
state."
To Her, the key to economic development is, first of all, having a sustainable workforce.
"Without a sustainable workforce, we can't have factories or manufacturing companies moving in, so we must also look at the community as a whole," he
explained, noting that economic development must be seen in tandem with community development. "By bringing them together, we can attract big
businesses, that would say, 'You know what, here's a district or a state or a city that has a well educated workforce, and if I relocate my company there, I
will have the workers I need, I will have the benefits … and then support both from the local and federal governments."
Education, which ALL people — especially from the working class — rely on to help them move up amidst the highly competitive American society, is
Her's concern as well. He said that the present Wisconsin educational funding system should be reformed. "I think that the current formula that they use to
calculate funding for the schools in Wisconsin could be changed a bit," he said. "I don't believe in the caps that we put on our schools. That's just
basically saying that we could only pay so much for the teachers who are teaching our kids and educating the future of this country, while lobbyists and
special interest groups and CEOs are paid millions of dollars. The most important people in the community, the educators who teach our children and
educate the future leaders, are being capped by how much they can make, or their school is being capped and handicapped by what they can spend on
their students, in the classroom, and in the school. So those are things that we, as a community and as a state, need to look at."
Her also hopes to contribute his thoughts about the government's fiscal responsibility to the community. "I want to make sure that the needs of the
community are met and that we're not spending on things that are wasteful," he said. "But yet, at the same time, I want to make sure things that are
needed, such as good education, universal health care and more companies and businesses that will employ our constituents, are met or worked on at the
state level."
Peng Her has a solid record of grassroots involvement, and this has given Her confidence to convince people to elect him. "I'm running as a viable
candidate," he said. "I have many years of experience sitting on boards and commissions for both city and county governments. At the Dane County
Human Services Board, for example, we have a $210 million budget (from which) the county has to provide services for all the folks in the county. I have
experience with (how to allocate) the budget. I also have experience with economic development since I've been with the City of Madison's Economic
Development Commission. One of the jobs we're working on now is to do strategic planning for the city of Madison for the next 25 years. We need to look
at how the city will grow, how we can plan for its growth and how to attract new businesses to the city of Madison. All these have given me the experience
and the knowledge to be District 81's representative in the State Assembly."
Her is running as a mainstream candidate to help him get all the votes he needs to win, but surely, he doesn't forget where he is coming from. "I came
from humble beginnings, and I know how it is and how it feels to be there," he said with all sincerity. "I think that someone who is not a political insider or
someone who has not been in the game very long or has no ties to special interest groups or large corporations brings in new perspectives, new vision and
can see things clearly. It will allow the common folk to talk to me and come and address their issues with me. I've really been supportive of what Sen. Russ
Feingold does, in which he holds townhall meetings throughout the state of Wisconsin. That's something that I admire, support and will do. That is the only
way that the common people get their voices heard. They do not need to contribute to the campaign; they don't need to pay lobbyists to come and lobby
me to represent you. You elected me and I want you to feel comfortable when you come talk to me as your elected official, saying 'These are the
concerns; these are issues that I'm being faced with. How can we address them?' Then let you and I work together to make sure those issues are being
addressed at the state level."
Looking at Her's record and reputation in the Madison community, and looking beyond his words during this interview, District 81 has, undoubtedly, a
leader who is stepping forward with a sincere desire and readiness to work for genuine reforms on issues that people care about.
Peng Her's brief background
Peng Her's story reflects that of many other Hmong kids who grew up in America's rural towns. They arrived in the U.S. with only their clothes on their
backs and couldn’t speak English. They depended on their sponsors for awhile, then struggled to stand on their own amidst tons of societal barriers. Peng's
father worked in a factory for more than 25 years, and with his mother, succeeded in raising seven children well. All of them graduated from college, are
leading successful lives, and "leading by example," in their own way. Peng Her earned his bachelor's and master's in physics and became a research
scientist in Argonne National Laboratories in Illinois before finding his calling in Madison, Wis. He met his wife, MaiZong, while looking for an opportunity
to volunteer at the Hmong National Development's educational conference. MaiZong was then HND's board president. They ended up settling in Madison
where both worked together while raising a family. They collaborated on a special project, the Hmong Traveling Exhibit, for the Madison Children's
Museum, which later hired Her as project coordinator. The exhibit became a showcase of Hmong history set in three segments: the Hmong in Laos; the
Hmong involvement in the secret army and the CIA; and the aftermath of the war that had the Hmong fleeing for their lives.
Her worked for MCM for three years until the opportunity to start his own business came up. Taste of Asia Restaurant has become Her's way of sharing
not only part of the Hmong culture through its cuisine but also the Hmong values of hospitality and friendship. His restaurant has become a meeting place
for many important community gatherings, including a listening session last year with Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and the Asian American community and the
brainstorming session, and later launching, of Asian Wisconzine in 2004.
Contact Peng Her at pengher@sbcglobal.net.
Peng Her is entering the
political arena to represent
District 81.
(top right) Peng her talks the
talk and walks the walk.
Speaking at the UW-Kaplan
gathering at UW- School of
Law; (right) Denouncing
racial injustice at the State
Capitol's steps
political arena to represent
District 81.
(top right) Peng her talks the
talk and walks the walk.
Speaking at the UW-Kaplan
gathering at UW- School of
Law; (right) Denouncing
racial injustice at the State
Capitol's steps