UW-Association of Asian American Graduate Students presents
John Choi: A Political Voice in the Asian American
Community
John Choi: A Political Voice in the Asian American
Community
(Left photos) University of
Wisconsin-Madison
Association of Asian
American Graduate Students
(AAAGS) and guests listen
to John Choi (right), elected
Ramsey County Attorney,
talk about how he, an
immigrant from South Korea
when he was three years
old, succeeded in getting
elected county attorney in a
predominantly White
community.
Wisconsin-Madison
Association of Asian
American Graduate Students
(AAAGS) and guests listen
to John Choi (right), elected
Ramsey County Attorney,
talk about how he, an
immigrant from South Korea
when he was three years
old, succeeded in getting
elected county attorney in a
predominantly White
community.
Part 1
By Heidi M. Pascual
“Contrary to what many may assume, Asian Americans are not
reluctant to participate in politics. Yen Le Espiritu points out that next
to Jews, Asian Americans contribute more money per person to
political parties and candidates than any other racial/ethnic or
religious group. But as past and recent history shows, that doesn't
mean that Asian Americans are always welcomed in the political
arena.”—C.N Le
It has become fashionable to say “First Asian American ….” to be
elected governor of an American state, or to be elected to any position
on U.S. soil. But this is the 21st Century, and Asian Americans –
although very productive citizens of this country—still dream about
By Heidi M. Pascual
“Contrary to what many may assume, Asian Americans are not
reluctant to participate in politics. Yen Le Espiritu points out that next
to Jews, Asian Americans contribute more money per person to
political parties and candidates than any other racial/ethnic or
religious group. But as past and recent history shows, that doesn't
mean that Asian Americans are always welcomed in the political
arena.”—C.N Le
It has become fashionable to say “First Asian American ….” to be
elected governor of an American state, or to be elected to any position
on U.S. soil. But this is the 21st Century, and Asian Americans –
although very productive citizens of this country—still dream about
being in the center of the American political map. At this day and age, we still marvel at how a fellow Asian American got
elected to office. In addition to extraordinary achievement, experience and education, it takes a great sense of community
and leadership to do it. And not many Asian Americans are willing to undergo the sacrifice of public service, unfortunately.
According to statistics, in 2005, only 555 Asian Americans were elected into office, which included two U.S. Senators, five
U.S. Representatives, 64 State Senators, 97 State Representatives, three State Governors, 19 city mayors, 123 city or
county council members, and 236 judges. Most of these elected officials came from states whose Asian American
population is greater than that of any other ethnic groups.
In the state of Minnesota, however, Asian Americans are not the majority among its minority populations. Yet John Choi
was elected District Attorney of Ramsey County in 2010. According to his bio, he is one of the first Asian Americans to be
elected in this position. The reasons were explained during his presentation at the Association of Asian American
Graduate Students’(AAAGS) annual “Voices” gathering, held at the University of Wisconsin Memorial Library on April 21.
Choi’s presence was meant to inspire the students to consider public service as a career option.
After a brief introduction by Michael Yang, Choi took his audience back in time when his parents emigrated to the U.S. “I
was born in Korea and we immigrated to Minnesota when I was three years old,” Choi began. “We came to Minnesota
because my father wanted to get a graduate degree at the University of Minnesota in Agriculture. He wasn’t sure whether
or not we’ll stay here or we were going back. We didn’t have much money and so we lived in low-income housing in St.
Paul.”
Due to language barrier, however, Choi’s father never accomplished his goal of earning a graduate degree in
agriculture. But he stayed and settled his family, working at a Coca Cola distribution plant and part-time reporter for a
Korean newspaper, while his wife worked at a vacuum-cleaner company and later studied to become a nurse. The Choi
family gradually assimilated into a largely White community, and as Choi grew up, he learned and accepted that he is part
of the minority population.
When Choi went to college at Marquette University, he really did not plan anything for himself, but an experience which he
initiated might have had a profound effect on him that actually made him choose public service as a lifelong career.
“I started an organization called Students Enhancing Education, and it was a tutoring program for a middle school close to
our college,” Choi said. “I remember the teachers of that school were so excited about that because the students faced
some challenges. A lot of these kids, 7th and 8th grades, couldn’t read. The tutors would help those students who were
falling behind in school. That experience reminds me of the fact there are so many kids here in the school system who
can’t read.”
Choi believed that there is a correlation between the ability to read and what happens in life to a person -- whether or not
he will stay in school or end up in the criminal justice system. This tutoring experience changed Choi’s life in a very
significant way.
“It was a great experience of trying to do something, and without realizing that because of your efforts you can make a
difference,” Choi reflected. “I started thinking about things beyond just graduating, what it is that I want to do, and started
thinking about public service -- that aspect of organizing people to do something. So I decided to go to law school.”
Choi started law school at Marquette and later transferred to Hamlin University, graduating therefrom in 1995. “During that
time period I decided on doing law stuff but I also got involved in some political campaigns, helping people get elected.”
elected to office. In addition to extraordinary achievement, experience and education, it takes a great sense of community
and leadership to do it. And not many Asian Americans are willing to undergo the sacrifice of public service, unfortunately.
According to statistics, in 2005, only 555 Asian Americans were elected into office, which included two U.S. Senators, five
U.S. Representatives, 64 State Senators, 97 State Representatives, three State Governors, 19 city mayors, 123 city or
county council members, and 236 judges. Most of these elected officials came from states whose Asian American
population is greater than that of any other ethnic groups.
In the state of Minnesota, however, Asian Americans are not the majority among its minority populations. Yet John Choi
was elected District Attorney of Ramsey County in 2010. According to his bio, he is one of the first Asian Americans to be
elected in this position. The reasons were explained during his presentation at the Association of Asian American
Graduate Students’(AAAGS) annual “Voices” gathering, held at the University of Wisconsin Memorial Library on April 21.
Choi’s presence was meant to inspire the students to consider public service as a career option.
After a brief introduction by Michael Yang, Choi took his audience back in time when his parents emigrated to the U.S. “I
was born in Korea and we immigrated to Minnesota when I was three years old,” Choi began. “We came to Minnesota
because my father wanted to get a graduate degree at the University of Minnesota in Agriculture. He wasn’t sure whether
or not we’ll stay here or we were going back. We didn’t have much money and so we lived in low-income housing in St.
Paul.”
Due to language barrier, however, Choi’s father never accomplished his goal of earning a graduate degree in
agriculture. But he stayed and settled his family, working at a Coca Cola distribution plant and part-time reporter for a
Korean newspaper, while his wife worked at a vacuum-cleaner company and later studied to become a nurse. The Choi
family gradually assimilated into a largely White community, and as Choi grew up, he learned and accepted that he is part
of the minority population.
When Choi went to college at Marquette University, he really did not plan anything for himself, but an experience which he
initiated might have had a profound effect on him that actually made him choose public service as a lifelong career.
“I started an organization called Students Enhancing Education, and it was a tutoring program for a middle school close to
our college,” Choi said. “I remember the teachers of that school were so excited about that because the students faced
some challenges. A lot of these kids, 7th and 8th grades, couldn’t read. The tutors would help those students who were
falling behind in school. That experience reminds me of the fact there are so many kids here in the school system who
can’t read.”
Choi believed that there is a correlation between the ability to read and what happens in life to a person -- whether or not
he will stay in school or end up in the criminal justice system. This tutoring experience changed Choi’s life in a very
significant way.
“It was a great experience of trying to do something, and without realizing that because of your efforts you can make a
difference,” Choi reflected. “I started thinking about things beyond just graduating, what it is that I want to do, and started
thinking about public service -- that aspect of organizing people to do something. So I decided to go to law school.”
Choi started law school at Marquette and later transferred to Hamlin University, graduating therefrom in 1995. “During that
time period I decided on doing law stuff but I also got involved in some political campaigns, helping people get elected.”
Being a public servant or getting elected
himself didn’t cross his mind at the time he
was practicing law in the private sector,
however. The pay was good and his family
was well taken care of. There was no
reason to change jobs really. It was an
invitation from the new mayor of the city of
St. Paul in 2005 that changed the course of
his career.
“I was surprised that he called me after
election because I didn’t support him but I
actually supported his opponent,” Choi
chuckled. “Sometimes in politics you go
with your friends. At the time, my largest
client was the Ramsey County Regional
Transit Authority which was the public entity
that does all the transit planning for
Ramsey County. I supported the chair of
that board who ran for mayor. So I got the
call out of the blue and the mayor wanted to
have lunch with me, and I thought he would
be mad at me; but as it turned out within
about 10 minutes of lunch, he wanted me
to be his city attorney. Quite frankly I never
really thought about that. To me, the city
attorney was a chief prosecutor; but I did
know that while I was satisfied
professionally while I worked in the private
law firms, there was this thing called public
service and making a difference that I
missed and had not done since I started
that group, Students Enhancing Education
in college.”
Next issue: The start of his public service
and his getting elected to become Ramsey
County Attorney.
himself didn’t cross his mind at the time he
was practicing law in the private sector,
however. The pay was good and his family
was well taken care of. There was no
reason to change jobs really. It was an
invitation from the new mayor of the city of
St. Paul in 2005 that changed the course of
his career.
“I was surprised that he called me after
election because I didn’t support him but I
actually supported his opponent,” Choi
chuckled. “Sometimes in politics you go
with your friends. At the time, my largest
client was the Ramsey County Regional
Transit Authority which was the public entity
that does all the transit planning for
Ramsey County. I supported the chair of
that board who ran for mayor. So I got the
call out of the blue and the mayor wanted to
have lunch with me, and I thought he would
be mad at me; but as it turned out within
about 10 minutes of lunch, he wanted me
to be his city attorney. Quite frankly I never
really thought about that. To me, the city
attorney was a chief prosecutor; but I did
know that while I was satisfied
professionally while I worked in the private
law firms, there was this thing called public
service and making a difference that I
missed and had not done since I started
that group, Students Enhancing Education
in college.”
Next issue: The start of his public service
and his getting elected to become Ramsey
County Attorney.