By
Hung-Gay Fung, President of the 80-20 St.
Louis Chapter
The Mid-Mo chapter of 80-20 and the St.
Louis Chapter of 80-20, has sent a questionnaire
in June to all gubernatorial candidates
on the Aug. 3 primary election ballots,
asking them about their views on certain
issues important to Asian Pacific Americans.
Of the 12 candidates contacted, five have
responded so far. They are Jeffery Emrick,
Roy Lang, Jeff Killian, Karen Skelton-Memhardt,
and Bob Holden. Some candidates also provided
detailed comments. 80-20 encourage Asian
Pacific Americans to consider this matter
before the Aug. 3 election.
Here are the questionnaire and detailed
response of each candidate.
QUESTIONNAIRE
1. Do you agree that there is a "glass-ceiling"
hanging over Asian Americans in the nation
including Missouri, and the removal of the
ceiling is in the best interest of the nation
and Missouri?
____ Yes; ____ No; ____ Maybe.
2. If elected as the next Governor of Missouri,
would you strive to remove the glass-ceiling
by appointing cabinet level officials such
as Department Heads or Deputy Heads who
are Asian Americans? (80-20 will be happy
to assist you by providing a list of Missourians
who are Asian Americans qualified for the
jobs.)
_____ Yes; _____ No.
3. If elected as the next Governor of Missouri,
would you appoint Asian Americans to some
of the governing boards of state institutions,
such as the Board of Curators of the University
of Missouri, and commissions of various
agencies, when you have an opportunity to
fill any vacancy on such boards or commissions?
(Again, 80-20 will be happy to assist you
by providing a list of Missourians who are
Asian Americans qualified for the jobs.)
_____ Yes; _____ No.
4. If elected as the next Governor of Missouri,
would you send a directive to the Attorney
General and to Heads of various Departments
under your office, instructing them to vigorously
enforce anti-discrimination laws, and to
investigate reported discrimination and
hate crimes, and prosecute and punish those
involved in discrimination or hate crimes
against ethnic minorities including Asian
Americans?
____ Yes; ____ No.
5. Any other positive measures that you
think you can or will do if elected, that
will enhance the opportunity of Asian Americans
in Missouri?
6. Any other comment?
Response from MO Governor candidates
(in alphabetic order)
Matt Blunt No Response Yet
Jeffery A. Emrick YES/YES/YES/YES/comment
Bob Holden YES/YES/YES/YES/comment
Jeff Killian YES/YES/YES/YES/comment
Roy W. Lang NO/YES/YES/YES/comment
Randall (Randy) D. Langkraehr No Response
Yet
Jim LePage No Response Yet
Martin Lindstedt No Response Yet
Claire McCaskill No Response Yet
Karen Lee Dee Skelton-Memhardt YES/YES/YES/YES/
comment
Jennie Lee (Jen) Sievers YES/YES/YES/YES/comment
John M. Swenson No Response Yet
Written comments from Jeffery A.
Emrick
5. A request from your organization of
Asian American newspapers located here in
the state of Missouri in the assisted outreach
of the governors office to Missouri Asian
Americans on issues regarding them and the
people at large here in the great state
of Missouri.
6. The Governors Office working with and
through your organization to foster all
across the great state of Missouri in behalf
of Missouri Asian Americans in that of the
simplest of terms of the very idea once
stated by our beloved 35th President of
the United States of American John Fitzgerald
Kennedy and I quote "There is nothing
we can not do in a host of cooperative ventures"
Written comments from Bob Holden
6. I strongly support removing barriers
to employment including rooting out discrimination
based on a person's ethnicity or skin color.
I will continue to fight for the rights
of all Missouri citizens to work in environments
from discrimination.
Written comments from Jeff Killian
5. I work to strengthen ties between Asian,
Hispanic, African, Native and English Americans
because everyone born in America is equal
in rights and citizenship. We are all equally
American.
6. I sincerely endorse equality without
regard to race, color, gender or economic
status and would work to achieve such equality
for all Missourians.
Written comments from Roy W. Lang
5. Being self-employment is the crux of
my campaign but self-employment is not simple
or easy and I respect anybody that attempts
it. But right now that is what is needed
to spread the wealth around more evenly
to every bodies benefit.
6. Confucius once said if you give a man
a fish you will have to give him a fish
for the rest of his life but if you teach
a man to fish you only have to teach him
once.
Written comments from Karen Lee
Dee Skelton-Memhardt
5. Family welfare reform education reform
including the incentives for private schools.
Legal and Judiciary reform, Equal access
of all protective of rights, Prison reform
- rehabilitates and Just Courts. Health
care reform to ensure healthcare for all
people
6. If elected, please do not hesitate to
contact me.
Written comments from Jennie Lee
(Jen) Sievers
5. All citizens of our great USA are entitled,
being created equal, to reach out to one
another, doing our very best with the help
of God to make, not only Missouri, but the
whole world a more better and peaceful place.
Amen.
6. I am a reasonable, peaceful, understanding
person. I treat others as I would like to
be treated. |
