Garden Grove city council candidate, public law attorney, field rep to Senator Lou Correa, intern for Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, thirty-year-old dynamo Linh Ho sat down with me at a Starbucks Thursday to lay out her ideas and visions for a new, vibrant, green Garden Grove.
But – what am I thinking? First, the announcement:
Sunday morning (tomorrow) at 10, Linh invites you to a Registration Rally and Bike Ride to learn about and promote her “Go Green Garden Grove” program. We’ll be meeting at Village Green Park (Euclid Park) at 12732 Main St. and riding to Eastgate Park at 12001 St. Mark Street (6 miles away, near Chapman and Valley View.) 
Then we’ll ride back to Village Green Park for a Noontime Riders’ Reception at the Clock Tower.
Linh becomes animated when she talks about her vision of Garden Grove with more park space and bike lanes, and the beneficial effects on Garden Grove’s families and quality of life. She insists that the money for these projects is available at Parks and Recreations, and can also be acquired from events like the yearly Tet and Strawberry Festivals, as well as local churches like her own St. Columban’s.
Did I mention she’s not only been an aide to both Lou and Loretta (whose endorsements, along with the great John Chiang’s, she is very proud of) but has also been a Public Attorney specializing in advising cities, schools, districts and public agencies, which equips her to understand smart city planning and sustainability, her major interests. So don’t let her apparent youth fool you – she has experience and expertise to rival any of the other candidates!
Also, young Asians (and everyone else) should be excited to help foster the new generation of Viet leadership, standing apart from and in defiance to the competing GOP cabals of Van Tran and Janet Nguyen!
Linh is also full of ideas for increasing community involvement in local government. She is proposing holding town hall meetings on various local issues, in different locations of this sprawling, historic town. Her eyes light up when she talks about her family – her six little brothers and sisters, all pursuing public service in their own ways, her Marine brother with four years of service. You get the impression that it is enthusiasm for doing what’s best for the families of the city she grew up in and loves, that drives her to this Council run. So if you’re GG, come ride your bike with her and her friends at ten, or at least drop by and meet her at noon. And VOTE HO AND MARCARIO on Tuesday!
It’s disappointing that Andrew Do’s campaign seems to have imploded, but lucky for me, I endorse Marcario and Ho as well. They are both driven, intelligent, energetic, and have Garden Grove’s best interests at heart.
I will be releasing some interview footage of Robin with my other endorsements very soon (it’s not like I have much time left).
SMS
I’ve had the opportunity to speak with each of the GGUSD Board candidates and feel I need to say that the most qualified candidates are Dr. George West and inclumbants Linda Paulson-Reed and Dr. Kim-Oanh Nguyen-Lam. All three are lifelong educators and well respected in their fields. The incumbants have managed District finances to provide the community as its largest employer with a majority of its employees recieving affordible health care, and all of its employees with one of the most competitive salary schedules of the OC districts of any size allowing the attraction of the best of the best for every position. They have successfully navigated difficult economic times for almost 30 years without layoff or disruption of the economic well being of the entire community. Dr. George West, also a lifelong educator in Fullerton, was Assistant Superintendent of Business where he recieved praise from all stakeholders for his inclusiveness and openess. Currently aside from his grandchildren, who attend GGUSD, he fills his time teaching local college courses. I’m sorry, but no other challenger bring these kinds of credentials which are so fortunate to have appeared at the juncture of this difficult economic time. If you care about the future of the District vote West if you care about the development of a promising politician vote Marcario.
As far as Lin Ho is concerned I have no experiences with the council candidates to share with one exception, Trung Nguyen. I cannot recommend Trung strongly enough. I have found him to be more than accessible, he sought out stakeholders and opinion leaders among the school community to be sure of the views of those he represented. He analyzed positions effectively and insightfully saw the key elements and often helped his fellow members benefit from his analysis. The only reason that the schools groups are not campaigning for his is that most do not enter into the city races believing on the need for independence given the differing and sometimes competing interests of the two governing bodies.
I wish everyone good luck in making these decisions. Please gather as much information as you can – the folks here do a great job of highlighting the candidates and the other blogs do their part as well. Most importantly vote! Vote on as many contests and issues as you feel educated about and if you dont know call the candidates. Contact info is on OCVote.org along with polling places and early voting info.
Linh Ho graduated from VAlley H.S. didn’t she? I swear I had classes w/her!