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  Take 10  
     
 

MIKE TEN

COUNCILMEMBER CITY OF SOUTH PASADENA

Take 10 | Full biography

1. How do we get more Asian Pacific Americans (APAs) to become more civically and politically involved?

Outreach, Outreach, Outreach. We need to use all available sources of media: newspapers, websites and blogs, magazines, and television to reach APAs. We need to promote the addition of APAs to local TV new anchor desks on weekday evening broadcasts. We need to expose current community leaders to all organizations and events where they can interact and participate. Also celebrate success and milestones in the community, whether educational, civic, political, and or charitable. Enthusiasm and involvement is contagious.

2. What is your dream job?

On pure fantasy, a movie/TV critic. My family will tell you that there is no movie or TV drama I won’t sit through. I enjoy predicting the plot twists and guessing the surprise villain. Fantasy aside, I think my dream job would to be a CEO of a multibillion dollar charitable foundation that addresses the needs of the poor, elderly, disabled, and the unskilled.

3. What was your childhood ambition?

My childhood ambition was to either play tennis in the Olympics or a professional Motocross rider. My early teen years were dominated by motorcycles and playing tennis.

4. What is the biggest challenge facing APAs in politics today?

The biggest challenge today is organization and focus. The APA community has solid roots in this country going back over 100 years. There are many families like mine with 4 generations here in California, but we are a continually shrinking minority of the APA community. APA immigration is outpacing 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation growth and continues to create a “generation” gap within our growing demographic. There are many longstanding traditional service organizations and associations that help the 1st generation immigrants organize and communicate. These same organizations see participation and membership drop off as the second generation assimilates into the mainstream. You find most of the activism comes from the first generation addressing first generation issues. Unfortunately these issues are recycled continuously due to the never ending addition of new immigrants. The challenge is to re-capture the previous generations, those who have become “Middle America”, and those who are immersed in the routine of daily American life. We will need to remind them of the continuing struggles of the 1st generation, which they probably thought was solved. Then combine that with current issues, regional and national, to a platform that inspires involvement and a need for action.

5. What one law would you change if you could?

Why just one? If I had to choose…then I would change the Drunk Driving Laws to a mandatory “second strike and your out” jail time. I believe we are too lenient on repeat offenders and more severe penalties would hopefully deter a personal behavior and responsibility problem. The other would be to eliminate “good behavior” credits to sentences being served by those in our jails and prisons.

6. What was your first job?

My first job was in my family’s restaurant for my grandfather. In fourth grade at 25 cents an hour, my job after school was to bag crispy fried noodles and double bag brown paper bags for that evenings take out orders. I worked there till my junior year in college and look back at those years working with my family as my best childhood memories.

7. What one question would you most like to have answered?

How can we (humanity) stop hunger and disease in the world?

8. What is your favorite word/sound?

Favorite Sound “one of my children calling “Dad”. Favorite word or words, answering their requests with “We’ll see”. Close behind in second place for favorite sound would have been a 440 Mopar V8 with FlowMasters!

9. What was the last book you read?

I am in the process of finishing two books: Leadership by Rudolph W. Giuliani and The Chinese in America by Iris Chang. I have always been a student of management philosophies and Former New York Mayor Giuliani has written about his and how he applied it to the leading his city before and after 9/11. Iris Chang’s book was recommended by the Chinese American Museum and is an important read to any APA supporter or leader.

10. Who/what inspires you?

My inspiration is my mother, who died too early from cancer. Though she was losing her battle against cancer, she still worked and supported many organizations and causes. She guided a family business, cared for her aging parents, kept harmony among extended families, and weathered many a family crisis. She always had a positive attitude and always saw good in everything and everyone. She inspires me to be better than I am.

 


 
 

Terms & Conditions
Take 10 publishes responses to questions posed to public figures. By responding to the invitation to participate in Take 10, the respondent gives the Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE) permission to publish the answers on the
organization's website without compensation. Respondent futhermore gives CAUSE the right, at its sole discretion, to edit any and all responses for clarity and space. The responses printed are the views held by the respondent, and do not necessarily
reflect the views of CAUSE or its Board of Directors. Publication in Take 10 does not constitute, and should not be construed as, an endorsement by CAUSE of a political candidate for public office.

 
     
 
   
  ALBERT Y. MURATSUCHI TRUSTEE, TORRANCE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION
   
  TRI TA
COUNCIL MEMBER
   
  SUKHEE KANG
IRVINE CITY COUNCILMAN
   
 

MICHELLE PARK STEEL
MEMBER OF BOARD OF EQUALIZATION, THIRD DISTRICT

   
  EDWIN “ED” CHAU
VICE PRESIDENT, MONTEBELLO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
   
 

JOHN CHIANG
CHAIRMAN, STATE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION 4TH DISTRICT, CALIFORNIA STATE CONTROLLER-ELECT

   
  JOHN WUO
COUNCILMAN, CITY OF ARCADIA
 
  TED LIEU
ASSEMBLYMEMBER
   
  MIKE TEN
COUNCILMEMBER CITY OF SOUTH PASADENA
   
  LING-LING CHANG
DIRECTOR-DIVISION III, WALNUT VALLEY WATER DISTRICT
   
  GARY YAMAUCHI
COUNCILMAN, CITY OF ALHAMBRA
   
 

DR. MATTHEW Y.C. LIN
MAYOR, CITY OF SAN MARINO

   
 
 
  CAUSE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, non-partisan community-based organization with a mission to advance the political empowerment of the Asian Pacific Islander American community through voter registration and education, community outreach and leadership development.

Address: 260 S. Los Robles Ave., #118 Pasadena, CA 91101,
Tel: 626.356.9838 | Voter assistance hotline: 888.809.3888 | Fax: 626.356.9878 | email: info@causeusa.org
 
 
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