In an effort to learn more about some exciting new candidates and to help others who are thinking of running for public office, APAP's blog is starting a new occasional series subtitled, "Why I am Running?" To start off, we have Garrett Yee who is running for the 20th Assembly District in California. Here is a link to his website.

Why am I running?

Garrett Yee, Candidate

20th Assembly District 

When I tell people that I’m running for the California State Assembly, I often get some funny looks.  But people who know me understand that my decision to run is about my ongoing commitment to serve our community – not politics.    I am not extraordinary, but like many California working families, my life has been paved with challenges, choices, and successes that prepare me to be of service to my community at a time when we need practical leadership and real problem solving.

Friends say that I have character and that’s what makes a difference. For me, character comes from experience and integrity; it comes from making a personal sacrifice for the good of the whole.  It is about doing the right thing.  We need people in Sacramento that will place the interests of others before their own; people who will be leaders, and lead by example.  I believe that I can be one of these people and this is the right time.

When I first joined the Ohlone Community College Board in 2002, I knew we could do better.  But instead of good times, I found myself personally signing the layoff notices of 39 individuals.  It was a painful experience and I have not forgotten the fact that they were not just names, but these were individuals with lives and families.  But, it is because of leadership and commitment during these very difficult times that the College District was able to endure and even prosper. 

There have been other difficult choices for me in my life, like volunteering to deploy to Iraq with the Army.  I have often said those that have the most going for them, have the most to lose.  This was true for me and still, I volunteered because we needed to do better.  The sacrifice and stress on our family was huge, but I could not shy away from a commitment to service, whether it to my community – or country.

This brings me to the original question, “why am I running?”  And, “why now?”

The simple answer is that I, like many of us, understand the need and value true public service.  These values come from my parents.  My mother, a Japanese American, was interned with thousands of others during WWII.  My grandmother, a Chinese American had her citizenship revoked as part of the Chinese Exclusion Act.  The lives of my parents and grandparents are filled with stories of hardship and success, setbacks and achievements.  If they could triumph when the odds were against them, so can we. But it is our job as leaders to ensure these injustices don’t happen again.  It is on the shoulders of our parents and grandparents that I know we can do better.

It is time for leadership. During difficult times, we need someone with character, someone who has some life experience and has made sacrifices, with good results in the end. I am stepping up to do better for the people of our community and of our great state.