John Liu became the first Asian-American elected to citywide office by capturing 76% of the vote in yesterday's general election.  In the race for city comptroller, Liu won by a huge margin gathering 500,000 votes than the Republican in the race.  At his new position, Liu will maintain control over the city's finances while squaring off against the policies of Mayor Michael Bloomberg who also won reelection to a controversial third term.  Liu has constantly criticized the mayor on spending, wastefulness and incentives to large businesses.  Their differences in city management as well as Liu's penchant for using the media to call attention to certain problems will certainly elevate the position of comptroller to the point where most New Yorkers will be aware of it.  The vast majority of New Yorkers did not know who the previous comptroller was or what he did prior to this election.

Keys to Victory

• Liu was one of the more visible faces on the City Council by constantly rallying for the rights of minority workers and battling the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for greater financial transparency
• Liu received heavy support from African-American and Hispanic communities due to campaign there and winning the support of leaders
• Negative campaign ads and press coverage was poorly researched and proven inaccurate
• Heavy turnout by Chinese-Americans

Peter Koo, as predicted won an upset victory over Democrat Yen Chou in the 20th City Council district.  Dissatisfied Democratic voters as well as his very visible presence in the community were the keys to success.  Koo will focus on reducing the high taxes on Flushing residents as well as stimulating business activity and tourism into New York's largest Asian-American neighborhood.

It's probably important to note Peter Koo's life story (from his website)

Peter immigrated to America from Hong Kong in 1971. He worked minimum wage jobs at Kentucky Fried Chicken and Dunkin Donuts to put himself through the University of New Mexico - College of Pharmacy, where he earned a Bachelors of Science. After his degree, he practiced hospital pharmacy in hospitals in New Mexico and Texas. After working in local hospitals, including Booth Memorial, Peter opened his first Starside Pharmacy in 1991 using innovative business practices to better serve customers. Starside Pharmacy has grown steadily and expanded to five busy locations throughout Queens.

Looks like not only has the American Dream for Peter Koo has come true, but immigrants and the most vulnerable have someone that can sympathize with their plight.  I expect great things.

Keys to Victory

• After an angry and divisive Democratic Primary, most voters became disillusioned with the Democratic candidates
• Peter Koo is a much higher profile community leader than his opponent
• Key Democratic defections of Korean and Jewish community leaders drew votes towards Peter Koo
• Overwhelming support from fellow business owners in Flushing

Kevin Kim, after his surprise primary victory lost to Republican Dan Halloran in the general election.  Kim was bidding to become the first Korean-American elected official in New York.  Although his campaign started strong, it faltered in recent weeks as his supporters made his opponants Pagan beliefs and contentious issues.  While this may have been a defensive mechanism in reaction to ethnic campaigning by Halloran, angry voters sympathized with Halloran.  Additionally, the Halloran campaign was successful in painting Kevin as a candidate that supported over development in the district.  He was able to make this link by pointing to overdevelopment by Asians in Flushing.  Halloran denied these claims, but his materials that mention "mom and pop" establishments and good quality of life attempt to conjure images of Northern Queens, before Asians started to move in.  Asian-American residents of District 19 will not have an easy time living there for the next four years. 

“For 100 years, this has been an area marked by single family homes – my family built a lot of them – mom-and-pop shops, and a good quality of life,” Halloran said. “Rampant overdevelopment has threatened that – overcrowding our schools and taxing municipal services – and it has to stop,” he continued.

“Race was never an issue – it was always about my wanting to spare this part of Queens from the kind of intense development that went on in Flushing.”

Halloran said that “The first thing I’ll do is walk into the Department of Buildings and ask how they can accept plans that they know are out of code.”

Yeah right.  The DOB always scrutinizes minority owned homes and businesses for possible violations.  Asians living in District 19 DO NOT have a friend in Halloran.  Actions speak louder than words and Halloran made no effort to reach to minorities during the campaign.  Halloran will instead build a base on making Asians feel unwelcome in his district, much like his predecessor who led several campaigns against Korean business interests in his district.

For Asian-Americans 2009 was a defining year in terms of politics.  Several lessons were learned that will hopefully translate to future elections.

• Ethnic campaigning hurts in the long run.  Yen Chou relied on Chinese voters for her initial win but faltered when she came up against another Chinese-American with Jewish and Korean backers. 
• Voter bases can shift.  Chou also believed that she could count on a similar turnout in the general election.  As a result, she ignored debates and candidates forums, which allowed Peter Koo to gain ground on undecided voters
• Never attack religious beliefs.  You will lose 100% of the time in the long run.  The Korean churches and other religious interests probably motivated the attacks on Halloran's Pagan beliefs but failed to deliver votes in the general election.
• Working with other minority groups is the difference.  Liu broke from the pack by courting voters in other parts of the city, in historically minority neighborhoods.  The reliable support of those communities contributed to the Liu landslide.
• A high community profile delivers votes, regardless of political party.  Republicans are outnumbers by Democrats 4 to 1 in Flushing.  However, since Peter Koo is VERY involved in the community, many voters found him to be a more reliable candidate than Yen Chou.  The experience he has in managing community projects will be invaluable in the City Council.
• Asian-American voters are not sheep.  Enough said.