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Unsurprisingly, Chinese American Republican Peter Koo, who pulled off a surprising upset in the 2009 City Council elections, will leave the Republican Party on Monday, citing the limits of the party to work in the City Council and a "lack of outreach" by the party toward Asian American communities, particularly Flushing.
The move has been expected for some time, due to Koo's close relationship with John Liu, the city's top Asian American Democrat. Additionally, the heavily Democratic nature of his district and a fractured party leadership in the borough made this decision politically expedient. Koo has won the seat due to name recognition in the community as well as strong opposition to the Democratic nominee, Yen Chou. The contentious Democratic nomination process featured seven candidates and many supporters of those other candidates voted across party lines.
No doubt county Democratic leaders are praising the move and trumpeting Koo's business experience and relationship to the Asian American community. It remains to be seen if Koo will indeed work in the interests of Flushing's immigrant and minority population or is simply using the Democratic Party to grease his way to a second term as a "conservative Democrat". Remember that this is the same elected official than joined other Republicans in a bogus attempt to force Asian American merchants to adopt "English dominant signs" while their businesses overwhelmingly already had English on their signs.
The next council election for District 20 will be next year in November 2013. Until then, it remains to be seen if other District 20 Democrats will challenge Koo for the nomination.
READ MORE:
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2012/01/queens-buzz-cm-peter-koo-going-true-blue
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Any potential progressive candidates who might want to challenge Koo? Or do you think Koo will drift to the Left now that he has a new caucus and leader?
There's no real incentive for Koo to drift left as the constituency, while typically voting Dem, isn't particularly liberal or interested in typical progressive issues outside of immigration reform.
A progressive challenger to Koo will have to overcome his strong community presence and make the progressive agenda relatable to working class Asian Americans as well as the wealthier, conservative folks outside of downtown Flushing.
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