St. Paul, Minn. (December 13, 2010) – For the past three weeks, Asian American and Pacific Islander Voices in Government, a collective of leaders from the Asian American and Pacific Islander community, have been meeting to discuss the importance of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders playing a leading and powerful part within Governor-Elect Mark Dayton’s Administration.
The Dayton Transition Team has sent a clear message that they need ideas for individuals willing to submit their resume and serve as an appointed official in the executive branch. “We need to help ensure that at least a few of these key positions are filled with representatives from the Asian American community,” stated Erik Takeshita, member of AAPI Voices in Government.
AAPI Voices in Government is 1) committed to do outreach to the best and brightest in the community and to encourage them to submit their resumes to the Transition Team; 2) speak out about the need for the Dayton Administration to be inclusive, and 3) provide support to qualified individuals as they go through the nomination and appointment process.
“It’s been 24 years since a democratic governor will have an opportunity to make appointments. Asian American and Pacific Islander democrats have waited a long time for these opportunities,” stated Adeel Lari, a member and founder of the Asian American Caucus of the DFL party.
AAPI Voices in Government is working in close partnership with the State Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans, a state agency created to advise the governor and members of the legislature on issues of importance to the Asian American and Pacific Islander community in Minnesota. The group can be reached at [email protected] or via the Council at 651-757-1740.
“The issue of appointments at all levels of government is important to the community. We anticipate that Governor Dayton will appoint as many if not more diverse candidates than Governor Pawlenty,” stated Ilean Her, Executive Director of the Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans.
