While politicos in Bolsavikland are busy accusing each other of being commies, up north in San Jose there are three Vietnamese-Americans running in a crowded field of 7 candidates for the city council seat vacated by Dave Cortese, and another Viet running for the 2nd district seat vacated by Forrest Williams.
Bui Thang is running in the 2nd district, encompassing the area on two sides of the tail end of highway 101, south of the Capitol Expressway exit. The latest financial reports released on May 22 shows Thang with just $148 cash on hand, having raised a total of $4,950. The leading candidate for that district is the current head of the city’s planning commission and is endorsed by the San Jose Mercury-News as well as the influential South Bay Labor Council, the San Jose Police Officers Association and the San Jose Firefighters group.
Dave Cortese’s seat represents the city’s the 8th district, in the southeast side, and includes a portion of the main Vietnamese business area on Tully Road.
The three Viet candidates are Minh Duong (pictured right), Lan Nguyen and Van Le. (Did the Bolsavik mention that a lot of Vietnamese names are unisex? Just for clarification: Minh Duong and Lan Nguyen are men and Van Le is a woman.)
Minh Duong and Van Le are among the protesters who wanted a stretch of Story Road to be named “Little Saigon.” (Read collected Bolsavik entries here.) They have made that political position very clear. However, on other issues facing the city, they’re not too knowledgeable.
Van Le is receiving the support of most of the leaders of the protests, including 
Ly Tong (picture left below). She’s also fervently supporting the recall of Councilwoman Madison Nguyen.
And that stretch of Story Road? Not in the district they’re running for.
Lan Nguyen is a member of the East Side Union School Board. He has not taken a position on the “Little Saigon” naming issue, and has not escaped accusations of being a commie.
Duong, who made his name in the “Little Saigon” protest, is leading in fund-raising, including a $60,000 loan from himself.
The San Jose Mercury-News has endorsed Rose Herrera, a veteran of both the U.S. Air Force and the Internet bubble.
