Chinatown Chooses Asian, Latino and Woman as Top Three Choices in Preliminary

With relatively low turnout, though, can Sam Yoon win again on November 8?

By M. Thang, Sampan

Boston - Sep 30, 2005 - Chinatown voters selected an Asian, a Latino and a woman for the top three seats in the September 27 preliminary election for at-large seats on the Boston city council.

A total of 15 candidates were on the ballot in the preliminary election. Voters were allowed to choose up to four of them. But the top eight, who were determined by the citywide election results on September 27, will remain on the ballot for the final city election on November 8.

In Ward 3, Precinct 8 - which covers mostly Chinatown - voters selected Sam Yoon, Felix Arroyo, Patricia White and Michael Flaherty, for first to fourth places, respectively. The four were also among the top eight choices of voters citywide, but not in the same order. All four, along with four others, will advance to the ballot for the November 8 election.

In Ward 3, Precinct 8, which covers Chinatown, a total of 337 people voted at the polling site at the Josiah Quincy School. That turnout represented 14.63% of the precinct’s 2,303 registered voters. Citywide, the voter turnout was 15.1%.

Many political observers watched Sam Yoon’s campaign to see whether he would make the cut in the preliminaries. He did.  Citywide, Yoon came in fifth place. Yoon’s candidacy marks the first time that an Asian American has run for city council in Boston.

“For a first-time office seeker, it’s a solid showing,” said Paul Watanabe, director of the Institute for Asian American Studies at the University of Massachusetts-Boston.

Yoon’s victory in the preliminaries might have surprised some, considering Boston has been dominated historically by white politicians though minorities now comprise the majority of the population.

“It’s a real testament to how...city government is going to improve by having a more representative voice,” said Yoon, who was born in South Korea, of his victory.

He is optimistic about winning again in the final election in November.

Though Yoon came in first place in the Chinatown precinct, he ranked fifth citywide. In the final election, only the top four candidates will become city councilors at large.

Boston has 13 city council seats. Nine represent specific geographic areas, or districts, while the four at-large councilors represent the entire city.

Incumbent councilor Felix Arroyo, the only Latino on the council, came in second in the city overall and for the Chinatown precinct. He placed ahead of fellow incumbent Stephen Murphy, who has been a councilor at-large since 1997. Murphy came in fourth place citywide, followed by Yoon and, in sixth place, White. Incumbent Michael Flaherty came in first citywide.

Though he came in second, Arroyo is not about to rest on his success, nor underestimate the strength of the growing bloc of Asian voters.

“I most definitely intend to stop by [to talk to civic] groups in Chinatown,” he said. The support of Asian voters, he said, “is dear to my heart,” as are the issues of affordable housing, public safety, education and equity.

Likewise, Patricia White, the only woman on the slate of eight candidates for the November election, was grateful to have the support of Chinatown voters. She credited her making the cut to her commitment to education and to building a broad-base coalition.

But White also said she relishes her personal connection with Chinatown, established through her attendance as a student at the Josiah Quincy School. “I can even sing a few songs in Chinese,” she said during an interview.

Asked if she considers being a woman as positive or negative in the race for city councilor at-large, she said it offers a “unique perspective.” She said that “women experience issues differently...issues such as education and health.”

The only current at-large councilor who is a woman is Maura Hennigan who is giving up that seat to run for mayor.

As for Yoon, some observers and local media have speculated that his lack of political experience could pose a challenge to his campaign. Even some Asian voters in Chinatown have pledged their support to Arroyo before Yoon.

“Ah, he’s the new kid on the block,” summed up one Chinatown voter about Yoon.

But Yoon is not deterred.

He considers being a political rookie an asset.

“The fact that I don’t have a political background” is good, he said. His strength, which he says is important for the city to recognize, is in his background of community service. Yoon has worked as an advocate of affordable housing and as a public school teacher. He previously worked for the Asian Community Development Corporation in Chinatown.

He said he wants to improve affordable housing, education, cleanliness of the streets, and the way that city government interacts with neighborhood groups.

“Over time, during the next six weeks, it will be clear what specific solutions I have for the city. I don’t believe in rhetoric,” he said. Yoon’s biggest challenge will likely come from his competition. Three of his seven competitors are incumbent councilors: Flaherty, Arroyo and Murphy. Three others - White, John Connolly, and Edward Flynn - are the children of formerly high-profile politicians.

But Yoon plays down Arroyo’s competitor status, even embracing his candidacy. “We strengthen each other’s campaigns,” and voters can vote for four people, Yoon said. Moreover, he said, he and Arroyo are helping each other.

“A vote for Felix is never going to be a vote against me. We are working together,” he said.

But a vote for Felix is also not a vote for Yoon. Some people may choose to vote for Arroyo and not Yoon, which would increase the tally of votes for Arroyo without doing the same for Yoon. Not all voters will pick four candidates; indeed, some may vote for only one.

Still, Yoon is confident.

Will the public be calling Sam Yoon “councilor” in November?

His response to that question: “Absolutely.”