Still, some political observers argue that the idea of an AAPI voting bloc is tenuous. “We are in very difficult times,” he said, mentioning the targeting of Asian American scientists who have any connection with China as an example. Locke offered congratulations to all the recently elected Asian American mayors, and seemed to imply that a cohesive identity among the AAPI community was in part at least formed by not only a history of antagonism but by more recent animosity. “We congratulate him for keeping the dreams and the legacy of the AAPI community alive,” said Hisao Inagaki, the Japan Consul General.
Harrell’s understanding of the needs of the community “comes from lived experience,” she said. “Every road and brick that makes up Seattle” is due to the labor of AAPI immigrants, said Carrie Huie-Pascua, Washington State Commissioner on Asian Pacific American Affairs, reading a statement from Gov. Other speakers said Harrell’s service was part of a long line of AAPI contributions to the city. Moriguchi, in introducing Harrell, referred familiarly to cousins of the mayor-elect who repaired cars in the neighborhood and a florist shop run by the sister of Harrell’s mother.Īssunta Ng, publisher of the Northwest Asian Weekly and one of the emcees, recounted when Harrell’s mother, worried about his popularity with female voters when he was running for mayor in 2007, invited a number of Asian American women to meet her son and advise him. Harrell played football at the UW (and received the Most Valuable Defensive Player Award during the 1978 Rose Bowl), another aspect of his identity as a native Seattleite to which speakers often referred. “We take that with the 7% of African Americans, and you got 10% or 15% of Huskies that like football.” “We politicians call that a voting bloc,” he said, while repeatedly being interrupted by cheers and catcalls.
“I am honored to be the right person at the right time,” he said, adding that his election had been helped by the 15% of the city’s residents that identify as AAPI. Ko, Tomio Moriguchi, and Joanne Harrell (Photo by George Liu)
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