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As the general election approaches, the Korean American Grassroots Conference would like to help all of our community members stay informed with the latest developments in election administrations, as well as candidates for other offices than the White House. The last in a three-part series, this post focuses on the 24 Korean American candidates running for a local-level and office in 2020. You can find the rest of the series here:

• Korean American Elected Officials and Candidates: Federal Offices (released in September 2020)
• Korean American Elected Officials and Candidates: State and Metropolitan City Office (released in October 2020)

As of October 2020, there are over 50 Korean Americans serving in the local government across the United States. Below are the profiles of those candidates up for election later this year. Please be advised that this list shows only those up for re-election or election in 2020 for a seat in the local government. 

Candidates are listed in the order of County, City, Borough and School District (divided by a horizontal line). Within County, City, Borough and School District, incumbents are listed first. Within incumbents, the order comes by the year the candidate was first elected. 

1. John Choi, County Attorney, Ramsey County, Minnesota (Democrat) *Incumbent

Upon his oath of office in 2011, Mr. John Choi became the first Korean American chief prosecutor in the United States.

Mr. Choi has since made progressive justice reform a priority at all levels of government by collaborating with public officials and impacted communities. As county prosecutor, Mr. Choi focused greatly on confronting domestic violence and sexual assault by holding abusers accountable while working collaboratively with advocacy agencies to aid victims. In his efforts, Mr. Choi advanced legislation to reunite families when in the foster children’s best interest; developed the use of lethality assessments and GPS technology to keep domestic violence victims safe; increased second chances by diverting people before they are charged; successfully advocated to reform state drug laws and reinvest savings in community-based solutions; and established a Veterans Court.

In 2015, Mr. Choi was recognized for his leadership in prosecuting sex traffickers and helping trafficked children with the 2015 Minnesota County Attorneys Association Award of Excellence.

As well as his service as the county attorney, Mr. Choi serves on the boards of the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Mitchell Hamline School of Law, is the past president of the Minnesota County Attorneys Association and a past trustee for the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota.

Prior to his public service, Mr. Choi served as Saint Paul City Attorney from 2006 to 2010, and spent a decade in private practice. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Marquette University, a J.D. from Hamline University School of Law, and was a Humphrey Fellow at the University of Minnesota.

The Ramsey County Attorney serves four-year terms. With over 550,321 residents as of 2019 according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Ramsey County is the second-most populous county in Minnesota and one of the most densely-populated counties in the United States. The county includes the state capital city of St. Paul, and is included in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington metropolitan area. According to the New York Times in 2016, the county voted for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton (65.1%) over Republican candidate Donald Trump (26.0%).

2. Samuel Chung, Superior Court Judge, King County, Washington (Democrat) *Incumbent

Born in Seoul, South Korea, Judge Samuel Chung came to the U.S. with his family when he was 12 years old. He was appointed to the King County Superior Court bench by Governor Jay Inslee in May 2014. In the following year, he was elected to fulfill the remainder of the term of his predecessor, and, in 2016, was elected to serve a full, four-year term as judge on the King County Superior Court.

Prior to his judicial service, Judge Chung had served in private practice with a focus on commercial litigation, arbitration and mediation from 1989 until his appointment to the Superior Court bench. He had also served as the Pro Tempore Judge in the King County District Court.

Judge Chung has a BA in American History from Columbia University, and graduated from the George Washington University Law School with a full-tuition scholarship.

Judge Chung has deep ties with the local Korean American community, serving on the boards of the Korean Community Service Center and the Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority. He also was the Founding President of the Korean American Bar Association of Washington.

Superior Court Judges in King County serve one-year terms when appointed, and can serve full, four-year terms once elected. With over 2,250,000 residents as of 2019 according to the U.S. Census Bureau, King County is the most populous county in Washington and the 12th most populous in the United States. The county seat is located in Seattle, the state capital. King County, along with the neighboring Snohomish and Pierce Counties, comprise the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metropolitan area. According to the New York Times in 2016, the county voted for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton (69.8%) over Republican candidate Donald Trump (21.0%).

3. Tony Cho, Superior Court Judge, Los Angeles County, California *Incumbent

A son of Korean immigrants and a lifelong resident of Los Angeles County, Judge Tony Cho first got elected as judge of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County in California in 2018.

For thirteen years, Judge Cho has tried almost 70 jury trials and has represented the People in cases involving serious and violent crimes. For the last five years, he has exclusively prosecuted crimes against the elderly and dependent adults in the Elder Abuse Section where he handles cases involving murder, domestic violence, robbery, burglary, fraud, and identity theft.

In addition to his dedication to public service, Judge Cho serves his local community in numerous capacities through various organizations. Since April 2010, Tony has served as a Staff Judge Advocate at the Office of the Judge Advocate General with the California State Military Reserve (CSMR). He holds the rank of Captain in the CSMR. Through various bar organizations, he has also led community outreach events, including seminars about elder abuse awareness and prevention, and resources for domestic violence victims.

Judge Cho graduated from the University of California, Irvine and earned his law degree from George Washington School of Law.

Of 1,535 judges of the California Superior Courts, over 400 judges serve Los Angeles County. Superior Court Judges in Los Angeles County serve 6-year terms. Los Angeles County, one of California’s original 27 counties, was established on Feb. 18, 1850. It is one of the nation’s largest counties with 4,084 square miles, and has the largest population of any county in the nation–according to the U.S. Census Bureau, over 10 million residents reside in LA as of 2019, accounting for approximately 27% of California’s population. As a subdivision of the state, the County is charged with providing numerous services that affect the lives of all residents, including law enforcement, tax collection, public health protection, public social services, elections and flood control. According to the New York Times in 2016, Los Angeles County voted for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton (71.8%) over Republican candidate Donald Trump (22.4%).

4. Megan Yoo Schneider, Division 7 Director, Municipal Water District of Orange County, California *Incumbent

Megan Yoo Schneider is a registered Professional Engineer who represents Division 7 on the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) Board of Directors. Her professional experience, passion for water, and dedication to her community influenced her decision to run for the MWDOC Board in 2016. As director of Division 7, Schneider represents the cities of Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, San Clemente, and San Juan Capistrano.

Director Schneider’s passion for water, public health, and the environment is showcased by her involvement in numerous organizations. Since 2004, she has served in a number of leadership roles, including Committee Chair, Ad-Hoc Vice Chair, member of the Committee Leadership Council, and member of several Steering Committees, the Water Environment Federation, Past President and board member of the Santa Ana River Basin Section, and on the board of directors for the California Water Environment Association. She is also a member of the American Water Works Association and several other water-related professional associations.

Director Schneider received two degrees from the University of California, Irvine, a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Chemical Engineering with a Specialization in Environmental Engineering, and a Master of Science (M.S.) in Engineering with a Concentration in Environmental Engineering.

With a population of over 3 million according to the 2010 Census, Orange County is one of the most populous counties in California. As such, water supplies are critical to the vitality of the community. The Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) is a wholesale water supplier and resource planning agency that serves all of Orange County through 28 retail water agencies (with the exception of the cities of Anaheim, Fullerton and Santa Ana). MWDOC is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors. Each director is elected to a four-year term by Orange County voters who reside within one of the seven divisions in the MWDOC service area. Local water supplies meet more than half of Orange County’s total water demand. To meet the remaining demand, MWDOC purchases imported water- from the Colorado River and from the State Water Project in the north- through the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and distributes this water to its 28 member agencies. These agencies, made up of both city water departments and water districts, provide retail water services to the public. According to the New York Times, Orange County in the 2016 election voted for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton (50.9%) over Republican candidate Donald Trump (42.3%).

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5. Joong S. Kim, City Councilmember, Calexico, California *Incumbent

Raised in South Korea, Councilmember Joong Kim came to the U.S. in 1980 and started residing in Calexico City in 1984. He was first elected in 2012. He is running for re-election.

Councilmember Kim has long served his community in Calexico, California in various capacities. In 2015, Councilmember Kim was appointed the Mayor of Calexico, serving a one-year term. He has also served for four years as a Councilmember of the Calexico City Council from 2013 to 2016, as well as over two years as a Trustee of the Calexico Unified School District.

In addition to his experience in local government, Councilmember Kim is also a Commissioner at the Imperial County Children and Families First Commission.

The City Council consists of five Council Members, elected to overlapping four-year terms. The Mayor and Mayor Pro Tempore are chosen from among the five council members and rotate on an annual basis. Calexico is a city in southern Imperial County, California and is situated on the Mexico–United States border. Along with six other incorporated Imperial County cities, Calexico forms part of the larger populated area known as the Imperial Valley. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Calexico had 40,139 residents as of 2018. According to the New York Times in 2016, most precincts of the city voted for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton over Republican candidate Donald Trump.

6. Ben Choi, City Councilmember, Richmond, California (Democrat) *Incumbent

The son of Korean immigrants, Councilmember Ben Choi was first elected to the Richmond City Council in 2016. In 2019, he became the Vice Mayor of Richmond. He was appointed to the Richmond Planning Commission in 2010 by then Mayor, Gayle McLaughlin.

Councilmember Choi had long advocated for working class families, and pushed for such measures as affordable housing through rent control and access to healthcare by bringing a full-service hospital to his community.

As a board member of Urban Habitat and a former fellow of their Boards and Commissions Leadership Institute, Councilmember Choi is committed to diversifying the face of leadership in the Bay Area. The Boards and Commissions Leadership Institute is a program of Urban Habitat, a non-profit that works to democratize power and advance equitable policies to create a just and connected Bay Area for low-income communities and communities of color. Councilmember Choi is proud of his work with the BCLI; both as a fellow, where he learned to make decisions on many issues including community planning, governance and advocacy, and as a board member, where he is helping to select and foster leaders from low income and communities of color who will lend their voices and their concerns to city and nonprofit leadership across the Bay Area.

He serves on the Richmond Neighborhood Coordinating Council which helped him understand the power of forging greater connections between our many diverse communities. He also works with Marine Clean Energy and he has been an essential part of changing the way we source and deliver energy in Richmond and around the Bay Area.

The Richmond City Council consists of six Councilmembers elected at large over four-year terms and a separately elected Mayor. The city of Richmond, California, is located in western Contra Costa County in San Francisco’s East Bay region. Richmond borders San Pablo, Albany, El Cerrito and Pinole in addition to the unincorporated communities of North Richmond, Hasford Heights, Kensington, El Sobrante, Bayview-Montalvin Manor, Tara Hills, and East Richmond Heights. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the city’s population was 103,710. According to the New York Times, in the 2016 presidential election, the majority of this city voted for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton with an average of 90% of the votes.

7. Tammy Kim, City Councilmember At-Large, Irvine, California

Born in Seoul, South Korea, Ms. Tammy Kim is a second-generation Korean American who came to the U.S. with her parents when she was one. She is running for City Councilmember At-Large in the city of Irvine, making her the second Korean American woman candidate to do so. Ms. Kim is the Finance Commissioner for the City of Irvine and also the Founder and Managing Director of the Korean American Center, a division of Korean Community Services, the largest social service organization serving the Korean American community in Orange County.

As a former Fortune 500 company executive, Ms. Kim has experience in resolving highly complex business, management, and legal issues within large-scale enterprises. She has managed multi-million budgets, and overseen business operations on a global basis. As a small business owner, Ms. Kim has worked with start-up companies and venture capital firms to help them improve business functions for themselves and their portfolio clients.

Ms. Kim has also been a community activist, providing a voice for Irvine’s diverse community. As a nonprofit community leader, she has advocated for Irvine working families, promoted bilingual education and ethnic studies, protected and expanded language access for voters, and has worked to ensure that Irvine receives its fair share of resources through full participation in the federal census. She has served on the Irvine Global Village Festival Steering Committee, Irvine Census Complete Count Committee, Chair, Language Access Committee for the Orange County Registrar of Voters, and Education Advisory Committee for Cottie Petrie-Norris.

The City Council is composed of the Mayor and four City Council members who are elected at large by registered voters of the City. Councilmembers serve four-year terms and the Mayor serves a two-year term. The City of Irvine has a two-term limit for elected officials.

The city of Irvine is located in the center of Orange County and had a population of 212,375 as of the 2010 Census. In 2019, the California Department of Finance estimated the population to have since grown to 287,401. Irvine became the largest city in the continental United States to have an Asian plurality, with over 45% of the population consisting of residents of Asian descent. According to the New York Times, in the 2016 presidential election, the majority of this city voted for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton with an average of 60% of the votes.

8. John Park, City Councilmember At-Large, Irvine, California

Mr. John Park immigrated with his family to the U.S. when he was 8 years old. He grew up in Virginia and later graduated from George Mason University where he served as the elected Student Body President and a few other student associations. He has resided in Irvine now for 21 years; 16 years in Northpark and 5 years in Orchard Hills. 

Within the City, Mr. Park is a Finance Commissioner and he serves on the Mayor’s Advisory Committee. He is actively involved in the community as a Rotarian and as a supportive PTO member. Previously, he also served as HOA President. He has also led multiple community efforts such as Food Drives and Donations for residents in need and seniors. He and his wife support multiple local non-profits.

Mr. Park was the Vice President of a Fortune 1000 company. Soon afterwards, he joined a Dot Com in an Internet start-up as the VP of Sales and Business Development. Currently, he is the Founder and President of an award-winning advertising agency in Orange County.

The City Council is composed of the Mayor and four City Council members who are elected at large by registered voters of the City. Councilmembers each serve a four-year term and the Mayor serves a two-year term. The City of Irvine has a two-term limit for elected officials.

The city of Irvine is located in the center of Orange County and had a population of 212,375 as of the 2010 Census. In 2019, the California Department of Finance estimated the population to have since grown to 287,401. Irvine became the largest city in the continental United States to have an Asian plurality, with over 45% of the population consisting of residents of Asian descent. According to the New York Times, in the 2016 presidential election, the majority of this city voted for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton with an average of 60% of the votes. 

9. Andrew Cho, City Councilmember, Fullerton, California

Mr. Andrew Cho came to the United States at the age of one. During his childhood, Mr. Cho’s family moved to Fullerton. He is running for the Fullerton City Council. 

Mr. Andrew Cho owns a bankruptcy law firm in Anaheim based on his 24 years of experience as a bankruptcy attorney. He became a lawyer and started his own small business, helping guide people through difficult challenges to reach their economic recovery. 

Mr. Cho also volunteered with youth programs. He was a Fullerton YMCA counselor during graduate school, and has volunteered teaching Sunday school and coaching children’s basketball and volleyball. 

He and his wife are raising children in Fullerton; one graduated from Sunny Hills High School and two currently attend Fullerton public schools. 

Fullerton City Council is composed of three members, who may serve three successive four-year terms and then are ineligible to serve again until four years have passed. Fullerton city is located in northern Orange County, California, United States. It is approximately 25 miles (40 km) southeast of downtown Los Angeles, and approximately 11 miles (18 km) north-northwest of Santa Ana, the county seat. It is bordered by La Habra and Brea on the north, La Mirada on the northwest, Buena Park on the west, Anaheim on the south, and Placentia on the east. The city had a population of 135,161 as of the 2010 Census. According to the New York Times in 2016, many precincts of the city voted for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton over Republican candidate Donald Trump. 

10. Fred Jung, City Councilmember, Fullerton, California

Born in Seoul, South Korea,  Mr. Fred Jung’s family immigrated to the U.S. when Mr. Jung was 5 years old. He was raised in Fullerton.

He serves as a city commissioner on the Traffic and Circulation Commission appointed by Councilmember Bruce Whitaker. He was one of three finalists who ran for the Fullerton City Council vacant at-large seat in 2019.

Mr. Jung founded the Junior All American Bears non-profit organization in 2008, which is one of the largest and most diverse youth football and cheer organizations in North Orange County. Under his leadership, the organization won the Super Bowl Championship 5 times, and the 2020 Cheer National Championship in their respective league. He strives to include all children and families, irrespective of their ethnic or economic background and/or disability.

As a community leader, Mr. Jung has volunteered countless hours in Fullerton’s Korean-American community as a chair of the Westbluff Homeowners Association. 

Fullerton City Council is composed of three members, who may serve three successive four-year terms and then are ineligible to serve again until four years have passed. Fullerton city is located in northern Orange County, California, United States. It is approximately 25 miles (40 km) southeast of downtown Los Angeles, and approximately 11 miles (18 km) north-northwest of Santa Ana, the county seat. It is bordered by La Habra and Brea on the north, La Mirada on the northwest, Buena Park on the west, Anaheim on the south, and Placentia on the east. The city had a population of 135,161 as of the 2010 Census. According to the New York Times in 2016, many precincts of the city voted for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton over Republican candidate Donald Trump. 

11. John Jun, Place 5 City Councilmember, Coppell, Texas

An immigrant from South Korea to Guam at age 10, Mr. John Jun joined the U.S. Navy out of high school and served on the carrier U.S.S. John F. Kennedy from 1986 to 1990. He is a 21-year resident of Coppell City. 

Mr. John Jun has been a Texas-licensed attorney since 2012. He worked as an attorney and partner at Park & Jun, PLLC since 2015. He also found the Jun Law Firm in 2013.  

He has served the community within and outside of Coppell since 2003. He served in various organizations including Korean Society of Dallas, Dallas Korean Trade Association, and Korean-American Coalition. He is the former president of Korean-American Coalition; an organization which he helped establish as one of the founding members in 2004. He has also been in the Coppell City Manager’s Advisory Group since 2016 and on the Coppell Board of Adjustment since 2017. 

Mr. Jun graduated from SMU with a B.A. in political science and public policy with a minor in philosophy in 2006 and got his J.D. from Florida Coastal School of Law in 2012.

The City of Coppell Council consists of a Mayor and 7 Council members who are elected at-large by majority vote. If no candidate receives at least 50% of the vote, there will be a runoff election. Each member serves a staggered 3-year term. 

Coppell is a city in the northwest corner of Dallas County in the U.S. state of Texas. It is a suburb of Dallas and a bedroom community in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. A small area in the far northern portion of the city extends into neighboring Denton County. Coppell occupies the northwest corner of Dallas County and lies in proximity to DFW Airport. A portion of the airport property is within the city limits of Coppell. It is bordered on the west by Grapevine, on the north by Lewisville, on the east by Carrollton, and on the south by Irving and Dallas. Its estimated population was 41,421 as of July 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. According to the New York Times in 2016, most of the precincts voted for Republican candidate Donald Trump.

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12. Paul Yoon, Councilmember, Borough of Fort Lee, New Jersey (Democrat) *Incumbent

First elected in 2017, Councilmember Paul Yoon is the second Korean American to be elected as Councilmember in the Borough of Fort Lee. Councilmember Yoon serves in various positions in the Council, such as Council Committee Liaison to the Film Commission, to the Municipal Court, as well as to the Parking Authority.

Prior to his service in Fort Lee, Councilmember Yoon had served as special assistant to Washington D.C. Mayor Anthony A. Williams, with whom he assisted with the advancement of legislation and policies in partnership with the federal government, local and state governments and agencies and other organizations.

Councilmember Yoon is also an experienced trial attorney in the areas of commercial litigation and criminal defense, and is a partner at Florio Perrucci Steinhardt and Fader. He had also served as assistant prosecutor in the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and he began his career as a law clerk to the Honorable Joseph P. Donohue of the Superior Court in New Jersey.

Beyond public service, Councilmember Yoon takes part in various boards such as board of directors for the Center for Hope and Safety, Korean American Family Service Center, and the Korean American League for Civic Action. He is a former president of the Asian Pacific American Lawyers Association of New Jersey and the Korean American Association of Fort Lee.

The Borough Council is composed of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle. Fort Lee is a borough on the eastern coast of Bergen County along the Hudson River, and, as of the 2010 Census, had a population of 35,345, 23.5% of which were Korean American. As the western terminus of the George Washington Bridge, Fort Lee is also one of the important points of connection between New Jersey and New York. According to the New York Times in 2016, most precincts of the borough voted for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton over Republican candidate Donald Trump.

13. Mark Park, Councilmember, Borough of Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey (Republican)

Educated in South Korea, Councilmember Mark Park has been a resident of Englewood Cliffs since 2010 and was first elected in 2015. He lost in 2018 and is re-running this year. 

Councilmember Park had previously served on the Englewood Cliffs Council from 2016 to 2018, taking part of multiple roles and committees as the Planning Board Liaison, Chair of the Finance Committee, as well as Member of the Public Safety Committee and Community Events Committee. 

Beyond his experience in local government, Mr. Park is a prominent member of his local Korean American community, having served as the President of the New Jersey Korean-American Chamber of Commerce and the Chairman of the New Jersey Chapter of the Korean American National Republican Committee.

The City Council is comprised of five members, each elected for a three-year term. Four are elected from the individual wards in which they live and the other is elected by a citywide vote as an at-large member. Englewood Cliffs is a borough on the eastern coast of Bergen County along the Hudson River, and has a population of 5,281 as of the 2010 Census. Korean Americans accounted for 20.3% of the population in 2010, and data released by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2017 showed that more than half of the residents of Englewood Cliffs spoke Korean at home. According to the New York Times in 2016, most precincts of the borough voted for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton over Republican candidate Donald Trump.

14. Jae K.Park, Councilmember, Borough of Palisades Park, New Jersey (Democrat)

Mr. Jae Park won the primary on the position of Councilmember, Palisades Park, NJ, in July 2020. He has been residing in Palisades Park after his retirement since 2006. 

Mr. Park came to the U.S. in the 1970s to study and majored in management engineering in graduate school and worked in numerous corporations on the senior management level and retired. He currently serves on the Palisades Park town planning board and takes charge of external affairs in Palisades Park Korean Voters’ Association.

The Council is composed of the Mayor and six councilmembers. Councilmembers each serve a three-year term. Palisades Park is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. Located West of the Hudson River, Palisades Park is now 1.25 square. The borough borders Fort Lee, Leonia, Ridgefield and Ridgefield Park. The borough’s population was 19,622 as of the 2010 Census. According to the New York Times, in the 2016 presidential election, every precinct of the city voted for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

15. Youbong Won-Yoon, Councilmember, Borough of Palisades Park, New Jersey

An immigrant from South Korea, Ms. Youbong Won-Yoon ran for election in 2017 and 2019.

Ms. Won-Yoon has been deeply involved with the community over the years. She has worked with the Palisades Park Korean Voters’ Association.

The Council is composed of the Mayor and six councilmembers. Councilmembers each serve a three-year term. Palisades Park is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. Located West of the Hudson River, Palisades Park is now 1.25 square. The borough borders Fort Lee, Leonia, Ridgefield and Ridgefield Park. The borough’s population was 19,622 as of the 2010 Census. According to the New York Times, in the 2016 presidential election, every precinct of the city voted for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

16. Sarah Kim, Councilmember, Borough of Ridgefield, New Jersey

Ms. Sarah Kim immigrated to the U.S. with her family when she was 16 years old. She has resided in Ridgefield since 2018. 

After graduating from Albany Law School, Ms. Kim has worked as an attorney in Bergen County for the past 10 years. She was appointed as an attorney to protect Ridgefield town tenants from this year. 

She has also served as vice president of the Korean American Association of New Jersey. Ms. Kim was further responsible for the push to remove racially-charged words such as “oriental” from the New Jersey state government following a similar federal measure that was unanimously passed by Congress.

The Council is composed of the Mayor and six councilmembers. The Mayor, as chief executive officer of the Borough, is responsible for the enforcement of all New Jersey laws and regulations of the Borough of Ridgefield as defined by ordinance. The Mayor is elected to a four-year term and is eligible for re-election. In the case of councilmembers, two are elected at large each year for three-year terms. 

Ridgefield is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. The borough has a total area of 2.87 square miles (7.43 km2), including 2.54 square miles (6.59 km2) of land and 0.33 square miles (0.85 km2) of water (11.39%). The borough is informally divided into three sections based on the geographical contour of the land. The first section is known as Ridgefield, and lies partly in the valley on both the east and west sides and partly on the first hill. The second section is known as Morsemere, and is located in the northern part of the borough. The third section is Ridgefield Heights, on the second hill at the extreme eastern part of the borough, running north and south. The borough’s population was 11,032 as of the 2010 Census. Of the total population, over 30% is Korean American. According to the New York Times, in the 2016 presidential election, every precinct of the city voted for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. 

17. Bong June Kim, Councilmember, Borough of Norwood, New Jersey (Republican)

Born in Seoul, Korea, Mr. Bong June Kim has resided in Norwood over 10 years.

After graduating from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor with a BBA in Business, he went to Syracuse College of Law for J.D. He was admitted to practice law in the state of New York and New Jersey and also in the U.S. Supreme Court. He served in the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York in the Third Judicial Department, the Southern and Eastern District Courts of New York and District Courts of New Jersey. He has also served as Chairman, Vice Chairman and Investigator of the Supreme Court of New Jersey’s District Attorney Ethics Committee for Bergen County. 

He is the founding member of Kim & Bae, P.C., a law firm with over 20 professional employees specializing in complex civil and commercial litigation in both domestic and international arenas – Fort Lee, NJ and New York, NY. He is also the founding member of Kim & Bae Foundation to support under-privileged children. 

The Council is composed of the Mayor and six councilmembers. The governing body is composed of a Mayor and a Borough Council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council is composed of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle. Each Council member chairs a committee that they are responsible for. 

Norwood is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. The borough has a total area of 2.79 square miles (7.24 km2), including 2.79 square miles (7.21 km2) of land and 0.01 square miles (0.02 km2) of water (0.32%). Norwood is in the northeastern part of New Jersey, about 2 miles (3 km) from the New York state line. It is bordered by the Bergen County municipalities of Alpine, Closter, Harrington Park, Northvale, Old Tappan and Rockleigh. The borough’s population was 5,711 as of the 2010 Census. According to the New York Times, in the 2016 presidential election, every precinct of the city voted for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. 

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18. James Na, President, Chino Valley Unified School District Board of Education, California *Incumbent

Mr. James Na was elected to the Board of Education in 2008. He has been re-elected in 2012 and 2016.

Mr. Na is a business owner and has two children attending Chino Valley Unified schools. He is a board member of the Chino Valley GATE Students Parents Association, Friends of the James Thalman Library and Friends of Reagan Park. He is active in the Calvary Chapel Chino Hills Watchman Ministry and the Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of Rancho del Chino Rotary and has been appointed to the San Bernardino County Commission on Seniors Affairs.

The Chino Valley Unified School District Board of Education is composed of five members elected at large, serving four-year terms. The Chino Valley Unified School District is a school district in San Bernardino County, California, United States. It serves the cities of Chino, Chino Hills, and the southwestern portion of Ontario, though originally it served only Chino when it was founded in 1860. It now encompasses 88 square miles (230km2) and, according to the California School Dashboard, serves about 27,590 students from grades kindergarten up to 12th grade. CVUSD serves four high schools, five junior high schools, twenty-one elementary schools, one continuation school, an adult school, & one Charter school. According to the New York Times in 2016, most precincts in the area voted for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton over Republican candidate Donald Trump.

19. Stephanie Jang, Board Member, Palisades Park Board of Education, New Jersey *Incumbent

As the current president of Palisades Park Board of Education, Ms. Stephanie Jang was first elected in 2017 and is running for re-election this year. She previously ran for Palisades Park Councilmember this year but lost. 

As an educator, she has worked as an independent educational consultant and has served many students to enroll jr. & sr. boarding schools and top elite colleges. She has extensive experience in admission counseling, academic counseling, college counseling, and SAT math tutoring. 

Ms. Jang also has been deeply involved with community services. Activities include political services in local school boards and non-profit organizations. 

The Board of Education is composed of nine members and each member serves a three-year term. The Palisades Park Public School District serves students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2014–15 school year, the district, comprising three schools, had an enrollment of 1,666 students and 144.7 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.5:1.

Palisades Park is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. Located West of the Hudson River, Palisades Park is now 1.25 square. The borough borders Fort Lee, Leonia, Ridgefield and Ridgefield Park. The borough’s population was 19,622 as of the 2010 Census. According to the New York Times, in the 2016 presidential election, every precinct of the city voted for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

20. Elisa Cho, Board Member, Fort Lee Board of Education, New Jersey *Incumbent

Ms. Elisa Cho is a Bergen County, New Jersey native, currently serves on the Fort Lee Board of Education since January 2018. 

She is a full time Broker-Associate in NJ & NY. Her commitment to her clients is exemplified by her receipt of NJ REALTORS Circle of Excellence Sales Award 2017, 2018, 2019 – Bronze Level. She is also an Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR), and certified e-PRO.

She is also a Multi-Level Girl Scout Troop Co-Founder/Leader and enjoys helping youth develop crucial skills and confidence needed to be future leaders. Prior to working in real estate, Ms. Cho has worked as a nurse, marketing director and entrepreneur where she credits this background with giving her better rapport with clients and a deeper ability to respond positively to challenges with a tech savvy cutting edge approach.

Fort Lee Board of Education is composed of nine members, sets policy and oversees the fiscal and educational operation of the district through its administration. As a Type II school district, the board’s trustees are elected directly by voters to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with three seats up for election each year held (since 2012) as part of the November general election.

The Fort Lee School District is a comprehensive community public school district that serves students in pre-Kindergarten through twelfth grade from Fort Lee, in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprising six schools, had an enrollment of 4,103 students and 301.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.6:1.

Fort Lee is a borough on the eastern coast of Bergen County along the Hudson River, and, as of the 2010 Census, had a population of 35,345, 23.5% of which were Korean American. As the western terminus of the George Washington Bridge, Fort Lee is also one of the important points of connection between New Jersey and New York. According to the New York Times in 2016, most precincts of the borough voted for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton over Republican candidate Donald Trump.

21. Kevin Lim, Board Member, Palisades Park Board of Education, New Jersey

A 29-year resident of the United States and 11-year resident of Palisades Park, Mr. Kevin Im is running for Board of Education by the recommendation of Palisades Park Korean American Voter Association. 

Mr. Lim is an accountant and has served as the chairman of the Finance Committee of the New Jersey Korean-American Chamber of Commerce and is currently serving as a certified public accountant of the Fort Lee Chamber of Commerce. 

The Board of Education is composed of nine members and each member serves a three-year term. The Palisades Park Public School District serves students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2014–15 school year, the district, comprised of three schools, had an enrollment of 1,666 students and 144.7 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.5:1.

Palisades Park is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. Located West of the Hudson River, Palisades Park is now 1.25 square. The borough borders Fort Lee, Leonia, Ridgefield and Ridgefield Park. The borough’s population was 19,622 as of the 2010 Census. According to the New York Times, in the 2016 presidential election, every precinct of the city voted for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

22. Daniel Lee, Board Member, Leonia Board of Education, New Jersey

Mr. Daniel Lee has over 18 years of experience as a Professional Civil Engineer in Municipal and Commercial Land Development. He has worked as a Municipal/Planning/Zoning Board Engineer for multiple municipalities in Northern New Jersey. He has a proven track record of planning and executing complex projects involving multiple stakeholders including the public and government agencies. 

Mr. Lee is also a parent of two children attending ACS and active in the Leonia community serving in ACS/LMS Fifth Grade Relocation Parent Advisory Committee, Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Transportation and previous coach for T-ball and AYSO soccer. 

The Board of education is composed of nine members and oversees the fiscal and educational operation of the district through its administration. As a Type II school district, the board’s trustees are elected directly by voters to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with three seats up for election each year held (since 2012) as part of the November general election.

Leonia is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. The borough has a total area of 1.63 square miles (4.22 km2), including 1.52 square miles (3.94 km2) of land and 0.11 square miles (0.27 km2) of water (6.50%). It is a suburb of New York City located near the western approach to the George Washington Bridge. The borough borders the Bergen County municipalities of Englewood, Fort Lee, Palisades Park, Ridgefield Park and Teaneck. The borough’s population was 8,937 as of the 2010 Census. According to the New York Times, in the 2016 presidential election, every precinct of the city voted for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

23. Edward An, Board Member, Demarest Northern Valley Regional School District Board of Education, New Jersey

No information about the candidate

24. Elaine J. Lim, Board Member, Closter Northern Valley Regional School District Board of Education, New Jersey

No information about the candidate