OPINION – “Community raised. Neighborhood supported. Driven to serve.”
The above quote is the succinct rationale for the candidacy of Maiv Yaj Vaj, a lifelong resident of Sacramento’s 8th City Council District. Mai, as the eldest of sixteen children, attended Sacramento public schools and holds Bachelors in Biology and Sociology from the University of San Francisco and dual Master’s degrees in Public Health and Asian American Studies from UCLA. Clearly, Vang has the intellectual capacity to meet the challenges of the city council.
With the recent election of Katie Valenzuela the city of Sacramento is on the verge of a major momentum shift in political leadership. I choose to align with Sacramento’s political future rather than remain tethered to its more traditional past.
Vang calls for exploring the reformation of the Sacramento police department under the challenged leadership of Chief Daniel Hahn. Along with the aforementioned Councilmember-elect Valenzuela and others, Vang leads the call to “Take the Pledge Sacramento” which is a call for elected officials to reject the financial support of police unions. I respect Vang’s position on these two issues and support her positions.
Further, Vang is a beacon of hope for the countless immigrant children living in our city who have been told that “DREAMS” really do come true. Vang has worked tirelessly to connect the various eclectic communities in District 8 including the Black, Latinx, API and LGBTQ populations she will serve.
Although I do not live in District 8, Sacramento council members are elected by districts but serve the ENTIRE city. I have been a Sacramento resident since 1974 and have rarely met anyone in local elective office with the character and the work ethic of Mai Vang.
Please join me in supporting Mai Vang for Sacramento City Council, District 8!
By Mark T. Harris
Mark T. Harris, esq., is co-founder of the Sacramento Law Enforcement Accountability Directive (“L.E.A.D.”).