Today, representing VACA, I had the honor of attending the Republic of Vietnam National Police Day Commemoration on June 1st at the invitation of Mr. Dang Huu Long. It was also my privilege to meet Dr. Trinh Ha, a candidate for the United States House of Representatives in Washington’s 8th Congressional District.
Dr. Trinh Ha came to the United States in 1995 at the age of nine under the Humanitarian Operation (HO) program. Her father was a former intelligence officer of the Republic of Vietnam National Police who endured many years of imprisonment under the communist regime following the fall of South Vietnam in 1975.
What impressed me most is that, despite pursuing doctoral studies at UC Berkeley, Dr. Trinh Ha has remained firmly grounded in the principles of freedom, personal responsibility, and constitutional government. In my experience, I have known many Vietnamese immigrants of my generation who studied engineering at Berkeley and later embraced progressive political ideologies. Trinh Ha stands out as someone who has maintained a strong appreciation for the values that brought so many Vietnamese refugees to America.
Fluent in both English and Vietnamese, Dr. Trinh Ha is passionate about helping the next generation of Vietnamese Americans understand and appreciate the freedoms, constitutional principles, and rule of law that have sustained the American Republic for nearly 250 years.
I believe Dr. Trinh Ha is well qualified to represent our community in Congress. She embodies the legacy of the Republic of Vietnam while also upholding the conservative values and founding principles that have contributed to America’s strength, prosperity, and enduring success.
I wholeheartedly support Dr. Trinh Ha’s candidacy and respectfully encourage VACA’s Board of Directors to formally endorse her campaign. I also encourage Dr. Liem, President of VACA, to invite Dr. Trinh Ha for an interview on the Viet My program with Rachel Quy, and I hope Dr. Phan Quang Trong can help arrange a discussion with her on KBC Channel.
In my opinion, Washington’s 8th Congressional District is a true toss-up district. If Dr. Trinh Ha’s campaign can significantly strengthen its fundraising efforts and build a strong volunteer network from the more than 100,000 Vietnamese Americans living in the Seattle metropolitan area and surrounding communities, we may well see a capable, articulate, and inspiring Vietnamese-American woman elected to Congress—bringing a positive, thoughtful, and unifying voice to our nation’s political discourse.
{Category DD-E, BHL]