Leland Yee, Democrat for California State Senate

An AsiansVote.com Interview

We've been following Leland Yee for months here at AsiansVote.com -- he's been fighting the good fight in the California State Assembly, speaking out against a racist Sony ad and getting various bills signed into law which protect consumers, defend freedom of speech, and limit gay-bashing in political campaigns. Yee recently agreed to an interview with AsiansVote.com -- read on to learn more about his background, beliefs, and current campaign for the California State Senate.

AsiansVote: In six sentences or less, tell us about yourself and why you're running for the California State Senate.

Leland Yee: As an educator, child psychologist, husband and father of four, I have dedicated my career to strengthening our schools and colleges, protecting our families, and working creatively to improve the quality of life in our communities. The State Senate seat gives me an opportunity to continue that work on behalf of the people of San Francisco and San Mateo County.

AV: Why should Asian American progressives from other parts of the country care about your race -- and what can they do to help?

LY: Asian Americans have made significant gains over the last several years. I am proud to be a part of that history in becoming the first Asian American in California to be appointed Speaker pro Tempore, the number two position in the State Assembly.

There are 4.5 million Asian Pacific Americans in California. Asian Americans are the fastest growing ethnic group in the state. Yet in the 155 year history of California we have never elected a Chinese American to the State Senate. We the help of other Asian American progressives, we can overcome this barrier together. Supporters can help by visiting www.lelandyee.com and contributing to this effort.

AV: You've had an incredibly successful tenure in the State Assembly. What three bills are you the most proud of and why?

LY: Clearly the bill to protect children from harmful, violent video games (AB 1179) was a major accomplishment. We were able to overcome the lobbying of a $30 billion industry and even get a Governor who stars in violent video games to sign the bill into law.

AB 3042 was a groundbreaking shift in how we prosecute the sexual exploitation of our children. Specifically, the bill addresses the alarming rates of children being sexually exploited through prostitution by providing greater penalties to those who solicit children. More importantly, the bill is our first step in changing the status of many sexually exploited children by no longer labeling them as prostitutes, but rather as victims. Once classified as a victim, these children can be afforded much-needed health and social services.

Finally, an effort that will have to continue in the Senate, is legislation to provide much needed mental health services to our schools. Our children deserve the necessary and adequate resources, not just books and teachers, to provide physical, social, emotional, and intellectual support. In order to truly maximize student achievement, we must integrate non-academic support systems into our schools.

AV: How did you get so many bills passed and what was your criteria for picking which issues you'd fight for?

LY: In my four years in the Assembly, I was proudly able to get 64 bills through State Legislature and 48 signed into law. Each had their own path -- some requiring bipartisanship, others simply requiring will and determination in order to withstand assaults from the right. My top priorities have always been our children, schools, economy, the environment, and working families. I have never been interested in simply introducing a bill for the sake of it. My criteria were that it will make a significant difference to our state and that we develop a strategy to get the bill passed and signed into law.

AV: You're a child psychologist by training. What made you decide to enter politics and how did you take the first step?

LY: Initially, I was able to continue working as a child psychologist when I served in my first elected office -- the San Francisco Board of Education. While serving on the school board I realized our children needed better leadership and policy making throughout the city and thus I ran for Board of Supervisors.

AV: Should free speech advocates worry about your campaigns to prevent minors from buying ultra-violent video games?

LY: I consider myself to be a free speech advocate. In fact, as a San Francisco Democrat I have always been a staunch supporter of the First Amendment. In fact, this session I authored and passed legislation protecting free speech and free press for college students. The violent video game bill was not about suppressing speech, but about protecting children. The bill allowed the manufacturers to make any game they wanted, and allowed them to produce even more excessively graphic violent games. The bill simply said to sell those types of games to adults only. I am proud to have worked with many free speech advocates, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the California Newspaper Publishers Association, on a number of bills throughout the years.

AV: This year you helped pass legislation aimed at limiting gay-baiting in political campaigns. What kinds of arguments have you found effective in convincing culturally conservative Asian Americans that it's important to fight for gay and lesbian rights?

LY: I simply say that as Asian Americans we know what it is like to be discriminated against and that the Code of Campaign Practices protects our ethnicity. Members of the LGBT community deserve that same protection from hate, discrimination, and intolerance.

AV: Aaaand... the lightning round! On the national or international political scene, what's the issue that makes you the angriest or provides you with the most inspiration?

LY: Just one? Clearly the war in Iraq has serious problems on many fronts. The attacks on our environment and civil liberties at the national level are equally troubling. In terms of inspiration; as our marketplace becomes more global, I look forward to finding new ways to expand our economy and increase jobs here in California.

AV: Political heroes/role models?

LY: Nancy Pelosi, Robert Kennedy, Dolores Huerta, my parents

AV: What other politicians should our readers keep an eye on in the Bay Area?

LY: The next Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Board of Equalization member Betty Yee, SF District Attorney Kamala Harris, SF School Board member Eric Mar, to name a few.

AV: What's your favorite video game?

LY: Any game that positively influences our children's physical or mental health.

Photos courtesy of LelandYee.com.