SF School Board member Jane Kim discusses her endorsement of Barack Obama

When last we spoke with Jane Kim, she was running for the San Francisco School Board. Now she's finishing up a year in office -- and volunteering for the Barack Obama campaign. She took time out of her insanely busy schedule today (even as we speak, she's at an Obama phonebanking event) to discuss her endorsement of Obama.

AsiansVote: Many politicians avoid making endorsements during primaries. What made you step up with your endorsement of Barack Obama?

Jane Kim: This is the first time I have endorsed a candidate for President. In the past, I did not feel strongly enough to attach my personal support -- volunteer hours, endorsement and contributions, to a candidate running for national office. I always liked one candidate more than another candidate, but it always felt like picking the "lesser of two evils."

When the Obama campaign first approached me, I was hesitant to endorse. Not because I was considering endorsing another candidate, but I was reluctant to get involved in a national race and attach my name to a candidate that I may never meet and would be hard to keep accountable to issues that I care about. I believe in local politics because I believe it is possible for communities to shape local politics and keep local elected leaders accountable.

I decided to do more research on Obama and listen to him speak and debate. And I saw something I hadn't seen before. I saw a leader of my lifetime. He had an intangible quality that was, yes, inspiring and spoke to people and me. I saw the possibility in Obama, not just to change "politics as usual," but I saw a leader who could move our country forward and a leader who would ask our country to make a difference and contribute to the community. Our nation is starved for this kind of leadership.

I think Michael Chabon, a Bay Area writer, said it best when he stated about his decision making process to support Obama, "I had to give myself permission to feel hope. I had to allow myself to do something I had never done before in my life -- to believe."

As a former community organizer myself, I am proud that our next President started his career as a community organizer. A community organizer understands the importance of building leadership within neighborhoods and communities on the ground, building community and working as a team to advocate for and make change.

AV: The list of Asian American politicians and celebrities who have endorsed Obama is pretty astounding. I'm curious about the campaign's outreach and organization -- did they come to you requesting an endorsement or did you reach out to them?

JK: Obama's API Outreach team reached out to me and specifically requested my endorsement in the fall. As a young elected official who won first place in a city-wide race due to the power of young people, ages 14 to 35, it seemed to be a fit.

AV: Senators Obama and Clinton have both been accused of following rather than leading on certain progressive issues -- for example, it was Senator Chris Dodd rather than Obama or Clinton who's led the charge against the Bush Administration's efforts to grant immunity to telecoms for warrantless wiretaps. What would be your pitch to convince self-described progressives -- perhaps former supporters of John Edwards -- to feel good about pulling the lever for Obama?

JK: Obama is not a perfect candidate; he is a human being who is running for national office to represent a wide spectrum of Americans. I am not 100 percent with him on all issues, but I am 100 percent supportive of a leader who can inspire our communities to get up, serve their community and make a difference. We need inspiration and hope.

AV: One of the most incredible things about the Obama campaign is that it's actually delivered the youth vote, which so many campaigns claim to be turning out but never do. Your own successful campaign for San Francisco School Board seemed similarly oriented towards young voters. Any thoughts on what it takes to actually get young people to the polls?

JK: It is challenging to get young people to the polls. Most people that work with youth know this. I have been a part of many organizations that organize young people, develop youth leadership and promote civic participation amongst young people.

We can tell young people to vote because it is the right thing to do. However, we know that young people are not going to vote unless they feel inspired to and unless they feel that the candidate can make a difference in their life and community.

My campaign was powered by young leaders in San Francisco, starting with high school aged students. They were speaking to their friends and communities. And it was still challenging to get young people to the polls. But I am proud that my campaign increased the number of young people, young women, and people of color who are involved in electoral politics now. (Several of them are getting wooed and hired to work on campaigns this year).

Increasing the youth vote takes time; you have to build the infrastructure, educate young voters and develop the habit of voting and then... have the right candidates. This November, I authored the school board's first Youth Vote resolution expanding our voter education curriculum and mandating SFUSD to register all willing 17.5 year olds to vote. For more info: www.janekim.org/article/229/my-first-resolution-youth-vote

The work has begun and must continue. We also need candidates who will inspire us to support them and show us the possibilities of politics making a difference in our lives.

For more information about Jane Kim, visit her official website. And click here for the AAPI for Obama volunteer events in San Francisco between now and Super Tuesday.