| Esther Wu: Cabinet appointments may help stop cycle 02/08/2001 By / The Dallas Morning News Norman Mineta and Elaine Chao made history last month when they were confirmed as secretary of transportation and secretary of labor, respectively. Their appointments mark the first time there have been two Asian-Americans in the president's Cabinet. Mr. Mineta, 69, is a longtime Democratic congressman from California. Elaine Chao, 47, is former director of the Peace Corps and the United Way.
Mr. Mineta has racked up a number of firsts in his distinguished career. He is the first secretary to serve both a Democratic and Republican administration. He was the first Asian-American elected mayor of a major U.S. city (San Jose, Calif.) and the first to lead a House committee (Public Works and Transportation). He was also the first Asian-American in a Cabinet post when President Bill Clinton appointed him as secretary of commerce last July.
But the road to success wasn't always easy for Mr. Mineta. At age 10, he was one of some 120,000 Japanese-Americans sent to U.S. internment camps during World War II. Later, as a legislator, he helped pass the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, through which the United States apologized and paid reparations of $20,000 to each internee.
Elaine Chao came to the United States from Taiwan in 1961 when she was 8 years old. The eldest of six girls, Ms. Chao spoke no English and knew little about American culture when she entered the third grade in New York. By fourth grade, she was elected class president.
A former White House fellow, she worked for the Republican Party while living in California. She was appointed deputy maritime administrator for the Department of Transportation. Other appointments followed, including deputy transportation secretary and director of the Peace Corps. From 1992 to 1996, she headed the United Way.
A generation apart, Mr. Mineta and Ms. Chao chose different career paths. But their political involvement had grass-root beginnings – whether it was as mayor or class president.
Political pundits have noted that they are the first Asian-Americans in the president's Cabinet. Perhaps it should be a wakeup call.
Mr. Mineta and Ms. Chao both started out serving their local communities. Yet the number of Asian-Americans who volunteer to serve has been few. That's true in North Texas.
The city of Dallas has 470 residents volunteering on some 49 boards and commissions – from animal control to urban rehabilitation. Four are Asian-Americans. In Richardson, 91 residents serve on 12 boards and commissions. One is Asian-American. In Garland, 117 residents serve on 12 boards and commissions. City officials could identify only one Asian-American but say there might be more.
Because ethnicity is not a prerequisite for service, city officials say, the numbers are sometimes difficult to track. But almost all said they'd like to see more Asian-Americans involved.
"Although there is some representation on the city's boards and commissions, clearly there is not enough from the Asian community," Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk said. "The Asian community plays an important role in our city, and we certainly could use more of their talents at City Hall."
It's a never-ending cycle. Asian-Americans say they want to be included in the political mainstream. City officials lament the lack of volunteers.
With Mr. Bush's historic appointments setting an example, maybe it's time to break that cycle.
Esther Wu can be reached at P.O. Box 655237, Dallas, TX 75265 or at .
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