Community Corner
Biden Gives Mike Honda a Boost in Silicon Valley
Vice President Joe Biden, on a fundraising swing, shows support for U.S. Rep Mike Honda who represents Cupertino, Santa Clara, north San Jose, Sunnyvale, Newark, Fremont and Milpitas.
Written by L.A. Chung
Vice President Joe Biden and Congressman Mike Honda visited with voters in California’s 17th Congressional District Saturday.
Honda's office sent out photos and a press release Monday of the vice president's visit, where they stopped by Hobee’s in Sunnyvale to speak with diners and display Honda's establishment Democratic political support.
Ever since Democrat Pete Swalwell upended the political order by successfully challenging and beating 20-term U.S. Rep. Pete Stark last November to take the 15th Congressional District, Honda's been trying to make pre-emptive moves against Fremont's Ro Khanna, once Obama's deputy assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Honda spoke about working to create "good jobs in Silicon Valley and improving our schools for all our kids."
"That's why I’m so pleased that my friend Joe Biden came and visited our community and heard from voters in person. I am also grateful for the full support of President Obama. Together, we are working to improve the economy and our education system, while ensuring that Silicon Valley remains a global leader in innovative technology.”
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President Barack Obama, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair Steve Israel; former Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean; California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris; and 34 members of the California Democratic Congressional delegation have given early support to Honda.
Khanna's worked to contrast that with local support. About the opening of Khanna's campaign headquarters in Fremont, Carla Marinucci wrote in the San Francisco Chronicle of the local endorsements Khanna announced in May: Among the local elected officials endorsing Khanna include Cupertino Mayor Orrin Mahoney, Milpitas Mayor Jose Esteves, Newark Mayor Emeritus David Smith, Cupertino City Councilmember Rod Sinks, Milpitas City Councilmembers Carmen Montano, Debbie Giordano and Althea Polansky, Vice-Mayor of Fremont Anu Natarajan and Fremont City Councilmember Raj Salwan.
Honda was elected to the House of Representatives in 2000. As a representative of Silicon Valley, Congressman Honda is one of the Congressional leaders on high-tech issues, and has also focused on important issues such as education, transportation, the environment, and civil rights. He serves on the powerful House Committee on Appropriations. Congressman Honda served an unprecedented seven years as Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and now serves as Chairman Emeritus. For more information, visit www.mikehonda.com
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