Please note that APAPA is non-partisan and does not endorse candidates. The following information is provided for educational purposes, only.

Steve Hansen has lived in Sacramento for ten years. He resides in the Alkali Flat neighborhood where he is also active in his neighborhood association. He is a graduate of Gonzaga University and of University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law. His community and public service includes Board of Directors for the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, the Downtown Sacramento Foundation, the Center for AIDS Research, Education and Services (CARES) and representative on the Sacramento Redistricting Citizens Advisory Committee. Steve has worked for the California State and Consumer Services Agency and was the Legislative Director of Equality California. He is currently a Senior Regional Manager for Genentech.

What motivated you to run for city council?

I felt compelled to run because I think Sacramento is a great city, and I’d like to see it recognized as such. The city has come upon hard times because of the economy but I think I have some ideas that would help to get it back on track.  I’d like for people to see Sacramento as a city and not just the State Capitol. We have so much to offer, and we shouldn’t just concede or accept being overshadowed by the Capitol. Sacramento is a great city!

What are your plans to improve business in Sacramento?

The economy has hurt Sacramento, and we’ve seen cutbacks in city services. We’re also seeing under-maintenance of our parks and facilities, and, certainly, the homeless situation needs to be addressed. But, I believe that in crisis lies opportunities. We need to embrace the entrepreneurs and empower them. There is so much untapped potential there that the city must make it more feasible for them to want to open up their businesses in Sacramento. We need to improve on the value to costs for the small businesses, provide better quality of services and be problem solvers in order to bring them back. Where have all of the auto dealerships gone? They’ve moved to our neighboring cities. Originally, IKEA had planned on opening their store in Sacramento, but we eventually lost them to West Sacramento. Why did we lose these businesses? We need to look at this and learn from our mistakes. We also need to look at the arts as another viable business industry. Artists have many works and crafts that are both marketable and profitable for businesses. If elected, I plan on donating my city council salary as seed funding for social entrepreneurial innovation on projects related to technology, health care, food and the arts. Let’s bring back business to Sacramento.

What are your plans to improve public safety?

Public safety is the bedrock of the community, and a safe city is a better city. We need to maintain and improve the level and quality of our public safety services. Our city is already below the number of police officers we should have based on the number of officers we currently field and the size of our population. Our firefighters are responding with smaller crews to emergencies. This becomes an issue of safety for them as much as it is for the people they are responding to help. The short term answer is to weather the storm but the real long term answer is to improve the business climate and bring back the tax revenues of successful businesses and prosperous neighborhoods.

Although a board exists to address the city’s educational issues, what can you do to improve education in Sacramento?

We need to become better partners with the school districts.  We can also help the schools by making sure the students get to and from school safely.  We can develop afterschool programs to give children a safe place to play and socialize.  The Powerhouse Science Center project, safe and well maintained parks, and creating kid-friendly facilities are other great ways we can help our schools.

If you are elected, how will the API community benefit from your taking office?

I have worked with the API community over the years, and I’ll continue to do so. I assisted at the Sikh murders last year and worked with survivors of the relocation camps in the Japanese community. I want to work with API owned businesses in Sacramento and help to ensure their growth and prosperity. I will work hard for the city and want to learn from the people in the community as well. I want to rebuild their trust in government. I believe that every day is our chance to make this city a little better.

There have been concerns that your support from certain organization and specific community groups may unduly influence your decisions as a council member. Do you have a response to this?

I’m independent. I think it does an injustice to me to think that if I come from a certain community, then that’s all I am. When Ed Lee was elected Mayor of San Francisco, the Asian community was justifiably proud to have the first Chinese American elected mayor. But Ed was not elected just to serve the API community nor would he think of serving just the API community. He was elected to serve all of the people in San Francisco and that’s what he does. There may be those in my community who will take great pride if I am elected to office, but my goal and my duty is to serve the city of Sacramento and to represent District 4. I want to help build a better quality of life for our city and also bring Sacramento to a brighter future.

Joe Yee is a lifelong resident of Sacramento. He graduated from McClatchy High School and Cal Poly, Pomona. He currently runs an architecture firm in Central City. Yee’s public service experience for the city of Sacramento includes being a member of the Police Community Relations Advisory Committee, the City Planning Commission and the City General Planning Advisory Committee. Yee was also appointed to fill a vacancy in the City Council in 2000. He has been married to his wife Daphne for 36 years, and they have lived in their Land Park home since 1976. They have two grown children who also live in the Land Park neighborhood.

What motivated you to run for city council?

I have a tremendous interest in the development of this city. I have lived my entire life in Sacramento, I own a business in Sacramento, my children and their families live here, I have served in various committees and commissions in city government and I’ve served as a council member for the city. I believe I have the experience, the maturity, and the judgment to serve. I recognize that each district is different and has different needs, and I will work with all of them to ensure that we have a great city.  I care deeply about our community and want to continue to serve Sacramento.

What are your plans to improve business in Sacramento?

We need to change the climate in Sacramento for businesses. We need to review the regulatory requirements new businesses must meet to start up and make the process more efficient and timely. We don’t need to duplicate efforts or, worse, replace common sense with an inflexible standard. It’s important to strike that balance between zoning, livability and community. It’s also the realization that business is good for the city. We need to recruit and retain new business and nurture the growth of both new and existing businesses.  With the demise of the Redevelopment Agency, we face some challenges. We’ll need to develop strategies to address infill in our neighborhoods and business districts. Job creation, efficient use of governmental services and the proper execution of regulations will enhance business opportunities. We have to add to the vitality of city through an improved business climate.

What are your plans to improve public safety?

To ensure the safety of our community, we need to maintain effective public safety. Right now we’re cutting back on services and personnel. We need to look at ways to increase revenue to get back those positions in public safety. This can be done through the exploration of grants and other funding sources. It may be necessary to consider a temporary sales tax to fund the city’s need for sufficient public safety. It’s important that we seek effective alternatives to address this important issue.

Although a board exists to address the city’s educational issues, what can you do to improve education in Sacramento?

We have to ensure that there is a good partnership between the city council and the school board. We can look at joint use of facilities to save energy and maximize the efficient use of all of our respective resources. The recruitment and retention of businesses will also help our schools both in tax revenues and in the creation of new jobs.

If you are elected, how will the API community benefit from your taking office?

My campaign has been built by those who preceded me. Former City Council Members Tom Chinn, Jimmy Yee and Rob Fong set the standards from which I have based my foundation as a candidate on. I have worked hard to be a credible candidate. I want to make it easier for members of the API community as well as all the members of the community to be able to come to me and discuss their concerns. I will make myself accessible to the community and will be a proactive member of the city council. I hope that through engaging with the API community and encouraging their participation and input, I will also be able to develop future leaders for the city, too.

There have been concerns that your support from certain organization and specific community groups may unduly influence your decisions as a council member. Do you have a response to this?

I don’t believe that to be the case. I have a broad range of support from various organizations and with the community. We share the same concerns, which is why I have received their support and endorsements. But, if you look it at, their support represents a balance as well. People have their own priorities and concerns, and it’s important that they share them with me just as I share my candidacy with them. In the end, it’s about whether or not you can do the job.  Their support is an affirmation of my abilities. I will always strive to make the most of the opportunity if I’m elected, and I truly will do the best job that I can.

As our Annual Capitol Internship & Scholarship Awards Banquet is approaching us, I can’t help but think back to 2008 when I was awarded a scholarship from APAPA.

As a starving college student tired of increasing tuition and fees, my biggest focus was getting any money to pay for college. My goal was short-term. I didn’t think about how it would truly affect my life outside of college.

Thinking back, without that scholarship, I wouldn’t have been able to afford to intern that Fall semester for Assemblyman Dave Jones. Without that internship (and no one was hiring!), I wouldn’t have landed my first real job out of college at a boutique public relations firm in Sacramento. If you think about it, that scholarship helped get me a job!

I don’t recall much from the banquet except for making an unprepared speech to thank APAPA, its sponsors and, of course, my parents. I just went for the food and certificate. I never thought I’d ever see or hear from APAPA much, if ever.

Four years later, I’m a new and devoted member on APAPA’s Board of Directors. Not only do APAPA’s goals and missions align with my beliefs, but it does a fantastic job of ensuring the Asian and Pacific Islander American community has representation in the political, social and economic world. After I graduated in 2009, I realized how much the community has helped me get to where I am today. It was my turn to give back.

Giving back through an organization that helped me is very rewarding – and a great story to tell. I use my knowledge and skills to help with what I can – writing, marketing, media relations and event planning.

The first event I volunteered to help plan is the biggest event for APAPA each year – Voters Education and Candidates Forum. I obtained free advertisement on Clear Channel’s electronic billboard on Highway 50 by California State University, Sacramento. The Forum was held at CSU, Sacramento in 2010. At the Forum, I managed the backstage and ensured that every elected official and candidate was present and ready to make their speech to over 2,000 attendees. It was amazing and touching to see the community’s overwhelmingly appreciative response to the Forum.

Now it’s your turn to take action.

For all the recipients of 2012 Capitol Internship & Scholarship Awards, I only ask one thing of you. Give back. Give back to an organization and community that helped you move onwards and upwards.