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| VABA Reception 2024 |
In less than 30 days, Santa Clara County will have a first Vietnamese-American elected to the Board of Supervisors. In the meantime, a battle is brewing for votes between Betty Duong, chief of staff for District 2 County Supervisor Cindy Chavez, and former San Jose City Councilmember Madison Nguyen.
The name Madison Nguyen often evokes divisiveness in the San Jose Vietnamese-American community with the unpleasant memories of the infamous naming of Little Saigon (which the city ended up paying almost $1 million for violation of the Brown Act) and her vote to reduce pension and benefits of SJPD which resulted in the leaving of more than 400 law enforcement personnel. During her tenure in office, the community suffered a high crime rate with limited police protection. Many residents still remember how it was common for SJPD to not come to their aid unless the crime is considered to be violent in nature.
Recently, her close association with the wealthy and powerful Duong family (not related to Betty Duong) has given her more public attention. David Duong, the CEO of California Waste Solutions, and his son Andy Duong are under investigation by the FBI, IRS and USPS for possible wrongdoings. The Oaklandside news organization published their in-depth investigation on Duong illegally buying political influence in the Bay Area through straw donors.
The news prompted an ad hoc demonstration against David Duong in front of the San Jose City Hall for his alledged corruption, his lawsuit against businessman Hai Huynh trying to silent the community, and the close relationship with the current communist government.
After her landslide loss to Ash Kalra in the 2016 assembly race where she outspent him 2 to 1, she found herself working for Michael Duong, who is the co-owner of the trash recycling empire that his dad founded. He hired Madison as their EVP of business development for his media company, AsiaNet Media.
David, his family members, and their associates have donated thousands of dollars to all her past and present political campaigns. She is one of the main advocates for VABA, a controversial Vietnamese-American business asscociation established by Duong family. In June of this year, Michael Duong organized a fund raiser for her at The Crab Bay restaurant.
The race to replace Cindy Chavez will be determined by many factors. For Madison, she is determined to run on her reconstructing records of an effective leader as boasted in her recent mailer. For Betty, it is all about knocking on doors, listening to people, and proposing practical solutions. Whoever wins also will make history to be on the first Board of Supervisors composing of 4 women and 1 man.
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