Sam Yoon
Encyclopedia
Sam Yoon is a former at-large member of the Boston City Council
. He currently serves as the executive director for the National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations in Washington, DC. He was the first Asian American
to hold elected office in Boston. He is a member of the United States Democratic Party.
, his family moved to the United States when Yoon was ten months old. Raised in Lebanon, Pennsylvania
, he became an American citizen at ten years old. He received an undergraduate degree from Princeton University
. After graduating, he spent two years teaching math at urban public schools in New Jersey.
He earned a degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government
at Harvard University
. While at the Kennedy School, he worked with the Dudley Square Merchants Association to help them earn a Main Street designation.
He later worked at the Community Builders, the nation’s largest non-profit developer. Yoon also spent time working for Abt Associates, a public policy think tank, before becoming the Housing Director for the Asian Community Development Corporation.
In his first term, he was praised for his efforts to secure $5 million in funding for programs to prevent youth violence. As a result of Yoon's efforts, hundreds of students rallied in the City Council Chambers during the 2006 budget hearing in support of the funding increases. When the measure was rejected and the students were expelled from the Chambers, Yoon voted against the budget. He also voted in favor of a salary increase for government employees, which he said would make positions more desirable for qualified candidates. The increase, which passed, included raising City Councilors' salaries from $75,000 to $87,500. Critics alleged that he did not regularly attend Wednesday Council meetings.
Yoon was re-elected in November 2007, after receiving endorsements from many prominent Massachusetts politicians including Governor Deval Patrick
and four other City Councilors, including Felix D. Arroyo
and Chuck Turner
.
Yoon chose not to run for re-election in 2009 in order to run for Mayor of Boston.
whose purpose is to promote political leadership from within the Asian-American community.
Yoon ran on a platform that claimed transparency and accountability at City Hall. He proposed eliminating the Boston Redevelopment Authority
(BRA), an organization responsible for planning and development in Boston, and replacing it with community-focused development agency. Yoon also proposed overhauling Boston’s transportation infrastructure, advocating a plan that would increase bike accessibility and would promote rapid transit.
Yoon’s consultants include: Jim Spencer, of the Campaign Network, a direct mail specialist who was the chief strategist on Yoon’s city council runs; Jeff Hewitt, a media specialist who was his lead fundraising consultant; Joe Trippi
, a social networking specialist who was the former campaign manager for Howard Dean's
Presidential Campaign. Yoon’s pollster was Tom Kiley, who previously worked for Deval Patrick
and Joe Kennedy.
Yoon’s strategy was to mobilize progressive voters in Boston who may have voted for Deval Patrick and Barack Obama
, but who do not participate in municipal elections, which traditionally have low turnout. On July 11, Yoon’s campaign had a volunteer recruitment session with Joe Trippi which detailed Yoon’s strategy for winning.
Yoon placed third among four candidates in the September 22nd primary, receiving 21.16% of the vote. Only the top two finishers advance to the general election. After the election, second place finisher Michael Flaherty and Yoon announced they had teamed up with Yoon becoming an unofficial running mate to Flaherty, with Flaherty promising to appoint Yoon "deputy mayor" if he won. The City of Boston government charter does not officially include a position of deputy mayor. What Yoon as deputy mayor might have done, including how he might have been paid, was never officially announced. Critics charged that this was a cheap political move by Flaherty designed to bring in minority and other voters that might not otherwise vote in the general electoral. Others praised it as a savvy strategic decision to bring more inclusiveness to City Hall.
Michael Flaherty and his unofficial running mate Sam Yoon went on to lose to incumbent Mayor Thomas Menino
in the November 3 general election with 42.43% to Menino's 57.27%.
Boston City Council
The Boston City Council is the legislative branch of government for the city of Boston. It is made up of 13 members: 9 district representatives and 4 at-large members. Councilors are elected to two-year terms and there is no limit on the number of terms an individual can serve...
. He currently serves as the executive director for the National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations in Washington, DC. He was the first Asian American
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
to hold elected office in Boston. He is a member of the United States Democratic Party.
Early life and education
Born in SeoulSeoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, his family moved to the United States when Yoon was ten months old. Raised in Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Lebanon, formerly known as Steitztown, is a city in and the county seat of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 25,477 at the 2010 census, a 4.2% increase from the 2000 count of 24,461...
, he became an American citizen at ten years old. He received an undergraduate degree from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
. After graduating, he spent two years teaching math at urban public schools in New Jersey.
He earned a degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. While at the Kennedy School, he worked with the Dudley Square Merchants Association to help them earn a Main Street designation.
Career
After graduating from the Kennedy School, Yoon spent time working as a community organizer in Boston, providing housing for low income seniors and individuals coping with mental illnesses.He later worked at the Community Builders, the nation’s largest non-profit developer. Yoon also spent time working for Abt Associates, a public policy think tank, before becoming the Housing Director for the Asian Community Development Corporation.
Boston City Council
In 2005, Yoon became the first person in the history of Boston municipal elections to win an at-large council seat on the first attempt. Yoon won despite having lived in the city only for one year prior to his run. After placing 5th in the preliminary election, Yoon received 14.96% of the vote in the general election, placing third among eight candidates for four positions. Yoon's election was hailed by the local media as an important sign of the emergence of "New Boston", in which the city's traditional insider politics are becoming less important than before.In his first term, he was praised for his efforts to secure $5 million in funding for programs to prevent youth violence. As a result of Yoon's efforts, hundreds of students rallied in the City Council Chambers during the 2006 budget hearing in support of the funding increases. When the measure was rejected and the students were expelled from the Chambers, Yoon voted against the budget. He also voted in favor of a salary increase for government employees, which he said would make positions more desirable for qualified candidates. The increase, which passed, included raising City Councilors' salaries from $75,000 to $87,500. Critics alleged that he did not regularly attend Wednesday Council meetings.
Yoon was re-elected in November 2007, after receiving endorsements from many prominent Massachusetts politicians including Governor Deval Patrick
Deval Patrick
Deval Laurdine Patrick is the 71st and current Governor of Massachusetts. A member of the Democratic Party, Patrick served as an Assistant United States Attorney General under President Bill Clinton...
and four other City Councilors, including Felix D. Arroyo
Felix D. Arroyo
Felix D. Arroyo was a city councilor in Boston, Massachusetts, United States from January 2003 to January 2008.Arroyo completed his undergraduate studies and received a Masters in Secondary Education at the University of Puerto Rico...
and Chuck Turner
Chuck Turner
Chuck Turner is a Boston, Massachusetts politician, activist, and convicted felon, who served on the Boston City Council representing District 7. Turner is a member of the Green-Rainbow Party Massachusetts affiliate to the national Green Party...
.
Yoon chose not to run for re-election in 2009 in order to run for Mayor of Boston.
Asian Political Leadership Fund
Yoon is a co-founder of the Asian Political Leadership Fund, a federally-designated 527 group527 group
A 527 organization or 527 group is a type of American tax-exempt organization named after "Section 527" of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code...
whose purpose is to promote political leadership from within the Asian-American community.
2009 Boston mayoral campaign
On February 8, 2009, Yoon announced he would be running for Mayor of Boston.Yoon ran on a platform that claimed transparency and accountability at City Hall. He proposed eliminating the Boston Redevelopment Authority
Boston Redevelopment Authority
The Boston Redevelopment Authority is the municipal planning and development agency for Boston, working on both housing and commercial developments.The BRA was established by the Boston city council and the Massachusetts legislature in 1957...
(BRA), an organization responsible for planning and development in Boston, and replacing it with community-focused development agency. Yoon also proposed overhauling Boston’s transportation infrastructure, advocating a plan that would increase bike accessibility and would promote rapid transit.
Yoon’s consultants include: Jim Spencer, of the Campaign Network, a direct mail specialist who was the chief strategist on Yoon’s city council runs; Jeff Hewitt, a media specialist who was his lead fundraising consultant; Joe Trippi
Joe Trippi
Joe Trippi is a long-time American Democratic campaign worker and consultant. A mainstay in presidential politics, Trippi has worked on the presidential campaigns of Edward Kennedy, Walter Mondale, Gary Hart, Dick Gephardt, Jerry Brown and most recently John Edwards...
, a social networking specialist who was the former campaign manager for Howard Dean's
Howard Dean
Howard Brush Dean III is an American politician and physician from Vermont. He served six terms as the 79th Governor of Vermont and ran unsuccessfully for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination. He was chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2005 to 2009. Although his U.S...
Presidential Campaign. Yoon’s pollster was Tom Kiley, who previously worked for Deval Patrick
Deval Patrick
Deval Laurdine Patrick is the 71st and current Governor of Massachusetts. A member of the Democratic Party, Patrick served as an Assistant United States Attorney General under President Bill Clinton...
and Joe Kennedy.
Yoon’s strategy was to mobilize progressive voters in Boston who may have voted for Deval Patrick and Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
, but who do not participate in municipal elections, which traditionally have low turnout. On July 11, Yoon’s campaign had a volunteer recruitment session with Joe Trippi which detailed Yoon’s strategy for winning.
Yoon placed third among four candidates in the September 22nd primary, receiving 21.16% of the vote. Only the top two finishers advance to the general election. After the election, second place finisher Michael Flaherty and Yoon announced they had teamed up with Yoon becoming an unofficial running mate to Flaherty, with Flaherty promising to appoint Yoon "deputy mayor" if he won. The City of Boston government charter does not officially include a position of deputy mayor. What Yoon as deputy mayor might have done, including how he might have been paid, was never officially announced. Critics charged that this was a cheap political move by Flaherty designed to bring in minority and other voters that might not otherwise vote in the general electoral. Others praised it as a savvy strategic decision to bring more inclusiveness to City Hall.
Michael Flaherty and his unofficial running mate Sam Yoon went on to lose to incumbent Mayor Thomas Menino
Thomas Menino
Thomas Michael "Tom" Menino is the mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, United States and the city's first Italian-American mayor...
in the November 3 general election with 42.43% to Menino's 57.27%.