AD71 Watch: Irvine Councilman Steven Choi Makes It Official

This came over the transom in the wee hours this morning for Steve Choi for Assembly:

Councilman Steven Choi Announces State Assembly Candidacy

IRVINE, CA – Irvine City Councilman Steven Choi (R-Irvine) today announced his candidacy for the 71st State Assembly district seat, currently held by Todd Spitzer.

“I am running for the Assembly so I can introduce a fresh perspectives to Sacramento, help control State spending, represent local interests and stimulate international trade, particularly with Pacific Rim countries,” said Councilman Choi. First elected to the Irvine Unified School District Board of Trustees in 1998 and re-elected in 2002, Dr. Choi has served on the Irvine City Council since 2004.

Shawn Steel, Former Chairman of the California Republican Party, has stated that, “Steven Choi will be a strong voice in Sacramento. He’s a good Republican and fiscally conservative. Steven shares my commitment to improving transportation and encouraging opportunity and prosperity.” 

Steven Choi is a republican leader who has always stood for what is best for the community.  Although being on the conservative minority side of the City Council, Steven has successfully managed to promote beneficial programs for the community and has succeeded to stop unhealthy policies from being enacted. In the course of a new sister city negotiations, Dr. Choi strongly and successfully opposed the “One-China” policy demanded by Shanghai’s Xuhui government of China, which would require Irvine to abandon its existing long term sister city relationship with Taoyuan, Taiwan.

Because Irvine is inadequately served by the County library system, Dr. Choi chairs both the City committee formed to make recommendations for improved service, as well as the County’s Public Library Advisory Board, which represents 27 cities.  His vision is to build a large Orange County/City Metropolitan Library at the Great Park. Councilman Choi also initiated a quarterly informational seminar program, benefiting ethnic groups for whom English acts as a barrier to knowledge of City programs. Most recently, he received unanimous Council support for his initiative to prohibit smoking in public City parks and recreational facilities. 

Councilman Choi serves on the Orange County Great Park Corporation Board, the Irvine Redevelopment Agency, the Orange County Sanitation District Board and other County-wide committees. In addition, he is a member of the Orange County Republican Party Central Committee, the Local Elected Officials Association, and the 400 Club.

Dr. Choi received a Master’s degree from Louisiana State University and his doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh, both in Library and Information Sciences.  His family has lived in Irvine since 1993 and in Mission Viejo for the 12 years preceding that. He and his wife, Janie, operate tutoring centers in Irvine.  Their two children attend the University of California at San Diego, one as a medical student and the other as an undergraduate.

Steven always welcomes advice, support and encouragement from the friends and the community members. He is enthusiastically seeking for individual endorsements for his candidacy. He can be reached at (949) 651-9090 or at drstevenchoi@gmail.com. His website will open soon at www.stevenchoi.org.

Comments

[Milk Man]

Not the best press release that Choi and his people can come up with, but then again i'm not sure if he has even sign on with any credible consultant firm.

Definately a dark horse candidate in this race.

[Karl Rove]

I wonder when the Republican OC State elected delegation and the OC Party leadership is going to wake up and see that they are getting ready to hand the 71st over to Riverside County? They need to get off their duffs pretty soon and decide on who they are going to support before we end up with 5 more people in this race.

But then again, maybe they don't care?

[Eric Linder]

A few comments:

How much of Dr. Choi's base is in the 71st district?

Not that I advocate smoking in public parks, but since when is it the governments place to tell us what we can & can't do outdoors and in public?

Last, Jeff Miller is a good conservative, and he will serve Orange County well. But Don't take my word for it, you'll see soon enough

[Corrector]

Isn't it Steven Choi rather than Steven CHoi or Steve Choi?