Asian Fortune Your source for all things Asian American
By Devika Koppikar
April 8th was a Tuesday night. But, that didn’t stop more than 100 busy professionals from packing the Rockville home of Devang and Ami Shah for a chance to meet Lt. Governor Anthony Brown and Howard County Executive Ken Ulman. Brown and Ulman are seeking the Democratic nomination for Maryland’s Governor and Lt. Governor, respectively. The primary election is June 24.
“(Brown) is one of us,” said D. Shah, a law partner and attorney with the immigration law firm Shah & Kishore. “He’s a child of immigrants who chose to enter public service. We’re supporting him because we want Maryland to keep moving forward with one of the best education systems in the country.”
Brown, however, could not attend the event due to a parental commitment. Nevertheless, Ulman attended and the event continued as planned. During the event, the elected officials and community leaders, most of whom were Montgomery County residents, applauded Ulman for his county’s high ranking with regards to schools and the library system. Ulman responded, “It’s because of Asian Americans, who have moved to Howard County and contributed to its great quality of life.”
Ulman then praised Brown for his leadership during his 8-year term as Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley’s second-in-command.
“If there was a picture in the dictionary for public servant, you’d see Anthony Brown’s picture,” said Ullman. “He’s the guy with his sleeves rolled up.”
Maryland Secretary of Veterans Affairs Edward Chow added, “He (Brown) is the guy I’d want to be in a foxhole with,” referring to Brown’s service in Iraq as a Colonel in the U.S. Army.
Also in attendance at the kick-off of the Montgomery County for Brown-Ulman Steering Committee were Maryland’s Deputy Secretary of State Rajan Natarajan, Maryland Delegate Kriselda Valderrama of Prince George’s County and Mayor of Kensington Peter Fosselman.
Chow said, “As Asian Americans, we are part of the American fabric. Must harness our friends get them to vote on June 24.”
Maryland recently changed its primary election date from September to June, so community leaders spoke about getting out the vote at an “odder time” than what voters are generally used to.
“We need you at the polls,” said Ulman, who announced that former President Bill Clinton had endorsed their ticket. “We are up in the polls, but the only poll that matters is the one on June 24. You can help us get over the top.”