Jun Choi

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jun H. Choi is the current Mayor of Edison, New Jersey, a community of over 100,000 people and the fifth largest municipality in the state. He was sworn in on January 1, 2006 as the youngest mayor in Edison history.^[1] In 2006, Edison was rated the 28th most livable “Small City in America” by CNN's Money Magazine.^[2] Prior to becoming Mayor of Edison, Choi worked on education policy as a senior official with the New Jersey Department of Education. He also served in the White House Office of Management and Budget and worked in the private sector as a management consultant for Ernst & Young.

Choi graduated from J.P. Stevens High School in Edison. He earned a B.S. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Master of Public Policy and Administration from Columbia University. Choi is also a Leadership New Jersey Fellow (Class of 2003).

Contents 1 Election 2005 2 Police 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Election 2005

Running on a good government platform and a call to reform the Democratic Party, Jun Choi won the June 2005 primary by a 56-44% margin, defeating longtime incumbent Mayor George A. Spadoro. This was the first time in Edison history that a challenger won the Democratic primary. Choi won endorsements from mainstream Democratic leaders including Bill Bradley, for whom he worked on the 2000 presidential campaign, and was unexpectedly endorsed by a number of traditionally candidate- neutral unions in Edison.

In the ensuing general election, Choi did not face a Republican candidate, but instead faced a former Democrat turned Independent.

The 2005 Edison Mayoral campaign brought together four key factors that helped Choi win both the primary and general elections. An American Prospect article details these findings. They include 1) attracting new voters into the process, 2) a good government message, 3) anti-Wal-Mart or economic justice theme and 4) an effective Internet-based progressive mobilization. These dynamics, the article argues, can be a model for progressive candidates in developing a winning campaign^[3].

During the campaign, Choi's candidacy was at the center of "Jersey Guys" controversy involving local radio shock jocks who made anti-Asian remarks on the air.^[4] The controversy drew national attention and seven major advertisers withdrew their support of Millennium Radio. The notorious “Jersey Guys” have also insulted Senate President Dick Codey and Governor Jon Corzine.

[edit] Police

Mobile video recorders (cameras) were installed in every patrol car and sensitivity training has been mandated for every officer in Edison.^{[citation needed]}

On July 4, 2006, an Indian resident was arrested for disorderly conduct by an Edison police officer. Choi stood by the officer involved, who was ultimately cleared, but there have been calls for his resignation from the President of the Police PBA union, Michael Schwarz, because of an investigation Choi requested of the incident. The Indian resident turned out to be an illegal immigrant who is scheduled to be deported. Since Schwarz made his claims, an editor of The Sentinel, a local newspaper, called for Michael Schwarz’ resignation, asserting that there was no legitimate basis for his call for Choi's resignation.^[5]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Mayor Choi's homepage
• Mayoral campaign