From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jun Choi
Jun Choi
Jun H. Choi University.[3] Choi is also a Leadership New Jersey Fellow
(Class of 2003).
Mayor of Edison, New Jersey
In office
January 1, 2006 – January 1, 2010
Education Policy
After entering public service, Choi focused on education
Preceded by George A. Spadoro
policy. He co-wrote the first overview of New Jersey’s
Succeeded by Antonia Ricigliano Charter Schools in 2001 with Gordon MacInnes, then the
Personal details
CEO of Citizens for Better Schools. He later worked at
the New Jersey Department of Education in Commission-
Born May 17 er Bill Librera’s administration on a statewide program
Political party Democratic named NJ Standards Measurement and Resource for
Teaching (NJ SMART).
Residence Edison, New Jersey
Alma mater Massachusetts Institute of Technology (BS)
Columbia University (MPPA)
Mayor of Edison
Elected on a good government, reform-minded platform,
Religion Christian - Protestant
Mayor Choi reduced the size of government by 15% while
Website www.junchoi.com improving services and without permanently laying off
municipal employees. He also completed several eco-
Jun H. Choi (born May 17) is an American politician and nomic development projects, including planning and ne-
the former Mayor of Edison, New Jersey, a community gotiating the 1.2 million sq/ft Edison Towne Square (for-
of over 100,000 people and the fifth largest municipality mer Ford Plant). He professionalized the Edison Police
in the state. He was sworn in on January 1, 2006 as the Department which earned accreditation in 2009 and
youngest mayor in Edison history.[1] Prior to becoming completed the newly built Edison Public Safety Center.
Mayor of Edison, Choi worked on education policy as a Choi advanced several education projects including a
senior official with the New Jersey Department of Educa- township wide school construction plan and many en-
tion where he started the NJ SMART Program, improv- ergy efficiency programs. Mayor Choi also implemented
ing public school education performance metrics for 1.4 new technologies that improved government efficiency
million New Jersey children. He also served in the White such as Compstat (intelligence/data-driven policing), Ci-
House Office of Management and Budget and worked as tizen Service Request (on-line government service re-
a management consultant for Ernst & Young’s Center for quest and tracking system) and putting the entire munic-
Technology Enablement, focusing on strategy and tech- ipal code (local laws) on the web for easy access.
nology issues for large US corporations. In May 2011 he Running on a platform to make government work
announced that he would seek the Democratic nomina- and reform the Democratic Party, Choi won the June 2005
tion in 2012 for New Jersey’s 7th congressional district, primary by a 56-44% margin, defeating longtime incum-
a seat currently held by Rep. Leonard Lance, a Republi- bent Mayor George A. Spadoro. This was the first time
can.[2] in Edison history that a challenger won the Democratic
primary. While most of the county and state Democratic
Early life and Education organizations endorsed Spadoro, Choi was endorsed by
former Senator Bill Bradley, for whom he worked on the
The son of immigrants, Choi lived in Elizabeth, New 2000 presidential campaign, and was unexpectedly en-
Jersey at an early age before moving to Edison, New dorsed by the Teamsters, UFCW and a number of tradi-
Jersey. He graduated from J.P. Stevens High School in Edi- tionally candidate-neutral unions in Edison.
son.[3] Choi earned his pilot’s license as a teenager and The 2005 Edison Mayoral campaign brought together
wanted to become an astronaut before entering public four key factors that helped Choi win both the primary
service.[3] Choi earned a Bachelor of Science from the and general elections. An American Prospect article details
Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a master’s de- these findings. They include 1) attracting new voters into
gree in public policy and administration from Columbia the process, 2) a good government message, 3) anti-Wal-
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jun Choi
mart or economic justice theme and 4) an effective
Internet-based progressive mobilization. These dynam-
Congressional Run
ics, the article argues, can be a model for progressive can- On May 5, 2011, Choi announced that he would be seeking
didates in developing a winning campaign.[4] to replace Republican incumbent Congressman Leonard
During the primary campaign, Choi’s campaign was Lance in November 2012.
attacked by the "Jersey Guys" who made anti-Asian, dis-
criminatory comments on air. Craig Carton and Ray Ros-
si, two shock jocks, later apologized to Choi on their pro-
Personal life
gram. The controversy involving local radio shock jocks Choi was born in Seoul (South Korea) and moved to the
who made anti-Asian remarks on the air.[5] The Jersey U.S. at the age of three. He is married to Lisa, who served
Guys made racist remarks regarding Choi and Asian as Student Body Co-President as an undergraduate stu-
Americans on their show over a few hours, in 2005 when dent at Stanford University. They reside in Edison, New
Choi first ran for mayor. The Jersey Guys had said on Jersey.
their show that Asian Americans are not “real Ameri-
cans." The controversy drew national attention and sev-
en major advertisers withdrew their support of Millenni-
References
um Radio. [1] Choi sworn in as mayor - Edison inaugurates its
For 2007 primary, Choi ran a slate of four council can- youngest leader. Home News Tribune. Retrieved
didates under the "Edison Democratic Party" (Column A) January 2, 2006.
ticket against the incumbent Democratic council (Col- [2] Haydon, Tom (May 5, 2011). Former Edison Mayor
umn B), who were endorsed by state senator Barbara Jun Choi announces bid for Congress. Star-Ledger.
Buono as well as the county organization. Choi’s oppo- [3] ^ Former Mayor of Edison, New Jersey. Network of
nent from his 2005 mayoral race, Bill Stephens, also led Korean-American Leaders. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
a slate of candidates under the "Edison Democrats for [4] Green, Adam, and Matt Stoller (January 9, 2006).
Change" ticket (Column C).[6] Jersey Boy: The election of a Korean-American
All four of Choi’s council candidates won the prima- mayor in Edison, New Jersey may offer a blueprint
ry. [7][8] All four Democratic candidates subsequently won for Democrats nationwide in 2006. American
the general election. In addition, an attempt to create Prospect. Retrieved January 9, 2006.
a ward system in Edison and expanding the council to [5] Coalition and NJ 101.5 FM/Millennium Reach
nine members from seven was defeated in two municipal Mutual Understanding, Asian Media Watch press
questions. Choi and the Democratic slate campaigned release May 27, 2005
against the ward system.[9][10] Despite a strong grip of [6] Edison race offers 3 choices, Home News Tribune,
the city council, Choi worked hard during his 4 years as June 3, 2007
Mayor to try to take control of and reform the local De- [7] Choi slate victorious in Edison, Home News Tribune,
mocratic Party but was unable to gain the majority. June 6, 2007
In June 2009, Choi lost his re-election narrowly in the [8] Middlesex County primary results, NJ.com/The Star
Democratic primary. Ledger blog, June 6, 2007
[9] Edison picking government The Home News Tribune,
November 3, 2007
Early Obama Support [10] Edison picks Dems; ward system loses, The Home
On July 27, 2007, Choi endorsed United States Senator News Tribune, November 7, 2007.
Barack Obama for president in the 2008 election, becom- [11] New Jersey Democratic Delegate Selection Plan,
ing one of the earliest elected officials in New Jersey to New Jersey Division of Elections
support Obama whereas most of the party establishment [12] Democratic District Delegates, Alternate District
supported then frontrunner Sen. Hillary Clinton. Choi, Delegates, New Jersey Division of Elections
pledged to Obama, was a candidate for Democratic
District Delegate in the Tenth Democratic District in New
Jersey, which is composed of the 17th and 18th legislative
External links
districts. The New Jersey presidential primary, coincid- • Mayoral campaign
ing with Super Tuesday, took place on February 5, • Korean American Jun Choi Shines in Local Politics
2008.[11][12] Persondata
In February, 2009, Choi was one of the first group of Name Choi, Jun
Mayors nationwide to officially visit President Obama at
Alternative names
the White House along with members of the cabinet.
Short description
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jun Choi
Date of birth May 17, 1971 Date of death
Place of birth Place of death
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jun_Choi&oldid=455139968"
Categories:
• South Korean emigrants to the United States
• American politicians of Korean descent
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology alumni
• Living people
• 1971 births
• Columbia University alumni
• People from Edison, New Jersey
• Mayors of Edison, New Jersey
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