Politics

Sukhee Kang to Run for Congress in 2012

By Matt Coker Wed., Jul. 6 2011 at 11:33 AM
Categories: Politics
Thumbnail image for s-kang.jpg
Sukhee Kang
​Irvine Mayor Sukhee Kang announced today he's running in 2012 for what will likely be three-term Republican John Campbell's newly redrawn congressional district seat.

Kang, obviously un-chilled by City Council colleague, former mayor and fellow Democrat Beth Krom's handy loss to Campbell in her 2010 bid for the 48th Congressional District office, must first lock up a Democratic primary race be one of the top two vote-getters to qualify for a runoff in a new district carved out of parts of the 48th and Rep. Dana Rohrabacher's 46th district.

Redistricting will not be finalized until the fall.

Voice of OC has the scoop on Kang seeking to become the second Korean-American elected to the House. Jay Kim represented the 41st Congressional District that straddled the Orange, Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties lines from 1993-1999.

skang-bkrom-lagran.jpg
Three amigos: Kang, Krom and Agran
​Kim pleaded guilty to accepting $230,000 in illegal donations--including one-third of all contributions to his 1992 campaign--and was sentenced to two months of house arrest. He kept his seat but lost the 1998 Republican primary to Gary Miller, who has represented the district ever since.

Kang hopefully has no such skeletons in his closet. He'll build support off what the Voice of OC's Adam Elmahrek dubs his "rock-star status" within the Korean-American community.

He'll need it to counteract heavy Republican support in three coastal enclaves that are expected to include territory in the new congressional district: Irvine, Laguna Beach and Huntington Beach.

Of course, presuming Kang wins the Democratic nomination, finishes in the top two, losing the general election can still represent a "win" in local Irvine politics. Kang is part of the majority block on the council that includes Krom and Councilman Larry Agran, who routinely builds election slush funds that piggyback off higher-profile races:



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Reader
Reader

Kang plays the card of "Korean American mayor", and that's probably his only card!

Furthermore, he will face John Campbell from Irvine, a strong fiscal conservative Republican Congressman in DC, who've really done a great job of fighting for small businesses, cutting wasteful governmental spending, and reducing national rocketing defecit. And these are among OC philosophy.

We dont need another politician from Democrats' party who does not stand with American families.

No Democrat Agran! No Democrat Krom! No Democrat Kang!Reelect John Campbell !!!(And other Southern Californian vote Sanchez sisters OUT !!!)

Dan Smith
Dan Smith

Hmmmm, looking at the writing style, it looks awfully like Steven Choi of Irvine City Council...it just goes to show no community is monolithic...

Democrats are fighting hard in DC to protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid from Republican ax which would decimate retired life of most senior citizens (the true American family)...but then Republicans do stand for American oil and gas interests who are receiving special tax deductions while amassing humongo profits on rising gas prices at the gas station (I suppose they are American families, too...)...yeah, pro-family Republicans...

Reader
Reader

Well, first of all, this is not Steven Choi.

And Secondly, many Democrats are also fighting for their own political careers, as well as stand with special interests, like bla bla bla unions or something......

Reader
Reader

Dear Golden State Californians, just take a look at the well-managed Public Finance of the Lone Star State Texas......while, simultaneosly, consider the broken Liberal Big Gov. Brother circumstances in CA.Go Mainstreet Real-World Common-Sense Conservative Republican!!!

By the way, i m not Steven Choi.

Dan Smith
Dan Smith

Well dear Reader, if Democrat's special interest is protecting the interest of senior citizens and retirees, I am all for it! and if Republican's special interest is super profit raking oil and gas interests, I am seriously opposed...why on earth they would give them a continuing special tax breaks? When did Democrats give any special tax breaks to unions? And what is wrong with unions fighting for certain wage and work place standars? All American workers benefit from their activities in a round about way...

And fighting for political careers, of course they all do it, but I would rather have elected officials fighting for political careers protecting the seniors' interest rather than on the backs of seniors in favor of tax cut for Chevron and Mobil, not to mention British Petroleum..the tax cut was enacted under Co-Presidents Bush and Cheney for their fat cat Texas buddies who put them in the office, and we need to rescind the cuts NOW! Trust me, they will not go out of business...

Are you sure you are not Steven Choi?

Matthew T. Coker
Matthew T. Coker

You're right, I should have known the top two thing. Will fix.

Dan Chmielewski
Dan Chmielewski

jeez Matt; TheLiberalOC broke this story at 7:30 this morning.. And you should know its the two top finihings in the June primary, regardless of party, who make to the general election.  I still think a close battle between Campbell and Rohrabacher halves the conservative vote to place Kang in the top two. 

Dan Smith
Dan Smith

I don't think for one second that Mayor Sukhee Kang can bring in the peace to the House of Representatives the way he brought peace and productivity to the Irvine City Council; although I am hoping that one competent "no bickering" type we send to Congress will be a good first step to someday ending the partisan mess in DC...go Mayor...this Republican vote goes to you...

mitch young
mitch young

Yeah, they are really moving along on that 'Great Park' project.

And stop posing as a fake republican.

Dan Smith
Dan Smith

Keep on voting for the white man buddy...no amount of talk will open your ears...Mayor Kang could not have gotten 64% of the vote in Irvine without more than plenty of Republican votes and Independent votes..Does it scare you? One less white Congressman? Rohrabacher is actually a fun guy, but his politics is arcane...I am in Campbell district yet have no idea what he has done for the district where more tax money gets sucked out than we will ever see back...can you go beyond colors and see how useless these two gentlemen have been in Congress? My tax goes with Sukhee...As for the "Great Park", do you see anyone building? The whole premise is 'use of funds from development fees"...no build, no fee, so slowdown...Is Sukhee and Agran responsible for national slow down? Check with your white buddies who have ruled DC all these years...head examination may be in order for you....

Dan Smith
Dan Smith

Frankly, I don't think you got enough love from your mom....it's catching up with you...Roger and out; what a waste of time!!!

mitch young
mitch young

You're right, demographic change has brought us winners like the Dirty Sanchez sisters. My bad.

mitch young
mitch young

Yet another cost of immigration. Politics is a zero-sum game, another 'Korean American' means in this case one less white congressman.

Wake up white people.

Daniel Chung Smith
Daniel Chung Smith

This half white half Korean should root for whom then? Not sure if this comment befits "OC Circa 2012"...on the other hand, if I give any credibility to this sort of thinking, perhaps we should change all white congressman for ruining this country by dominating the legislative branch of the government...can't do any worse!!! Mitch Young, you must be a deprived man...

gustavoarellano
gustavoarellano

Not only is he deprived, he thinks he's Catalan haha

mitch young
mitch young

No dude, pure Anglo-sajon.

Anyways, looking at Khangs wiki, its Korean this and Korean that and Korean the other. Obviously the man is racially and ethnically motivated. Is he a skinhead too?

And when it really was all white men running the country we were on the way up -- got to the moon in fact. Since 1965 or so its been a story of decline. Facts is facts.

FishWithoutBicycle
FishWithoutBicycle

Dana Rohrabacher is a white guy and does a crappy job...so what's your point? You post ignorant tripe like that all the time and get all offended when someone suggests you may be a skinhead...hello??!!!

Read A Newspaper
Read A Newspaper

There will be no such thing as a "Democratic Primary" in this cycle.  Kang will have to be one of two top vote-gettters to make it to the primary.  So Kang has to do more than "win the Democratic nomination"

Anila Ali
Anila Ali

That's wonderful news! Sukhee has been a most progressive and inclusive mayor and the Muslim community will back him for Congress to get the hate-inciting, Rohrabacher out of the House. Good Luck, Sukhee Kang

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