By Assunta Ng

From left: Stephen Uy, Gov. Jay Inslee, Justice Stephen Gonzalez, Judge Richard Jones, and Nick Brown (Photo by Assunta Ng/NWAW)

Gov. Jay Inslee attended a Cinco de Mayo reception last Friday at the Columbia Tower Club, and he opened his speech with a joke. Everyone laughed. Read the full story

Jay Inslee with Kelly Wieker (front left), Unjin Lee (front center), and Joby Shimoura (right) (Photo by Jaime Smith)

Though Gov. Jay Inslee has yet to make an appointment to his Cabinet, Asian and Pacific Americans will already have a part in his administration. Joby Shimomura, Kelly Wicker, Kirstan Arestad, and Stacey Tichenor all currently hold positions working for the governor. Shimomura, Inslee’s former campaign manager and congressional office staff member, has been brought on as a Senior Adviser, with a salary of $140,650. Kelly Wicker, who was Inslee’s deputy campaign manager and also worked in the office of former Governors  Chris Gregoire and Gary Locke, will be Director of Internal Affairs, with a salary of $126,070. Arestad, who has worked in the capital with the Department of Transportation and Office of Fiscal Management, is Inslee’s new Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs and Policy, with a salary of $100,880. Unjin Lee, who is the Progam Director of the Institute for a Democratic Future, will be the Executive Aide to the Director of Internal Affairs with a salary of $50,000. Stacey Tichenor will be the Governor’s Executive Scheduler with a salary of $67,296. (end)

Jay Inslee was sworn in as Washington’s 23rd Governor on Wednesday, Jan. 16 in front of a crowd of approximately 250 at the State Capitol Rotunda. Read the full story

Jay Inslee (Photo by Assunta Ng/NWAW)

By Manuel Valdes
The Associated Press

SEATTLE (AP) — If pollster Matt Barreto is right, then Latino voters in Washington were one of the key factors in Gov.-elect Read the full story

Jay Inslee with Fumiko Hayashida

Fumiko Hayashida, a 101-year-old Japanese Seattle resident and part of the delegation who testified before Congress on behalf of the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial, visited the Jay Inslee campaign early last week to make a donation of $101 in honor of her age.

Hayashida was a 31-year-old pregnant mother of two when Executive Order 9066 was issued, authorizing the relocation of 110,000 people of Japanese ancestry. She was one of the 227 Bainbridge Island community members relocated under Exclusion Order No. 1. (end)

Jay Inslee

By Assunta Ng

Democrat gubernatorial candidate Jay Inslee, a former congressman, invited me to chat with him at the Panama Hotel recently. Inslee and Organizing for America opened their office close to the International District on Rainier Avenue South.

Will Inslee do a better job than his fellow Democrat, current Governor Christine Gregoire, if he gets elected?

Some Asian Americans are disillusioned with Gregoire’s ability to get things done. Also, she hasn’t been visiting the International District much or attending many Asian events for the past two years. Read the full story

Chinatown organizations’ members hold Inslee signs in front of Hop Sing Tong (Photo by Rebecca Ip/SCP)

Three Chinatown organizations impressed Congressman Jay Inslee, a gubernatorial candidate, with their history, a toast, Chinese welcoming sign, and reception in his honor on Jan 8. What Inslee didn’t know was that some of the members of these associations had already given money to the campaign of his opponent, Attorney General Rob McKenna. Read the full story

Jay Inslee with the Gee How Oak Tin Women’s Auxiliary

On Jan. 7, Jay Inslee met with Chinese businesses and business associations in the International District as part of a walking tour. Read the full story

Sen. Cantwell (left) and Congressman Jay Inslee (Photo provided by Maria Cantwell's office)

On June 23, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Rep. Jay Inslee (WA-01) toured the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial. They advocated for funding of the educational installation at the site. Read the full story

From left: U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee, Ron Sims, InterIm Executive Director Hyeok Kim, and former InterIm Executive Director and community activist Bob Santos

InterIm Community Development Association held its 2010 Annual Gala Luncheon at the Renaissance Seattle Hotel. Read the full story

From left: Nancy Chiue, Albert Shen, Colleen Hanabusa, and U.S. Congressman Jay Inslee

Colleen Hanabusa, a Democratic member of the Hawaii State Senate, is running for U.S. Congress. There was a fundraiser in Seattle at the Madison 100 Hotel in her honor. Approximately 50 people attended, and $12,000–$15,000 was raised. Read the full story