Vo Unlikely Journey: From Saigon Chaos To Texas House

[ChicanoPwr]

HOUSTON -- Planes crashed to earth, rockets screamed across the sky and bombs exploded as 19-year-old Hubert Vo began his long journey. Three decades later, he's preparing to take the floor of the Texas House of Representatives as the state's first Vietnamese-born lawmaker.

"I remember my father gave each one of us a gun and said: 'Use it if you have to,"' said Vo, recalling how he, his five siblings and his parents fled Saigon in 1975 as their country collapsed. "It was chaos. The day I left, I stood on the boat, looked at horizon, seen airplanes falling from the sky."

That far exceeds any turmoil Vo has experienced following his election to the Houston-area District 149 seat he captured by a mere 33 votes over longtime Republican incumbent Talmadge Heflin.

http://www.click2houston.com/politics/4041614/detail.html

[gmoses]

1. here's the Vo petition link again

http://www.petitiononline.com/huvo149/petition.html

Just say Vo

[sonias]

2. Just say Vo!

I like that G. And lets not forget that his inauguration ceremony is on January 11th at the state capital and we have to show up in force. I don't have specific details but I'm sure we will hear about them shortly.

I love this quote by Vo
"It never crossed my mind about being an important person," he said. "I'm thinking more to the future than how proud I am or what a big shot I am. With me, I count myself as just another Texan working in the Texas Legislature."

Now that's the kind of Representative we can all wish for.

Sonia

[gmoses]

3. Star-Telegram Profile of Vo

By Jay Root

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/state/10561825.htm
(registration needed)

Vo, now 48, is no Democratic firebrand. He says most of the Vietnamese voters in his district are Republicans, and he describes himself as a "fiscal conservative."

One of his top priorities is full restoration of the Children's Health Insurance Program, a health program for the children of working families that Heflin's committee cut two years ago. But Vo predicts lawmakers will fall short.

"I don't think we'll get to fully restore it. I believe we will partially restore CHIP," he said. "But I will work with other legislators to try to fully restore CHIP."

Whether he keeps the seat after the contest process ends or not, Vo has already made history as the first Vietnamese-American elected to the Legislature. He says that is not important to him, however.

"I don't take pride in that," he said. "It's just me, it's just me wanting to serve the people."

[sonias]

4. More details on the Vo Rally for Tuesday 1/11

We heard from David Holmes tonight who lives here in Austin and will start working for Vo's office next week. There will be a rally to show support for Hubert Vo at 2:00 pm on the south steps of the capitol, next Tuesday the 11th.

The swearing in ceremony is at noon in the House Chambers and open to the public. All the house reps will be there. We can gather in the gallery to view the ceremony but they won't let you take signs in there. You can wear it on your shirt however.

Just Say Vo!! (I'm borrowing the slogan from gmoses)

Sonia