KAVA (KOREAN AMERICAN VOTERS ALLIANCE) IS NONPARTISAN

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KAVA Board and members were disappointed to hear that Sen. Dino Rossi and Rossi for Governor Campaign claimed to not understand KAVA’s mission and non-partisan, non-profit status.

KAVA board contacted Sen. Rossi’s campaign early September through Sen. Rossi supporter and a KAVA member, inviting Sen. Rossi to participate in the Gubernatorial candidates forum at KAVA Convention 2004.  At the same time, Attorney Gen. Gregoire was also contacted via email and phone through another channel.

KAVA wanted to make sure that Senator Dino Rossi and Attorney General Christine Gregoire were both welcomed and could participate in KAVA 2004 Convention Gubernatorial Candidate Forum. The forum was co-sponsored by the APIA Vote Coalition consisting of over 22 API organizations in the greater Puget Sound areas.

When Sen. Dino Rossi for Governor campaign were contacted through the campaign manager, Afton, the reply in September was that they are leaving the last two weeks of the campaign open.  When KAVA contacted the campaign again in early October, the Rossi Campaign said they will be kicking off their state tour on Saturday, October 23^rd and addressed that Senator Dino Rossi is not able to attend the KAVA Convention gubernatorial candidate forum.

According to KAVA presidnet: Cheryl Lee, KAVA again contacted the scheduler, Sarah, directly via email urging the Rossi Campaign to reconsider attending the KAVA Convention 2004 since the gubernatorial forum will be co-sponsored by KAVA and APAIVote Coalition, which consist of 23 API organizations.  Sarah then said she would check again with the Rossi Campaign schedule team and will reply to KAVA.  KAVA never did receive a reply even after several emails and phone calls. On Thursday, September 21^st, two days before the convention, Sarah from the Rossi Campaign said that Sen. Rossi is not be able to attend and inquired if they could send a representative to speak on his behalf and also mentioned that KAVA never sent a formal invitation.  KAVA explained KAVA did not send a single formal invitation.

KAVA sent invitations through e-mail and advertised the convention through the local media. It was somewhat different than the past years of KAVA Convention.

KAVA Board member, Young Sil Park Jaqua, and a few KAVA members visited with Sen. Dino Rossi on October 22, 2004, before the KAVA 2004 Convention. They made clear to him that KAVA is a non-partisan organization.

Senator Dino Rossi expressed his regrets that he could not attend the KAVA Convention 2004.

The KAVA Gubernatorial Candidate Forum was phenomenal although Senator Dino Rossi did not attend.   Emcee Joyce Lee introduced Rep. Skip Priest as a State Representative and as a representative of Sen. Rossi during the dignitary recognition portion of the convention. The Gubernatorial Candidate Forum went well and was received positive. The APIA Vote Coalition and KAVA had many questions which Attorney General Christine Gregoire answered to.

Many KAVA Convention 2004 attendees, including KAVA's 2004 Convention keynote speaker, Dr. Young Woo Kang, Consul General of the Republic of Korea, Kim Jae- Gouk, and many visitors were impressed with the overall quality of the convention and commented positively on the convention.

The convention was another positive success. KAVA President, Cheryl Lee and KAVA members believe that the power and influence of one single vote is a nonpartisan issue.
The most important message of the KAVA Convention 2004: VOTE on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 and exercise our right as AMERICAN Citizens.