The quality of life in the Bay Area for the next decades will be determined by the policy choices our reprresentatives make today. With my unique policy experience in the State Assembly & State Senate, I will legislative and adovacate for our community on the critical issues of today. 

I grew up in San Jose and was raised by a single mom who instilled in me the value of education and hard work. That used to be enough to find a good job and provide for your family. But today, it’s so much harder to get ahead. I am running for Assembly to create solutions to our biggest challenges, from addressing homelessness and affordable housing to ensuring all kids receive a quality education and improving access to healthcare. That may sound ambitious, but with the growing economic and social divide in Silicon Valley, and skyrocketing costs of housing, we need bold and innovative leadership. 

As president of the West Valley-Mission Community College Board, I championed the expansion of our scholarship program and passage of a $698 million dollar bond to modernize facilities. I’ve dedicated my professional career to fighting for justice as an attorney whose firm represents people who otherwise would not have a voice in our system, from cases involving pesticide and toxic exposure to wrongful deaths, catastrophic injuries, and elder abuse. As a community volunteer, I serve on the Board for Central YMCA of Silicon Valley and as Board Chair for Mission City Community Fund. 

In the Assembly, I will continue working on long-term solutions that ensure our children have access to affordable college and job training, our families have good paying jobs and our communities have affordable housing with the resources to address homelessness to get people off the streets for good. I’d appreciate your vote.

While a student as San Jose State University, I worked and volunteered as a community health education peer to peer counselor. While a student at UC Hastings, I served in student government and was Editor-In-Chief of the Women’s Law Journal. My strong desire to lead and serve my community attracted me to working for the State Legislature after graduating from law school and thus I began working as a district aide to Assemblymember Dominic Cortese. After passing the bar exam, I elected to begin my law career at a local San Jose firm that was representing women who had become ill due to having breast implants. I joined the Santa Clara County Bar Association and chaired the Barristers’ Section and later served on the Association’s Board of Directors. For many years, I have been an active member of the Consumer Attorneys of California, participating in legislative lobbying days to promote bills that improve the lives of individuals throughout California and participating in its political action committee. I also volunteer in the court system serving as a neutral evaluator.

While my legal career has been rewarding, my service to the community has become even more satisfying.

My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer for the first time when I was 25 years old and she and I became strong supporters of the Breast Cancer Prevention Partners (then called the Breast Cancer Fund) fundraising and advocating for identifying the causes of breast cancer. Since my mom’s death last year from metastatic breast cancer, my sister and I have continued our involvement with this critical mission, leading her fundraising team, Lizzy’s Legions.  I continue to advocate for identifying and eliminating the environmental causes of breast cancer.

In 1999, I joined a local Rotary Club and soon began serving on the executive board.  I was recruited in 2001 to join the Board of Managers of the Central YMCA in San Jose. Their mission to address some of the most pressing social needs of the community and promoting the core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility have been a guide for the organization as well as for me. I have been a board member for nearly 20 years holding various leadership roles including board chair from 2007-2009.

Once I became a parent, I began volunteering in my children’s schools: I set up a non-profit, Friends of Wilson Preschool, to support the activities in the classrooms; I joined the Washington Open Parent Faculty Group and served as the fundraiser for 2 years and the President for 2 years; I am currently the PTA President at Buchser Middle School; and I am the Secretary to the Parent Board for Boy Scout Troop 611.

I was appointed to the Housing Loan and Rehabilitation Committee by the Santa Clara City Council in 2005 and served until 2013.  In 2014, I was elected to the West Valley Mission Community College District Board of Trustees, serving as the Vice-President for 2 years and am now serving my second year as the President. In 2018, I actively participated in the successful Measure W Campaign that raised nearly $700 million dollars for our colleges. More recently, I was selected to join the Mission City Community Fund Board of Directors and am currently serving as the Board Chair.

The most difficult personal success I had recently was running for and winning my election for the trustee position on the college district governing board. It was my first ever political attempt and I entered the race approximately 3 months before the election. I was running against a term-out incumbent San Jose City Councilmember who enjoyed great name recognition within the district. When he entered the race, I was discouraged from running. Courage coupled with tremendous community support and hard work paid off. I earned 60% of the votes. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed campaigning and connecting with residents and stakeholders. Being a public servant has been one of the more rewarding experiences of my life.

I am running to represent the people of our community and to be a part of the solution to a number of financial, environmental and social challenges that our state faces. The solutions to 21st-century challenges will require innovative leadership, collaboration across ideological lines, and disciplined commitment - qualities I have honed as a local elected official, a PTA mom and president, and an attorney representing the vulnerable. The economic divide in the Bay Area has increased rapidly and we must make sound decisions that move us in a direction that will afford all residents a better quality of life and a future of promise and opportunity. The Bay Area is the wealthiest region of the wealthiest state of the wealthiest country on the planet, and there is no reason why we cannot make room for everyone who is willing to work hard to contribute to our region.

Anna Song: An Immigrant’s Story of Achieving the American Dream

Anna, 14 and her brother, 10 immigrated to the United States after her mother, a single parent, made the life changing decision to seek a better life for her children. No one in the family spoke English. Korea was in a state of political upheaval and college educations were extremely competitive to attain. Her mother believed that providing the opportunity for an education would be the most important gift she could provide her children. She was prepared to make any sacrifice necessary to make that dream come true.

Anna’s, family settled in Orange County where she attended public schools. Starting in the 7^th grade for three years as an ESL (English Second Language) student Anna mastered English while remaining fluent in Korean.

When Anna’s mother became ill, she left school in her senior year to care for both her mother and brother. She didn’t graduate but later, after her mother’s recovery, she completed a GED.

Anna and her family were very appreciative of the assistance they received from the church and community. Anna at this point in her life was seriously considering becoming a nun as a way of giving back. She was accepted at the Franciscan University in Steubenville Ohio and received a B.A. in Theology with a Minor in Mental Health and Human Services in 1994.

During the summers of 1992 and 1993 she completed two internships with the Asian American Drug Abuse Program (AADAP) in South Central Los Angeles. Anna counseled recovery clients in a large multicultural residential rehabilitation program. Working in the inner city after the LA riots exposed Anna to the realities of poverty, prejudice and class conflict. 

Her first job after college was Director of High School Youth Ministry at St. Raphael’s Catholic Church in Paramount California.

Anna came to Santa Clara Valley in 1995 when she was hired by Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI) as a Substance Abuse/Domestic Violence/Mental Health Counselor. She counseled battered woman and their children, developed treatment plans, coordinated management and assessments for mental health clients and at-risk teenage youth.

Next Anna was hired to create a tri-parish youth ministry in Los Altos for St. Nicholas, St. Williams and St. Simon churches.

Anna married in 1997. She received a full “Lilly Scholarship” to pursue Master’s Studies, at the Franciscan School of Theology in Berkley in 1999. Next working for Project Sentinel in Palo Alto as a Fair Housing Specialist, she coordinated a staff of 15 testers focused on objective processing of housing discrimination complaints.

She had her first child in 2002 and the second in 2006. Both boys.

Anna started a career in the insurance industry so that she could have a job with a flexible schedule enabling her to balance between being a mother and an elected official. She currently holds a state license as a Life & Health insurance agent.

Anna divorced in 2014 and is now a single mother with joint custody of her children who are both enrolled in local public schools.

Active in the Democratic Party, Anna has served as a member of the California Democratic Party State Central Committee, Board Member, Democratic Activists for Woman Now, (DAWN) and is a past President of the City of Santa Clara Mission City Democratic Club. The California Democratic Party has awarded her the JFK, Jr. Statewide Award for Public Service. 

SEIU, Local 715 awarded Anna Song, School Board Member of the Year in 2002.

Anna Song, Courage, Compassion and Commitment for Assembly District 25

Anna Song, a 5-term Santa Clara County Board of Education Trustee, is a leading candidate for State Assembly District 25. The seat is currently represented by Kansen Chu who has decided not to seek re-election.

Serving over 19 years, Song was first elected to the County Board of Education in 2000 and strongly re-elected in every election since.  Previously selected Board President three times, she currently serves as Vice President. Her County Board Seat #5 encompasses many of the communities in the 25th Assembly District, including Milpitas, Santa Clara, San Jose, Berryessa and Alviso. With additional ties to Alameda County Anna is well suited to represent this district.

With oversight responsibility of a balanced budget of $254 million, Anna has been a champion of equity in education.  She has not been afraid to question assumptions and stand up to those who would bully their special interests at the expense of children. Always available to listen, she is never afraid to stand up for what is right for each child.

Anna is the first Korean-American to be elected in Santa Clara County and first Korean- born woman to be elected to any position in California. In fact, Anna Song is the longest serving female Korean-American elected official in the United States. If elected, she would be the only Asian American and Korean-American woman in the Assembly.

Song has been an elected member of the Santa Clara County Democratic Central Committee and serves as a member of the State Democratic Party. She was awarded the prestigious JFK, Jr. Award for Public Service by the State Democratic Party.

Anna brings many years of non-profit work experience to her elected position including counseling, youth education, domestic violence intervention and fair housing enforcement. Professionally, Anna is currently an insurance agent for New York Life.

Anna holds a Bachelor’s degree in Theology and Mental Health from Franciscan University in Ohio. A single mom, Anna also has two very active boys who attend local public schools.

With thoughtfulness and integrity Anna Song is the best choice to represent the people of the 25^th Assembly District in the California State Legislature. 

“I think I bring a lot to the table especially given that there is no Asian-American woman in the Assembly at this point, I consider myself a progressive. My policy perspective would be coming from being a single mom.” Anna Song, Candidate, 25th Assembly District

I have been part of this community for my whole life, working tirelessly to make it a better place with 20 years of State and Local government experience as a City Commissioner for Planning Commission and Parks and Recreation Commission.

I have fought for our great city of Fremont and all of our people. The many friends that I do have and the many people that I don’t know – All have to be represented equally. That is what I have done. I have been able to work across the aisle for the overall greater good for all.

I helped pass five Laws in California and Alabama in support of stem cell research for cures. That produced $7 for every $1 spent to our State coffers, while Producing 295 Peer-Reviewed Medical Breakthroughs, 94,000 Jobs in California for blue and white collar workers combined and America’s first human clinical trials derived from hESC stem cell research with pioneer Dr. Hans Keirstead for the People.

I am a proud Father, of three amazing children, UC Berkeley student Roman Jr., Phenom Athlete Jason and my princess scientist Katherine.

My father Don C. Reed was the head diver at Marine world Africa USA for 15 years and an English teacher at Horner junior high school. He taught me my love for the ocean and all of its wonderful creatures that I will do everything to protect that I possibly can. And the realities of a teacher’s salary in comparison to what they are worth and the importance of the job they do. I will always fight for the teachers and the students.

My Mom, Gloria Reed, Worked with the special education department of Fremont unified school District for more years than it is appropriate for a son to say about a mothers age. She taught me to never ever ever be a bully and to protect those who need a little bit more help. It is up to us to stand up for those who cannot fully stand up for themselves.

She is 100% Mexican. I am 50% Mexican.

My sister is the athletic director at the University of Nevada Las Vegas UNLV and a pioneer for equality for women in sports. She is the first Latina to be an Athletic Director at a major college sports program. Literally breaking glass ceilings for the benefit of all. 

I got my college education at UC Berkeley.  Class of 2008. With a hard earned Undergraduate degree in American Studies with an emphasis on politics and leadership. I have Won the stem cell person of the year award for the whole world as given out by IPSCELL.com. 2013 recipient of the “Stem Cell Action Award” for Inspiration at the annual World Stem Cell Summit in San Diego. Joining the ranks of other prestigious honorees that annually recognizes leading advocates. Among them, Vice-President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden, Michael J. Fox, Bob Klein, Denny Sanford, Malin Burnham, Dr. Paul Knoepfler, Dr. Jeanne Loring and other prominent figures. Twice, I have Won Our Assembly District one of the persons of the year award in 2008 and again in 2012.

I truly feel that government works when its leaders listen, I pride my self on listening, and finding ways to solve problems by working in a collaborative style.