By JOSEPH G. LARIOSA

(© Journal Group Link International)

Rep. Steve Austria Wins Re-election in Ohio’s 7th District and California Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye Thanks Fil-Am Supporters

C HICAGO (jGLi) – Manny Pacquiao is someone, who cannot say no to a friend in distress.

Weeks before the U.S. mid-term elections on Nov. 2nd, U.S. Senate Majority Floor Leader Harry Reid was trailing in the polls.

So, Manny’s promoter Bob Arum, who is based in Las Vegas, Nevada, would like to help re-elect his own Nevada senator.

Mr. Arum asked Manny if he could take a few hours off from his training for Manny’s upcoming bout with Antonio Margarito to dispute the World Boxing Council (WBC) junior-middleweight title at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Nov. 13.

Because Manny cannot say no to a friend, he took a private plane from Los Angeles, California, home of his training camp Wild Card gym, and flew to Las Vegas on Oct. 29, three days before the election.

According to an account of Renato Avenido, who owns the www.usnewslasvegas.com, Manny spoke glowingly of Senator Reid because he (Manny) “believes he (Reid) is a ‘good leader’ and a strong supporter of Filipino causes.”

Mr. Avenido told this reporter that Manny spoke for about 15 to 20 minutes, appealing to his boxing fans, notably Filipino and Hispanic Americans, to go out and vote for Senator Reid at Orr Middle School at 1562 E. Katie Avenue in Las Vegas that was “jam-packed by supporters (of about "a thousand”) of the veteran US lawmaker and fans of the world boxing champion.”

Senator Reid is well-known for including the Filipino-Veterans’ Equity Bill into the Stimulus Bill (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) that granted benefits to Filipino World War II veterans after it was signed by President Obama. Mr. Reid also authored Senate Resolution 669, formally recognizing October as Filipino-American History Month.

When it was his turn to speak, the seven-time world champion also shared some of his secrets in his campaign that helped him win votes as congressman of Sarangani province.

The website said, “One of the secrets of his success in Sarangani, he said, was his appealing to the voters house to house and explaining to them his plans and programs for the upliftment of the poor families of the province.”

Pacquiao said he learned these secrets from some of his supporters, who are also in politics, among them Ilocos Sur Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson, now chairman of the League of Governors of the Philippines.

Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum also told the crowd he was endorsing Senator Reid and believes Filipino voters would also support Mr. Reid because they are “intelligent” voters.

“It is unlikely that Filipino-American voters will go for a new leader instead of a veteran lawmaker who supports them like Senator Reid.” Arum said. “They know that it would be suicidal for them to abandon a veteran leader over a new one in this crucial election.”

As it turned out, Mr. Reid beat Republican Sharon Angle, a newcomer in Nevada politics, last Tuesday.

Dr. Romualdo Aragon, Jr., a Filipino-American physician in Las Vegas, confided to Mr. Avenido, saying “with his victory in Nov. 2nd election, we hope Senator Reid will not forget the help of Manny Pacquiao and the Filipino-American community.”

Rep. Steve Austria Gets Re-elected in Ohio

M eanwhile, another big Filipino-American winner in Tuesday’s election was U.S. Rep. Steve Austria, who was re-elected to Ohio’s 7th district.

Mr. Austria, a Republican, got 132,936 votes or 62.53%, trouncing Democrat’s Bill Conner, who collected 67,803 votes or 31.89%. While two other candidates Libertarian John Anderson polled 9,153 votes or 4.31% and Independent David Easton, 2,709 votes or 1.27%.

Congressman Austria is the first second-generation Filipino American to be elected in the U.S. Congress. Both Representatives Bobby C. Scott, a Democrat from Virginia, and John Ensign, Jr., a Republican from Las Vegas, Nevada, are “30-percent Filipino-Americans" legislators.

Austria’s father, the late Dr. Clemente Austria, hails from Quezon province in the Philippines.

More Election Results in Northern California

F ilipino American Hydra Mendoza was re-elected to the San Francisco Board of Education, getting the most of the votes among 11 candidates with 21.32% votes. She was followed by Kim-Shree Maufas 14.4%; and Margaret Brodkin 14.32%.

Filipino American businesswoman Dorie Paniza, who was earlier reported to have won, actually lost in the council race in Daly City, California.

Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye Gives Thanks

O ne of the biggest winners in Tuesday’s elections was the Honorable Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye, who became California’s Chief Justice of the Supreme Court by garnering an overwhelming “Yes” votes. She chalked up some 3.4 million “Yes" votes or 67-percent of the counted votes, as opposed to 1.7 million “No" votes.

In an e-mail response to this reporter for her comment on her election, Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye said, “Thank you for informing the public of the results of my election. It was also gratifying to read of the victories and successes of the other Fil Ams, My best, Tani.” # # #

Editor’s Note: To contact the author, please e-mail him at:  (lariosa_jos@sbcglobal.net)