Dai Thao is St. Paul City Council’s first Hmong American

Topics | Politics | Special Collections | Minnesota Politicians | Hmong life in Minnesota | Types | Reports | Interviews | Grants | Legacy Amendment Digitization (2016-2017) | Programs & Series | Morning Edition | Legacy Project Work (2022-2023) |
November 12, 2013
Cathy Wurzer - Host, Curtis Gilbert - Reporter, Dai Thao - Interviewee, Noel Nix - Interviewee, Lee Pao Xiong - Interviewee
Listen: Hmong councilor elected in Saint Paul
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MPR’s Curtis Gilbert reports on St. Paul electing its first Hmong American city council member. Dai Thao is an information technology specialist who’s never run for office before. He won a special election against six other candidates after the ranked-choice vote count took place.

Thao immigrated to the United States with his family 30 years ago. He was 8 years old, and he thought America was paradise, but soon saw it also contained poverty and discrimination. St. Paul's 1st Ward includes Frogtown and nearby neighborhoods that are among the city's poorest. Thao says he takes the challenges facing his ward seriously.

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