John Liu
Encyclopedia
John Chun Liu is a New York City
elected official, currently serving as New York City Comptroller
. Liu previously served on the New York City Council
representing District 20. He was elected to the City Council in 2001 to represent northeast Queens
(Flushing
, Queensboro Hill, Mitchell Linden, Murray Hill
, Holly
, Kissena Park
, Harding Heights, Auburndale, part of Whitestone
) and was re-elected in 2003 and 2005.
Liu entered the New York City Comptroller election
in 2009 and won the race on November 3, 2009, becoming the first Asian American
to be elected to a city-wide office in New York City. He was succeeded in the City Council by pharmacist Republican
Peter Koo
. Koo, along with Democrat
Margaret Chin
, a Council member from Manhattan
, comprise the Asian-American delegation of the Council.
. Chang F. Liu, his father, changed Liu's first name from Chun to John in honor of John F. Kennedy
. His brothers became Robert and Edward, while his father became Joseph.
He attended New York City public schools. In 1985, Liu graduated from The Bronx High School of Science
, a secondary school.
He attended Binghamton University
where he majored in Mathematical Physics and graduated in 1988. He worked as a manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers
before his election to the City Council.
Liu is married to Jenny Liu, an engineer, and has one son, Joey. He resides in Flushing
, near where he grew up.
In March 2009, Liu announced that he was running for the post of New York City Comptroller
. Liu has raised $3 million for his political run, more than his competitors.
Beginning in May, Liu picked up several endorsements. The Village Independent Democrats, The Queens County Democratic organization, the local Americans for Democratic Action
chapter and the Working Families Party
, 1199 SEIU union local and the Uniformed Firefighters Association endorsed him. On September 1, the United Federation of Teachers
endorsed Liu.
In the September 15 Democratic primary, Liu was the front-runner, ending up with 133,986 votes, or 38 percent of the vote. Because he did not manage to reach 40 of the vote, a run-off election was required between Liu and runner-up David Yassky
, who received 30 percent of the vote in the primary. Two weeks later, Liu won the run-off by taking 55.6% of the vote against Yassky.
In the general election on November 3, Liu won the comptroller election with 76% of the vote, a total of 696,330 votes. Republican candidate Joseph Mendola came in second with 19.3% of the vote. After he was officially sworn in to the post, Liu became the first Asian American to hold a city-wide political office in New York City.
, Fujian
, People's Republic of China
.
Pan is the president of a company called "Golden Arrow Property" (金箭房地產有限責公司). Oliver Pan's office is in 35 East Broadway
, New York
room 506 handles finance, banking, insurance and real estate. He also has an office in Mendham
New Jersey
. US federal authorities have been looking into foreign money illegally donated into his campaign since 2009. Some people in the Chinese community believe Liu is being framed. Pan's funding activities extended beyond Liu, as he was listed as a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton during the 2008 presidential campaign
.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
elected official, currently serving as New York City Comptroller
New York City Comptroller
The Office of Comptroller of New York City is the chief fiscal officer and chief auditing officer of the city. The comptroller is elected, citywide, to a four-year term and can hold office for three consecutive terms. The current comptroller is Democrat John Liu, formerly a member of the New York...
. Liu previously served on the New York City Council
New York City Council
The New York City Council is the lawmaking body of the City of New York. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The Council serves as a check against the mayor in a "strong" mayor-council government model. The council monitors performance of city agencies and...
representing District 20. He was elected to the City Council in 2001 to represent northeast Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
(Flushing
Flushing, Queens
Flushing, founded in 1645, is a neighborhood in the north central part of the City of New York borough of Queens, east of Manhattan.Flushing was one of the first Dutch settlements on Long Island. Today, it is one of the largest and most diverse neighborhoods in New York City...
, Queensboro Hill, Mitchell Linden, Murray Hill
Murray Hill, Queens
Murray Hill is a small neighborhood within Flushing in the New York City borough of Queens. Traditionally the home of families of Irish and Italian immigrants, many Korean and Chinese immigrants have since moved into the area in recent years...
, Holly
Holly
Ilex) is a genus of 400 to 600 species of flowering plants in the family Aquifoliaceae, and the only living genus in that family. The species are evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs, and climbers from tropics to temperate zones world wide....
, Kissena Park
Kissena Park
Kissena Park is a large park located in the neighborhood of Flushing in the New York City borough of Queens, along Kissena Creek which formerly flowed into the Flushing River. It is bordered on the west by Kissena Boulevard; on the north by Rose, Oak, Underhill, and Lithonia Avenues; on the east...
, Harding Heights, Auburndale, part of Whitestone
Whitestone, Queens
Whitestone is a residential neighborhood in the northernmost part of the City of New York borough of Queens. Located between the East River to the north and 25th Avenue to the south. Whitestone is surrounded by College Point, Flushing, Bayside, Auburndale, Linden Hill, and Murray Hill...
) and was re-elected in 2003 and 2005.
Liu entered the New York City Comptroller election
New York City Comptroller election, 2009
The 2009 election for New York City Comptroller was held on November 3, 2009 to coincide with the 2009 mayoral election. The Democratic and Republican primaries were held on September 15, 2009. There was a run-off election for the Democratic Party nomination on September 29, 2009.Joe Mendola was...
in 2009 and won the race on November 3, 2009, becoming the first Asian American
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
to be elected to a city-wide office in New York City. He was succeeded in the City Council by pharmacist Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Peter Koo
Peter Koo
Peter Koo is a New York City-based American politician. He is a Republican member of the New York City Council, representing City Council District 20, which includes the Queens neighborhoods of Flushing, Queensboro Hill, Mitchell Gardens, Kissena Park, Harding Heights, Auburndale, and parts of...
. Koo, along with Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Margaret Chin
Margaret Chin
Margaret Chin is a New York City-based American politician. A Democrat, she was elected to the New York City Council on November 3, 2009, to represent District 1 in Lower Manhattan, which includes, amongst other neighborhoods and sites, Chinatown, the Financial District, City Hall, and the site...
, a Council member from Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, comprise the Asian-American delegation of the Council.
Biography
At the age of five, he moved with his family to the United States from TaiwanTaiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. Chang F. Liu, his father, changed Liu's first name from Chun to John in honor of John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
. His brothers became Robert and Edward, while his father became Joseph.
He attended New York City public schools. In 1985, Liu graduated from The Bronx High School of Science
Bronx High School of Science
The Bronx High School of Science is a specialized New York City public high school often considered the premier science magnet school in the United States. Founded in 1938, it is now located in the Bedford Park section of the Bronx...
, a secondary school.
He attended Binghamton University
Binghamton University
Binghamton University, also formally called State University of New York at Binghamton, , is a public research university in the State of New York. The University is one of the four university centers in the State University of New York system...
where he majored in Mathematical Physics and graduated in 1988. He worked as a manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers
PricewaterhouseCoopers
PricewaterhouseCoopers is a global professional services firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest professional services firm measured by revenues and one of the "Big Four" accountancy firms....
before his election to the City Council.
Liu is married to Jenny Liu, an engineer, and has one son, Joey. He resides in Flushing
Flushing, Queens
Flushing, founded in 1645, is a neighborhood in the north central part of the City of New York borough of Queens, east of Manhattan.Flushing was one of the first Dutch settlements on Long Island. Today, it is one of the largest and most diverse neighborhoods in New York City...
, near where he grew up.
Political career
Elected to the New York City Council in 2001 to represent District 20, the northeast Queens area, Liu is the first Taiwanese American and Asian American to be elected to the City Council. He served as the Chairperson of the New York City Council's Transportation Committee and also served on the committees on Education, Consumer Affairs, Health, Land Use, Contracts, Oversight & Investigations and Lower Manhattan Redevelopment.In March 2009, Liu announced that he was running for the post of New York City Comptroller
New York City Comptroller
The Office of Comptroller of New York City is the chief fiscal officer and chief auditing officer of the city. The comptroller is elected, citywide, to a four-year term and can hold office for three consecutive terms. The current comptroller is Democrat John Liu, formerly a member of the New York...
. Liu has raised $3 million for his political run, more than his competitors.
Beginning in May, Liu picked up several endorsements. The Village Independent Democrats, The Queens County Democratic organization, the local Americans for Democratic Action
Americans for Democratic Action
Americans for Democratic Action is an American political organization advocating progressive policies. ADA works for social and economic justice through lobbying, grassroots organizing, research and supporting progressive candidates.-History:...
chapter and the Working Families Party
Working Families Party
The Working Families Party is a minor political party in the United States founded in New York in 1998. There are "sister" parties to the New York WFP in Connecticut, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Oregon, but there is as yet no national WFP...
, 1199 SEIU union local and the Uniformed Firefighters Association endorsed him. On September 1, the United Federation of Teachers
United Federation of Teachers
The United Federation of Teachers is the labor union that represents most educators in New York City public schools. , there were about 118,000 in-service educators and 17,000 paraprofessionals in the union, as well as about 54,000 retired members...
endorsed Liu.
In the September 15 Democratic primary, Liu was the front-runner, ending up with 133,986 votes, or 38 percent of the vote. Because he did not manage to reach 40 of the vote, a run-off election was required between Liu and runner-up David Yassky
David Yassky
David S. Yassky is a former member of the New York City Council. First elected in 2001, he represented the 33rd Council District, which includes parts of downtown Brooklyn, including Brooklyn Heights, Greenpoint, Williamsburg, DUMBO, Boerum Hill and Park Slope.Yassky is a graduate of Princeton...
, who received 30 percent of the vote in the primary. Two weeks later, Liu won the run-off by taking 55.6% of the vote against Yassky.
In the general election on November 3, Liu won the comptroller election with 76% of the vote, a total of 696,330 votes. Republican candidate Joseph Mendola came in second with 19.3% of the vote. After he was officially sworn in to the post, Liu became the first Asian American to hold a city-wide political office in New York City.
Asian Political Leadership Fund
Liu is one of the leaders of the Asian Political Leadership Fund, a federally-designated 527 fund whose purpose is to promote political leadership from within the Asian American community.Foreign fundraising issue
In November 17, 2011 Liu faced charges of wire fraud from illegal donations. Pan was approached by an undercover FBI agent posing as someone who wanted to donate US$16,000 to Liu, which was over the city donation limit was only $4950 for individual contributions. Initially in the first half of 2011 Liu has already received more than $1 million from fund raising contributions to his mayor run for supposedly 2013. Behind the illegal donations is the 46 year old Oliver Pan Xing-wu (潘心武). In 2005 when interviewed, Oliver Pan said he was from ChangleChangle
ChangLe is a county-level city of suburban Fuzhou located in east Fujian province, People's Republic of China. Administered by Fuzhou city. Changle occupies a land area of 648 square kilometers and a sea area of 1327 square kilometers. Changle was established in the sixth year of Emperor Wu-De ...
, Fujian
Fujian
' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
, People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
.
Pan is the president of a company called "Golden Arrow Property" (金箭房地產有限責公司). Oliver Pan's office is in 35 East Broadway
East Broadway (Manhattan)
East Broadway is a two-way east-west street in the Chinatown and Lower East Side neighborhoods of the New York City borough of Manhattan. East Broadway begins at Chatham Square and runs eastward under the Manhattan Bridge, continues past Seward Park and the eastern end of Canal Street, and ends...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
room 506 handles finance, banking, insurance and real estate. He also has an office in Mendham
Mendham
Mendham may refer to:* Mendham, New Jersey , USA* Mendham Township, New Jersey, USA* Mendham, Suffolk, England* Mendham, Saskatchewan, Canada...
New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. US federal authorities have been looking into foreign money illegally donated into his campaign since 2009. Some people in the Chinese community believe Liu is being framed. Pan's funding activities extended beyond Liu, as he was listed as a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton during the 2008 presidential campaign
Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2008
New York junior Senator and former First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton had expressed interest in the 2008 United States presidential election since at least October 2002, drawing media speculation on whether she would become a candidate. No woman has ever won the nomination of a major party in the...
.