News Release: April 9, 2012
Minneapolis, MN —Blong Yang announced today he will be a candidate for Hennepin County Commissioner-District 2. Yang is seeking the District 2 seat, which recently opened up when Hennepin County Commissioner Mark Stenglein resigned.
“Having lived in Minneapolis for over a decade, I have seen career politicians playing musical chairs with political offices. I believe I have the background and experience to provide a fresh voice and perspective for District 2.”
Yang will push for an effective, efficient, and engaged county government that is focused on long term positive impact on Hennepin County. Yang stated: “In tough economic times, smart government allows us to continue to provide essential services, while planning for the future.”
Yang currently serves as an Investigator with the Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights (MDCR), where he was part of a unit that eliminated the chronic backlog that has plagued the MDCR for decades. Prior to joining the MDCR, Yang owned a small solo practice in Minneapolis for eight years focusing on family law and other civil matters. While in solo practice, he also served on the Commitment Defense Panel of the Hennepin County Bar Association where he represented people from being civilly committed for mental illness and/or chemical dependency. Before opening up his private practice Yang worked for the Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis as a staff attorney and Equal Justice Works Fellow.
Yang is married to local writer Mai Neng Moua, who was hailed as the “midwife of the Hmong literary arts movement” by the New York Times. The couple has two girls, Samantha age 2 and Erica age 4. Yang has been a proud home owner in the Jordan neighborhood for over ten years. He holds a BA from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and a JD from the University of Minnesota Law School.
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