Al Hoang

Al Hoang (born 1962) is a former member of the Houston City Council. Prior to his election to that office, Hoang worked as a criminal defense lawyer.[1] He had previously served as a president of the Vietnamese Community of Houston and Vicinities (VNCH).[2] He was the first Vietnamese American member of the city council.[3]

Biography

Hoang was born in Phan Rang, South Vietnam on May 9, 1962. He was one of ten brothers and sisters, and his parents had originated from Nghệ An, North Vietnam but moved to South Vietnam in 1954.[4] He came to the United States after the 1975 Fall of Saigon.[5]

His family initially settled in Reading, Pennsylvania through Catholic church sponsorship. He lived in Carthage, Missouri before ultimately moving to Houston. He attended the University of Houston beginning in 1983 and studied Philosophy,[6] graduating in 1989. In 1996 he received a Jurist Doctor degree from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University and began his law practices one year later.[7] He became the president of Vietnamese Community of Houston & Vicinities in 2007.[6]

Career

Hoang won the District F position after a November 3, 2009 election and a runoff election against Mike Laster on December 12 of the same year. His scheduled swearing in date was January 4, 2010.[1]

In 2011, he had an election against Hoc Thai Nguyen.[3]

In 2013, Richard Nguyen defeated Hoang in the election for the District F seat. Mike Tolson of the Houston Chronicle stated that animosity towards Hoang had built up among Vietnamese partly because he had made a trip to Vietnam, now under Communist rule, in 2010; older Vietnamese who fled after the Fall of Saigon still had negative feelings towards the Communists.[8] Tolson also stated that perceptions that Hoang acted in a condescending manner towards the Vietnamese community and unproven accusations had also damaged his standing.[8] The Houston Chronicle editorial department had recommended Hoang's reelection for the 2013 City Council election.[9]

Personal life

He is married to Hang Nguyen since 2009. He presides in Pearland.[1]

References
  1. Snyder, Mike. "Records raise questions about councilman-elect." Houston Chronicle. December 23, 2009. Retrieved on August 7, 2014. "When he filed for office Aug. 18, Hoang listed his address as 4403 Bugle, in District F, and signed a notarized statement saying he had lived in the district for 13 months."
  2. Falkenberg, Lisa. "Falkenberg: A lawsuit in name of what?" Houston Chronicle. July 27, 2010. Retrieved on August 7, 2014.
  3. Moran, Chris. "District F councilman facing both political, legal fights." Houston Chronicle. Sunday, October 9, 2011. Retrieved on August 7, 2014.
  4. "Al Hoang" (Archive). Interview by Quynh Le (Houston Asian American Archives at Rice University Woodson Research Center). Published by Rice University Chao Center for Asian Studies Houston Asian American Archive. p. 2/19. Retrieved on August 7, 2014.
  5. "Houston City Councilman Threatened Over Opposition to S. Vietnam Communists" (Archive). News 92 FM. November 28, 2012. Retrieved on August 7, 2014.
  6. "Al Hoang" (Archive). Interview by Quynh Le (Houston Asian American Archives at Rice University Woodson Research Center). Published by Rice University Chao Center for Asian Studies Houston Asian American Archive. p. 1/19. Retrieved on August 7, 2014.
  7. "Al Hoang" (Archive). Interview by Quynh Le (Houston Asian American Archives at Rice University Woodson Research Center). Published by Rice University Chao Center for Asian Studies Houston Asian American Archive. p. 6/19. Retrieved on August 7, 2014.
  8. Tolson, Mike. "Council contender scores improbable upset." Houston Chronicle. November 10, 2013. Retrieved on August 7, 2014.
  9. "Return Al Hoang to Houston City Council" (Opinion). Houston Chronicle. October 10, 2013. Retrieved on August 7, 2014.

Further reading
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