Senator Mee Moua Leaves Behind a Legacy of Firsts (Audio Interview)

May 18, 2010
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Marty Owings

Senator Mee Moua (DFL) shocked many in the world of Minnesota politics and the Hmong community by announcing her retirement last weekend. The announcement seemed to come as an especially big surprise because Moua is widely considered to be someone whose political future was still very bright. Moua is also Chair of the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee and a Legislator who was widely respected for her thorough and principled approach to the job.

Senator John Marty is a DFLer who says that, "When she (Moua) told our caucus we were stunned". Marty says the announcement was unexpected and aside from a few close friends and family, Moua had kept the decision private. According to Marty, Moua carried the weight of responsibility for the entire Hmong community, but adds that she also welcomed the challenge. He says that when she had critics, she faced them directly. "She was small and very kind, but could be tough when she needed to be". He summed up Moua's personal side by saying, "The wonderful thing about Mee is that Mee is wonderful things", referring to the fact that Moua had once compared herself to Tigger, a Whinny the Pooh character. Senator Paul Koering, a Republican Senator who served with Moua, but was often on the other side of issues, said she was a thoughtful and respectful person and someone that Minnesotans could appreciate.

Representative Cy Thao who is the only other Hmong Legislator to serve at the Capitol had also announced his retirement earlier in the session. Thao says he and Moua are leaving for similar reasons, "we just want to be with our family's more." Thao says Moua was strong advocate for the people of her district and says she'll be missed.

Moua, had served for nearly a decade in the Legislature and said it was time to make room for others. According to Moua, her reason for stepping down is so she can spend more time with her family. According to those that are closest to her, this seems in perfect harmony with her values.

Moua's improbable story of success is at its heart an American one. She came to America after her family fled Laos in the 1970's, but not before experiencing life as a refugee in Thailand. She grew up in a family that had a strong tradition of fighting for a political identity. Moua has often spoken about how her family was originally driven from China because they refused to capitulate to the Chinese Government. Moua attended school at Brown University, Texas and finally earned a Law degree at the University of Minnesota. After working as a Lobbyist for minority owned businesses, she became inspired to run for office.

In January of 2002, Moua won the election for Senate District 67, representing Saint Paul's Eastside neighborhood marking the first time in US history that a Hmong person had been elected to serve as a Legislator. For Moua, whose family served the United States in Southeast Asia before ever setting foot on American soil, public service is an extension of who she is. Moua says those who ignore politics and service are missing the boat. She says everyone is called to serve in some way.

While Moua was a tireless advocate for the Hmong community, but she also leaves a legacy of advocacy not just for the Hmong, but for all those in her district. Moua sought to improve the lives of those who she says are often marginalized or under-represented. Moua introduced legislation that helped restore civil rights to former felons, strengthen senior citizen rights, improve child protection and was on the forefront of human trafficking prevention.

It should be noted that with every piece of Legislation she authored, co-authored or had a hand in, Moua was making history. As the first Hmong-American woman to hold office, Moua has set the standard. With the departure of both Moua and Thao from the political landscape, the Hmong community and the districts they both serve will have lost two champions, at least for now. Neither Moua nor Thao have ruled out future political service, but both say the time has come to focus on other things, like family.

Here is a full audio interview of Sen Mee Moua as she departs office.
Click Here For The Audio.

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