April 9, 2013

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus Announces New Staff for Greater Engagement with Asian and Pacific Islander Americans

WASHINGTON—RNC Chairman Reince Priebus released the following statement announcing Stephen Fong as RNC National Asian and Pacific Islander Field Director and Jason Chung as RNC National Communications Director for Asian and Pacific Islander Engagement:

“I’m pleased to announce two new additions to our team at the RNC. Stephen Fong will join us as the RNC National Asian and Pacific Islander Field Director and Jason Chung is coming aboard as the RNC National Communications Director for Asian and Pacific Islander Engagement,” said Chairman Priebus.

“Stephen brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience, particularly at the grassroots level, which will be invaluable in building our new and unprecedented community-based field operation to engage with all voters.

“Jason’s extensive background in policy and communications will be an asset as we make the Republican case to Asian Pacific Americans. His experience working in the Maryland Governor’s Office on Asian Pacific American Affairs in particular will help us better address the concerns of this diverse and growing community, and his contacts and experience in Virginia politics will be crucial ahead of the elections this fall.

“It’s no secret that Republicans have ground to make up among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. To earn voters’ trust, we must be present in their communities. Stephen will lead a team of individuals hired by the RNC and rooted in the communities they serve to engage people where they live, work, and worship. Jason will lead the media planning and strategy for the entire Asian and Pacific Islander media, while also overseeing the creation of an RNC Asian Pacific surrogate program.

“Stephen and Jason will work in close collaboration and offer important insights to our Political and Communications teams. All the while, we’ll be listening to voters’ needs and perspectives. And as I announced last month, our demographic engagement operations will be fully integrated with our entire political and communications operations for the first time in RNC history.

“I look forward to working with Stephen and Jason to advance the Republican principles of individual liberty and equal opportunity for all. At the RNC, we’ve made a commitment to being a party for every state, every community, and every neighborhood. This is one of many steps toward keeping that commitment.”

Stephen Fong is a longtime Republican political and grassroots operative, originally from California. He has extensive experience working with minority groups and observing Democratic strategies and tactics in the nation’s most diverse state. From 2001 to 2008, he served as special assistant at the United States Department of Transportation under President George W. Bush working on government affairs, public affairs, and public policy for public transportation and congestion mitigation issues.

Jason Chung has worked on behalf of Republican candidates for fifteen years in Connecticut, Maryland, and Virginia, including former Congressman Tom Davis. Most recently, he worked as a principal for the Livingston Group and Gateway Consulting, providing clients with government relations and public affairs solutions. He has previously served as a Congressional Liaison in the Department of Homeland Security and as the Executive Director of the Maryland Governor’s Office on Asian Pacific American Affairs under Governor Bob Ehrlich.

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