Choi: "The Budding Politician"

This clip was found from the May 2004 politicsnj.com archives:

One especially ambitious New Jersey politician is JUN CHOI, a young appointee of Governor JAMES E. MCGREEVEY at the state Department of Education who has formed his own PAC to help finance a fledgling political future. Friends of Jun Choi has raised more than $22,000 over the last eighteen months and has funded his attendance at numerous political and charitable events. Last month, Choi filed a campaign committee to seek the Democratic nomination for State Assembly in the 18th district.

Insiders say that Choi, the Executive Director NJ SMART (Standards Measurement and Resource for Teaching), an initiative that is described as a "critical component of the Governor's education agenda," wants to run if five-term incumbent PETER BARNES retires. Barnes turns 76 in September.

In November 2002, Choi filed a continuing Political Action Committee, designating GORDON MACINNES, a former State Senator who is now the Assistant Commissioner of Education, as Chairman. The PAC is described as being created "to assist Jun Choi as a future candidate for public office" and that funds would be solicited inside and outside New Jersey.

With the money, Choi has paid his registration to the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Washington trip, and to attend dinners of the League of Municipalities convention, Edison Chamber of Commerce, Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional studies, Leadership New Jersey, Friends of Grace Seniors, and Committee on the Centennial of Korean Immigration, as well as for professional photography at Sears, postage stamps, office supplies and signs.

Choi's PAC, largely financed by large checks from friends and members of the Korean-American community, has enabled the would-be Assemblyman to attend campaign fundraisers without having to pick up the tab personally. His PAC gave $1,000 to the Middlesex County Democratic Organization, $500 to the Edison Democratic Organization, $200 to the Metuchen Democratic Organization, $1,000 to New Directions -- the political action committee of former Senate President JOHN LYNCH, and to the campaigns of presidential candidate JOHN KERRY, State Senator BARBARA BUONO, Assemblymen PATRICK DIEGNAN and UPENDRA CHIVIKULA, East Brunswick Mayor WILLIAM NEARY, Mercer County Executive BRIAN HUGHES, State Senate candidates ELLEN KARCHER and ANTHONY "SKIP" CIMINO, the 2006 mayoral campaign of CORY BOOKER in Newark, and others.

Last year, Choi took on a leadership role in fighting a referendum in Edison that would have created ward Council seats and increased the size of the governing body. As the head of Responsible Taxpayers Against Wards, Choi helped raise a reported $25,000, and Friends of Jun Choi spent $11,291 on direct mail opposing the referendum. Edison voters rejected the initiative by just 33 votes out of more than 11,000 cast.

Choi told PoliticsNJ.com that he draws a clear line between his work for the state and his potential candidacy for elective office; he says he does not accept donations from contractors or potential contractors who do business with the Department of Education.