In honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, and in recognition of the life and work of the late Westfield Mayor Allen Chin, InsiderNJ presents its 2017 list of East Asian American political leaders:

Rolando Lavarro, Jr.: Filipino American President of the Jersey City Council.

David F. Bauman: Superior Court Judge from Monmouth County. Of Japanese American descent.

John Stewart, Jr.: Vietnamese American chief of staff to Plainfield Mayor Adrian Mapp (pictured, above, as this story’s featured photo). Son of a career American Army soldier from Alabama and Vietnamese mother.

John Bang: The chief force behind Korean Americans in New Jersey.

Dr. Shing-Fu Hsueh: The native of Taiwan is the veteran Mayor of West Windsor.

Michael Yun: The Korean American Councilman in the Heights Section of Jersey City.

Grace Park: Union County Prosecutor. Korean American.

Jun Choi: The former mayor of Edison. Korean American.

Roy Cho: Korean American attorney and 2014 candidate for Congress in the 5th District.

Dennis Shim: Ridgefield Council. Korean American.

Ellen Park: Englewood Cliffs Councilwoman. Korean American.

Jung Chul: Palisades Park Councilman. Korean American.

Jason Kim: Former Councilman in Palisades Park. Korean American.

Kevin O’Toole: The Irish-Korean American senator represents the 40th District. Son  of an American Irish service member and Korean mother.

Susan Shin Angulo: The Korean American serves as a Camden County Freeholder.

Jonathon Wong: Chinese American Councilman from Mahwah.

Richard Sun: Councilman in Summit. Chinese American.

Buddy Deauna: Bergenfield Councilman. Filipino American.

Linh Tat: Education reporter for Politico NJ.

Sheridan Balmeo: Upendra Chivukula’s former COS. Filipino American. Now with PSEG. 

Irene Kim Asbury: Jersey City-based attorney. Member of the 2011 redistricting commission. Former Republican Assembly candidate. Korean American.

Jannie Chung: Closter Councilwoman and LD-39 Assembly candidate. Korean American.

Peter Suh: Fort Lee Councilman. Korean American.

Dan Park: Tenafly Councilman. Korean American.

Gloria Oh: Attorney and Englewood Cliffs Councilwoman. Korean American.

Ludi Hughes: Filipino American leader. Former McGreevey staffer; current Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco staffer.

Chris Chung: Palisades Park Council President. Korean American.

Michael Hsing: Former Bridgewater Councilman. Independent candidate for Congress in the 7th District in 2008.