A special election is taking place today to decide the fate of embattled San Jose City Councilwoman Madison Nguyen.
District 7 voters have already sent in thousands of absentee ballots in advance of the special recall election, and both sides of the
fight to recall Nguyen will continue precinct walking and phone banking until polls close at 8 p.m.
The push to recall Nguyen began in 2007 when the City Council approved a measure from Nguyen to designate the business district around Story Road as the "Saigon Business District."
A large segment of the city's Vietnamese community immediately began protesting the name, saying the area should be called "Little Saigon''
because that was the most popular choice in a survey done by the city's redevelopment agency and would reflect the wishes of the majority of the
community.
The protests grew to a point where an anti-communist crusader famous in the Vietnamese community embarked on a hunger strike outside San
Jose City Hall over the naming issue.
A compromise was finally reached in March 2008 to allow the "Little Saigon" name with signage in the area paid for by supporters of the
name.
However, supporters have since remained committed to ousting Nguyen, who they say is disconnected from her constituents.
Campaign parties on both sides of the issue will meet separately after polls close.
Nguyen supporters will gather at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday in the San Jose Police Officers Association Hall, 1151 N. Fourth St., campaign spokeswoman
Melanie Jimenez said.
Local
The "Recall Madison" campaign will gather at 8:30 p.m. at 2129 S. 10th St. in San Jose, campaign spokesman Andre Charles said.
Election results can be viewed online at http://www.sccvote.org.
