Sam Meas and his daughters, Monique and Sydney. (Courtesy of Sam Meas)
Sampan (New England, USA)
Born under the Khmer Rouge regime as an orphan, Sam Meas does not know which year he was born, since the all the birth records were destroyed by the regime. But he knows he should be somewhere between 37 and 40 years old. He grew up in a refugee camp in Thailand was later adopted by an American when he was a teenager. Despite his tough childhood, Meas, a Haverhill resident, has big dreams. For one, he is running as a Congress candidate in the Republican primary in November, representing the Fifth District. Meas opens up to the Sampan at his past, present and future.
Sampan: First, tell us about yourself.
Meas: I decided several years ago to settle in MA and to raise my family in the 5th District. I first came to the United States as an orphan immigrant via a refugee camp inside Thailand called Kao-I-Dang by way of Catholics Charities of Richmond, Virginia in 1986. I was adopted by a single parent who provided me with unconditional love and affection.
I graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance in 1996. Upon graduation, I moved to New England, and I’ve been settled here ever since. I was a Principal with State Street Global Advisors prior to my resignation in April to campaign full time.
I am married to Leah, my beautiful wife, for over eight years. Together, we have two beautiful daughters, Monique and Sydney Suan-Meas. By chance, Monique and Sydney have the same birthday, March 24. They are exactly two years apart.
Spending time with my wife and two daughters are now my primary interests. I like to hike, hunt, fish, golf and visit science museums. As the girls get older, we would like to take them on cross country trips to see America the beautiful! America is such a great country and there is so much to see!
We believe that America is not just like any other country. America is an exceptional country and we are proud to be Americans. We believe in the exceptional spirit of the American people. We have great respect and profound admiration for the “American Dream”. We will protect and defend the United States Constitution so that we can pass on the blessing of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Sampan: When did you come to the United States? Describe your immigrant experience.
Meas: I was born in Cambodia between 1970-1972. I don’t know my own birthday. I lived in a refugee camp inside Thailand for three years. I came to the United States as an orphan immigrant by way of Catholics Charities of Richmond, Virginia in 1986. I was adopted by a single parent who provided me with unconditional love and affection.
Like most immigrants, I initially had difficulty adjusting to life in the United States. I experienced cultural and language barriers just like many other immigrants. The culture shock was overwhelming at first. I survived the genocidal communist regime of Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge, lived in a refugee camp, and received hardly any formal education. And within a span of about 24 hours, I left hell to come to heaven. Simple things such as my st time using the toilet, taking a shower and sleeping on a bed with sheets and pillows were novelties to me.
But luckily, I came the US when I was young and was able to learn English, by watching a lot of TV – mainly soap operas – and to assimilate to the American culture. I was also very fortunate to be taken in by American families.
I moved to Massachusetts in 1999 after I graduated from Virginia Tech. This is where I met my wife. After four years of long distance dating, my job transferred me to San Francisco and New York. We got engaged and married in June 2002. Massachusetts is my home and where I am proud to work and raise my family I hope that my children, after they graduate from college, will also get married, settle down and raise their family in Massachusetts.
Sampan: How have you been involved with the Asian-American communities in Massachusetts?
Meas: From 2001 until I took a leave of absence in 2008, I was a member of the Board of Directors for a nonprofit agency called North Suffolk Mental Health Association. A significant number of the agency’s clients are South East Asians. The agency provides an array of services, including but not limited to, early childhood, independent living, and psychological/psychiatric care.
Prior to my decision to run for US Congress, I had very little active political involvement. But I have voted in almost every local, state and federal election. However, for quite sometime now, I have been observing politics from afar.
In the special election in January 2009, my Cambodian team and I organized a voting drive for the Scott Brown Senatorial Campaign. We helped get approximately 800 votes for Scott.
Now that my daughters are older, I am certain that my wife and I will be members of many social clubs. We are very involved with our daughters and our professional lives.
Sampan: What is your professional background? How do you see it play a role in the world of politics and policy-making?
Meas: I learned how to develop a teamwork type of environment to get things done within the financial world:
a. I learned to develop a common sense approach to situations, which is sorely lacking right now in Congress. If we apply the common sense approach, I believe that we can solve most of the complex issues that both our nation and the world are facing. Politics in Washington is too polarized. We must come together, to work together for the good of this country and for our future. I came from nothing to work for something – I have achieved my very own American Dream. I was poor, destitute and starved, so I will not be afraid to stand up and fight for the principles and values on which this great nation of ours was founded upon. I will fight for those who are less fortunate. We need more people like myself in Washington fighting for lower taxes and less bureaucracy. There is too much government waste.
b. My experience as a Principal with State Street Global Advisors gave me the ability to collaborate and motivate others to focus on the task at hands as well as the short term and long term goals.
Sampan: This is your first time running for office. Why did you set Captiol Hill as your first political destination?
Meas: I’m fed up with the way Washington has become out of control. Something has to be done now and this is where I can make a real difference for our community, the 5th District and the state of Massachusetts. The policies being developed and pushed are not good for our families, small business and the future of this country. Something has to be done and I couldn’t sit here and watch my family, friends and our community suffer. Since coming to this country, I have always been interested in the political process and I decided to finally give something back. After giving considerable thought to running for office, family and friends urged me that someone of my background and experience would be perfect for representing the 5th District in Washington. Every day of the last year, while out in the District talking to voters, has confirmed to me that this is the right race for me and that my messages of responsible government, less burden on our families and small business community, immigration and fiscal responsibility are the appropriate ones for this time.
Sampan: Why running as a Republican candidate?
Meas: I’ve been supporting the Republican Party since I came to this country and the Republican Party is closest to the ideology I have developed due to my background. I’ve worked hard to mobilize the Asian community for other Republican candidates in MA – like Scott Brown.
Sampan: Where do you stand on Arizona’s anti-immigrant law and the Immigration Reform?
Meas: I fully support what Gov. Brewer is doing in Arizona. Just like here in Massachusetts, the US government is failing to enforce the current laws on the books. We do need to discuss a comprehensive overhaul of the guest worker program. I do not support amnesty to illegal immigrants who are already here in the US. Everyone who wishes to come to the US must come legally just like I did. Everyone must respect the laws of this country. Giving amnesty to the illegal immigrants who are already here is just like giving a free pass to someone who cuts in line. It is inherently unfair to those who are already waiting in line.
Sampan: How do you plan to garner the support from Asian-American voters?
Meas: I hope they will see that I represent their interests. It is time they have someone to stand by their side and show them that they need to get involved in the American political system. They, like the district, need a stronger voice in Washington– traditionally they haven’t had a voice and I hope to be that voice. But it is also important to remember, I am not just representing the Asian-Americans… I’m here to represent the District and the good of the District. The district hasn’t had solid representation since Niki Tsongas came into office. So it is not just the Asian-Americans who deserve a vote, the whole 5th District deserves a vote.
Sampan: What issues do you plan to take on if elected?
Meas: Economy & Out of control spending: Congress is out of control and must adjust to a new course: I plan to be a vocal opponent of increasing Govt. control in the lives of Americans. There is too much spending, waste, and regulation. It has to be stopped as our debt is unsustainable going forward. Hard working families and small businesses cannot survive under the weight of all this. Access to credit is a must for small businesses, middle class tax cuts, cuts in the federal budget as debt spirals recklessly out of control. How can a business want to hire more employees when the Govt, keeps changing the rules and making it more expensive to operate their businesses? It can’t work that way and it has to be stopped!
Healthcare: I plan to fight to defund the healthcare bill that was passed and try to lead a coalition on repealing it. I do believe there are ways we can help those get the care they need. I just don’t feel the Govt. has all the answers.
National Security / Immigration: I feel these both go hand-in-hand. If we cannot secure our borders, how can we ever know who is coming here to destroy our country? We must secure our borders.
Jobs and Economy: One of the most important things, if not the most important thing, I will do while in Congress will be to fight hard to bring new jobs and economic relief back home to our District. The current unemployment levels are unacceptable and it is burdening our communities, families and, ultimately, our futures. Where Tsongas, Pelosi and Washington have failed have been to raise taxes, tighten available credit to small businesses and bring additional jobs to the workforce. While the budget and debt continue to rise under Congress’s out of control spending habits, the jobless rate continues to rise. I find this unacceptable and we must create jobs immediately.
Sampan: Is there anything you would like to add?
Meas: Yes, I was joined by some very honorable candidates running to represent you in Washington. Over the last few months of hard campaigning, I have traveled the district and talked many voters. I’ve learned a lot from listening to them and learning what they need. I know what this district needs and we’re going to take our message of change and sensible government to Washington to shake things up. I have also been told on many occasions that I am the only candidate who can beat Niki Tsongas. I am the only candidate who can bring in new voters from the Asian community, other immigrant communities and Republicans and Democrats together for common goals to represent this district. It is new candidates, like I, that are the future face of the Republican Party. This will allow this voting block to have a voice in American politics. I am the only candidate who has experience living under a tyrannical socialist government, and knows what it is like to have a government that controls every aspect of one’s life. My life experiences have given me the resolution that I will not back down from doing what is needed to be done. I will not bend or give up when the going gets tough. But it is my fresh ideas and leadership that this district needs. We don’t need professional politicians, who are the same old party establishment candidates, running our government. These are the types of policies and candidates that have contributed to the current mess we are in. We need common sense, real solutions and real representation in Washington that we can count on.
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