Hao’s Story
My background helps me understand what people go through.
My Mom fled war in Vietnam with my brothers and me. We spent two years in a refugee camp in the Philippines before winning the lottery that brought us to Saint Cloud, Minnesota. Life here was a lifeline, but it wasn’t easy. My mom worked at a chicken processing plant, we lived in a trailer park, and we depended on public and nonprofit assistance. I was one of the few Asian kids in school and heard racial slurs more than once. I got into trouble, was often truant, and graduated high school near the bottom of my class. It was my English-as-a-Second-Language teacher and others who believed in me and helped me build the skills and confidence to succeed. Because of them, St. Cloud State gave me a chance.
My life has also given me personal reasons to fight for dignity and fair treatment. I have a transgender child, and I stood with Governor Walz, Attorney General Ellison, and legislators protecting the rights of trans people when those rights were attacked. I also have a close family member with severe mental illness, and I’ve advocated for them within the mental health and criminal justice systems. Those experiences deepen my empathy and understanding of how systems can help — or harm — vulnerable people and their families.
My gratitude drives me to serve.
Gratitude for what others have done for me is why I chose public service. I worked my way through college by working night shifts as a correctional officer at the Stearns County jail. After college I became a police officer, went to law school, and eventually became a prosecutor. Those years taught me to see the humanity in everyone — victims, defendants, people behind bars — and impressed on me that seeking justice is more than retribution. It requires empathy, fairness, and judgment about when to prosecute, when to dismiss, and when to pursue alternatives.
My experience will guide what I do.
Professionally, I bring more than two decades in criminal justice: five years as a deputy, correctional officer, and police officer, and over 16 years as a prosecutor. For the last seven years I’ve led the Adult Criminal Trials and Appellate Division at the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office, supervising prosecutors, managing budgets, hiring attorneys, and advising on case strategy. This experience gives me credibility with law enforcement and the depth of knowledge to understand what needs to change and how to make those changes. I’ve helped shift policies by working collaboratively with police chiefs, defense attorneys, judges, labor, and community.
My work extends beyond my day job. I’ve served as board chair of Asian Women United of Minnesota, helping provide safe refuge for women and children. I’m on the board of the Minnesota Crisis Intervention Team, supporting training for first responders and others to safely and compassionately handle mental health crises. In 2024 I was honored with the Carnegie Medal for Heroism for intervening to stop someone from jumping to their death — an experience that reflects how I try to show up in the hardest moments.
If elected County Attorney, I will bring empathy, humility, and the practical experience needed to serve victims and ensure fairness for those charged. I will continue to hold all public officials accountable to the rule of law; no one should be above it. My campaign is rooted in the same drive that carried my family from a refugee camp to a chance at a better life: gratitude for those who helped me and a determination to create opportunities and safety for others.