About David

David Oh is honest, hard working, smart and compassionate. He brings strong leadership and fresh ideas to addressing the issues that have long plagued our city (see the tab labeled "Issues"). David is focused on increasing our city's revenues so that we will have the funds to provide quality services to our residents and businesses. By developing our city's neglected economic engines, we will create tens of thousands of good jobs that will allow people to take care of their families and their homes. Local businesses will thrive and our city's population will grow. This will produce more tax revenues. That money will allow our city to reduce our tax burden while providing safer neighborhoods, cleaner streets, better jobs, more opportunities, meaningful education, affordable housing and a better quality of life for all of us.

David ran for City Council At-Large in 2003. Despite being a first-time candidate with no name recognition, little money and no big "political machine" behind him, David surprised the experts who predicted that this "issue-oriented" candidate would not get more than 20,000 votes. On election day, David Oh received 99,000 votes. He was just 15,000 votes short of winning the seat. Although David got a late start, he was eventually endorsed by such groups as the Philadelphia Fire Fighters (IAFF local 22), UFCW local 1776, Fraternal Order of Housing Police, The Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity, Al Dia Newspaper, SALEA (Spanish American Law Enforcement Association), Pentecostal Clergy, OutFront, PaGALA, Log Cabin Republicans, and the Vietnamese Voter League of Pennsylvania.

David was born and raised in Philadelphia. He grew up in Southwest Philadelphia and attended public school. He has lived on the same block since 1963. He and his wife, Heesun, are expecting their first child in May.

David's father, the late Rev. Ki Hang Oh, founded Philadelphia's first Korean American church in 1953. He and David's mother, Za Yung Oh, had been high school teachers back in Korea. They raised five children on Rev. Oh's very modest income. Until his death on January 8, 2006, Rev. Oh served as the Pastor of his small church. David admired his father greatly for his strength of character, uncompromising values, intellectual ability and commitment to his calling. Rev. Oh never cared for money or luxury. He worked hard, lived his faith and led a simple but exemplary Christian life.

David graduated from Central High School after spending his freshman year at Christopher Dock Mennonite High School. He received his B.A. in political science from Dickinson College and his J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law-Camden. While in law school, David volunteered as the student coordinator for Community Legal Service's Chinatown Outreach Program here in Philadelphia. After that program was discontinued, he started up a new volunteer, free legal services program for indigent Asian immigrants and Asian Americans. For that and other works in the area of building harmony between people, he was awarded a Human Rights Award by the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations. By the time he was presented with this honor, he had already started as an Assistant D.A. with the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office. David was a hard worker and rose quickly through the ranks at the D.A.'s Office. Within three years, David was handling jury trials as a member of the Habitual Offenders' Unit. It was then that David, who had always wanted to serve his country, decided to resign from the D.A.'s Office to enlist in the U.S. Army (letter of resignation). Although a lawyer at the time, David wanted to serve in the Infantry and entered Basic Training as a private. He then attended Officer Candidate's School at Fort Benning, GA. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant on January 27, 1989. While in the Infantry Officer's Basic Course, he joined the 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne). David was called to active-duty during Operation Desert Storm. The war ended quickly and he was never sent overseas. He was received an Honorable Discharge and returned to Philadelphia. David reopened his law office which he had closed when called to active-duty. His office continued to grow and he moved his office to center city.

As an attorney, David represents both plaintiffs and defendants. He has extensive trial experience, including jury trials. He represents clients in federal and state court. He has a broad range of experience and practices in the areas of civil litigation, wrongful death, workers compensation, general liability defense, discrimination, civil rights, employment, immigration, personal injury, criminal defense, family law, and business. David is a frequent speaker on legal issues. He has been profiled in numerous newspapers and magazines. He has appeared on television and radio concerning law-related topics including major cases that he has handled. He is licensed to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States of America, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

David has always been active in our community. In 1992, David served on Mayor Rendell's Transition Team. He was later appointed to serve on the board of Community College of Philadelphia, Mayor's Commission on Literacy, and the Police Advisory Commission. In 1999, David was responsible for creating and organizing the itinerary for Governor Tom Ridge's trade mission to South Korea, including arranging meetings with the President of South Korea and major corporate leaders. In November 1998, The Player Magazine featured David in its profile of Philadelphia's fourteen Leaders of the Next Millennium. On November 21, 2002, the Philadelphia Daily News included David among the persons interviewed for an article entitled Very Influential Philadelphians...Very Innovative Plans for Growth. After running for office in 2003, David was asked to teach a free martial arts class for children at the Wissinoming PAL. Shortly after that, he was asked to create a similar short course for women. David asked a few of his martial arts friends to volunteer with him and they began to teach women's self-defense in various sections of Philadelphia.

David continues to be active serving our city and our communities in numerous ways. Below is a list of organizations David is or has been involved with:

• First Commercial Bank of Philadelphia, former Board member
• Nazareth Hospital, Board member
• WYBE Public Television, Board member
• Philadelphia Tribune Charities, Board member
• Monte Jade Science and Technology Association, Board member
• The Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians, Board member
• Hahnemann University, former Board member (Phila. Health & Education Corporation)
• Nazareth Academy High School, Board member
• Community College of Philadelphia, former Board member
• 82nd Airborne Division Association: Philadelphia Hajdak/Mokan Chapter, Trustee
• Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, Member
• Educational Nominating Panel, former Panel member
• NAACP Philadelphia Chapter, Silver Life member
• Federal Judicial Nominating Committee for the Eastern District of PA, former Member
• Mayor's Commission on Literacy, former Commission member
• Philadelphia Police Advisory Commission, former Commission member
• Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition, former Board member
• Walnut Street Theater, former Board member
• Crime Prevention Association, former Board member
• Pennsylvania House Advisory Committee on Workers' Compensation Reform, former Member
• Dickinson College, Alumni Council member
• Chinatown Learning Center, Advisory Board member
• AFL-CIO/Philly Unions.com: Pro-Union Preferred Partner

Below are some of the awards David has received:

• Special Recognition Award (2006), 6 ABC Community Advisory Board
• Honor Graduate Award (2005), Phila. Assn. for Physical Education, Recreation and Dance
• Public Service Award (2004), Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 106
• Community Service Award (2004), Pan-Asian Council of Greater Philadelphia
• Humanitarian Award (1995), Phila. Chapter of the National Conference of Christians and Jews
• The Outstanding Young Leader Award (1994), Philadelphia Chapter of the U.S. Jaycees
• Outstanding Service Award (1990), Pan-Asian Council of Greater Philadelphia
• Human Rights Award (1985), Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations

David is a fighter. He is tough-minded and determined. David understands the obstacles he faces and the personal sacrifices he must make in order to make our city a great place to live, work and raise a family. He is ready, willing and able! That's why he is asking you for your vote. David Oh will work hard for all of us!

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