More immigrants pursue public office in D.C. area

Northern Virginia’s Nov. 8 ballot has names of candidates who are natives of lands as far-flung as South Korea, India, Ecuador and Lebanon.

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Part-time Falls Church Mayor Nader Baroukh speaks with a constituent at a weekend market. Baroukh, 39, is a Jewish exile from Iran.

Dayna Smith / for The Washington Post

Nader Baroukh samples an apple from vendor Emily Zaas. At left is market manager Howard Herman. “Our parents focused on education and economics," Baroukh said. "My generation is just starting to break out into public life."

Dayna Smith / for The Washington Post

Nader Baroukh tells people "Nader, as in Ralph," to help them pronounce his Persian name.

Dayna Smith / for The Washington Post

Nader Baroukh makes a goofy face for Oliver Davenport, 2, of Falls Church. Some immigrant politicians have had to learn staples of American campaigning, which can include kissing babies.

Dayna Smith / for The Washington Post

Nader Baroukh said his foreign background rarely comes up in public. Once, exasperated at a city council meeting, he said: "This is not the democratic way. This is how they would have done it back in Iran."

Dayna Smith / for The Washington Post

From left, Lolita Mancheno Smoak, Sheree Brown-Kaplan and Steve Stuban listen to Ilryong Moon at a forum for Fairfax School Board candidates in Chantilly earlier this month.

Matt McClain / for The Washington Post

“As you can probably tell from my heavy accent, I am from Korea,” said Ilryong Moon (At Large), running for his third term on the Fairfax School Board.

Matt McClain / for The Washington Post

Lolita Mancheno-Smoak, who immigrated from Ecuador when she was young, is also running for a seat on the Fairfax School Board.

Matt McClain / for The Washington Post

During the Fairfax School Board campaign this year,, several people “asked me to my face if I was legal," Lolita Mancheno-Smoak said. "I thought it was hysterical.”

Matt McClain / for The Washington Post

Lolita Mancheno Smoak and Ilryong Moon chat after the public forum for Fairfax School Board candidates.

Matt McClain / for The Washington Post

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In this image released by the Miss Universe Organization, Miss Washington USA 2012, Christina Clarke; Miss West Virginia USA 2012, Andrea Rogers; and Miss Wisconsin USA 2012, Emily Guerin compete in their swimwear by Kooey Australia and fashion footwear by Chinese Laundry during the 2012 Miss USA Presentation Show on May 30, 2012 at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino Theatre for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 2012 MISS USA Pageant will air LIVE on NBC June 3 at 9:00 p.m. ET from the Theatre for Performing Arts in Las Vegas. = RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT 'AFP PHOTO / Miss Universe Organization / DARREN DECKER' - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS =DARREN DECKER/AFP/GettyImages

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NEW YORK, NY - MAY 30: Jon Stewart attends the Sesame Street Workshop 10th Annual Benefit Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 30, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)

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The SpaceX Dragon commercial cargo craft is seen in a camera on the end of the International Space Station's Canadarm2 robotic arm as it moves away from the station in preparation for its return to earth in this image from NASA TV May 31, 2012. REUTERS/NASA TV (SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY) FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

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Police investigate the scene where a man who was believed to have shot and killed several people earlier in the day shot himself Wednesday, May 30, 2012, in the West Seattle neighborhood of Seattle. A gunman opened fire at a Seattle cafe earlier Wednesday, killing three people and critically wounding two others and later a man believed to be the same suspect shot and killed a woman and took her car near downtown, abandoning it less than two miles from where the alleged shooter shot himself as officers closed in on him, authorities said. His condition wasn't immediately known. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

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LANDOVER, MD May 30, 2012 U.S. Men's National Team midfielder Fabian Johnson (23) hits a crossing pass to forward Herculez Gomez (9) for their 1st half goal against Brazil Men's National Team goalie Rafael (12) on May 30, 2012 in Landover, MD (Photo by Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post)

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Camels rest at a watering hole outside the town of Aleg May 25, 2012. REUTERS/Joe Penney (MAURITANIA - Tags: ANIMALS SOCIETY)

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HANDOUT PHOTO: Camera men film as the Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft carrying the International Space Station (ISS) crew, U.S. astronaut Joseph Acaba and Russian cosmonauts Gennady Padalka and Sergei Revin, blasts off from it's launch pad at Baikonur cosmodrome, May 15, 2012. (Courtesy of Shamil Zhumatov/ADAY.org)

A snapshot of life

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