Another first for Hmong women as well as other Asians

[theking]

Asian American candidates make history

Ceilings were smashed and boundaries were broken this election season in California as voters put a diverse group of candidates, ranging in age groups and ethnicities, into office. "The fact that these barriers are being broken, is a reflection our society is becoming more fair," observed David Chiu, chair of the Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus, and District 17 assemblyman.

Mai Vang, 35, is slated to become the first Hmong and Asian American woman to sit on Sacramento City Council this December. She ran a tight and competitive race against a fellow community activist, Les Simmons, senior pastor at South Sacramento Christian Center also known for championing social equity. Ultimately Vang emerged with 52% of the vote.


Alex Lee became the first openly bisexual and the youngest Asian American to become state legislator. The 25-year-old progressive Democrat won the District 25 race in a landslide, taking over 70% of the vote against Republican challenger Bob Brunton.



When Bobbie Singh-Allen submitted her bid for Elk Grove mayor, she never anticipated she'd be making history again. She already broke boundaries by becoming the first Asian American elected to the Elk Grove School Board. This December, she becomes the first Sikh American woman ever directly elected mayor in the country. Singh-Allen announced her candidacy in late July, as part of a group of elected women alleging then-mayor Steve Ly had politically intimidated them for years. Ly, the first elected Hmong mayor in the nation, denied any wrongdoing. The Elk Grove City council eventually opened a grand jury investigation into the accusations, and ultimately endorsed Singh-Allen in the race.

[Dok_Champa]