Fresno, the city of immigrants and diversity, welcomes Hmong City Council member | Opinion
Thursday morning, days after burying his mother, Brandon Vang reflected on his family support in his first public comments as the newest member of the Fresno City Council.
“I was born in Laos during the height of the American secret war. I came to the United States as a refugee boy at the age of 6, not understanding, knowing or learning one word of English,” the new representative for Council District 5 in southeast Fresno said during an emotional, 15-minute talk from the dais.
His father and several uncles were recruited by the CIA to fight communist insurgents in Laos. One of his brothers was killed while the family escaped into Thailand. His family landed in Los Angeles on Jan. 29, 1979, and Vang began a journey that eventually ended up with him becoming the second Hmong ever to sit on the council.
“My parents instilled in me the value of perseverance, hard work and that America is the greatest country in the world,” Vang, who occasionally wiped tears from his face, told a standing-room only crowd. “And if you apply yourself, you will achieve your dream. Today, I am living my American dream.”
It is fitting that Vang, who won a majority of the March 18 special election against three other challengers, related his immigrant roots in Fresno, where almost 1 of every 5 residents were born in another country.
Thursday morning, women from the B.A.P.S. Shri Swaminarayan Mandir of Fresno gave the invocation in Sanskrit and English. Council President Mike Karbassi and Council Vice President Miguel Arias, the sons of parents who immigrated to the U.S., joined Vang in presenting a council proclamation for Lue N. Yang Day, honoring a Laotian immigrant who served as executive director of the New America Center for 25 years.
Fresno’s diversity continues to be reflected by its leaders. That is positive.
Vang steps in for the final two years of former Councilmember Luis Chávez, who left after he was elected to the Fresno County Board of Supervisors.
Vang faced scrutiny when an anonymous campaign mailer sent to hundreds of residents included allegations of statutory rape of a 15-year-old. The mailer included confidential county records related to Vang’s paternity and child support.
Vang, 52, and his wife, May Lee, refuted those charges. Vang went on to haul in more than half of the votes and avoided a runoff against Fresno Unified School District Trustee Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas. Vang, who lost a previous council race to Chávez, had served on the Sanger Unified School District board since 2016.
The hard work starts
Vang, who told The Fresno Bee Editorial Board that he should be judged on his work with Sanger schools, is a stay-at-home father who will now help the city solve a potential $37 million budget deficit and represent an area that is welcoming the Fancher Creek development and other commercial projects.
“For the last nine years I was able to bring a junior high, high school, and in the next few years, an elementary school into the area I represent,” said Vang. “That is how you work with the school board. I would do the same thing if I am lucky enough to be representing you at City Hall.”
Vang, referring to the city’s budget deficit, expressed confidence the challenge would be overcome.
“Eighteen years ago was the last time this country and this city faced this (economic) magnitude,” said Vang. “I have faith and trust in my colleagues on the dais and the people at City Hall to take us out of this economic challenge.”
Vang campaigned for strengthening public safety, addressing homelessness and investing in infrastructure.
Blong Xiong, who was the first Hmong elected to the council (2007-15), called Vang a hard worker and active community volunteer.
He sees the excitement from the Hmong community in 2007 repeating today. “To see the passion and to see our community back on the (council) and representing not just the Hmong community or Southeast Asian community but really all residents is important.”
We believe Vang will live up to the values his parents instilled in him to help lead the state’s fifth-largest city.