1st Cambodian American Mayor in U.S. Takes Office

By Jennie L. Ilustre

 

Asian American leaders have lauded the historic achievement of Sokhary Chau, the nation’s first Cambodian American mayor.

Chau, 49, who came to America as a young refugee, has also made history on two other fronts. He is the first mayor of color of Lowell, Massachusetts. He is also Lowell’s first-ever mayor unanimously elected by the City Council.

“SEARAC is thrilled to learn that Sokhary Chau has taken office as the first-ever Cambodian American to serve as mayor in the United States,” Quyên Đinh, Executive Director of the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center, said in an email.

He noted: “Southeast Asian American refugees are more than our experiences with war and genocide. We are a vibrant, resilient community whose stories are woven into the fabric of this country. Elevating more Southeast Asian Americans into positions of leadership will ensure that we have a seat at the table where decisions are being made about our future.”

 

 Empowerment, Representation

“Sokhary Chau’s historic mayoral election in Lowell, Massachusetts by the city council is an important step toward greater Asian American empowerment, representation and leadership in our nation’s cities,” Madalene Xuan-Trang Mielke, president & CEO of the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS), said in an email.

“Lowell’s population is nearly 25% Asian, and it is the home of the second largest Cambodian community in the country,” she added. “Importantly, the city council’s unanimous election–first in the history of Lowell–of Mayor Chau, demonstrates that he is a leader within the Asian American community and in the greater Lowell community.”

APAICS is a national nonpartisan, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. It is “dedicated to promoting Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) participation and representation at all levels.” Its programs focus on leadership development and “building the political pipeline for AAPIs to pursue public office at the local, state, and federal levels, as well as other careers in public policy.”

 

Chau’s Priorities

Chau’s sense of optimism and excitement, after taking his oath of office on January 3, was noted by The Lowell Sun. The story by Jacob Vitali quoted Mayor Chau as saying to Cambodians around the world, “we can no longer be just victims. It is our time to now be leaders and to succeed.”

Mayor Chau’s priorities include alleviating the pandemic’s impacts by helping small businesses and improving health information access, and providing affordable housing, according to GBH News. In a “zoom” interview, he told Sarah Betancourt he wants to promote more diversity in the city government and increased access to city services among immigrants.

The 11-member City Council unanimously picked Chau for mayor. Chau will serve a two-year term. His closest competitor in the mayoral race, the Lowell newspaper reported, was Councilor Vesna Nuon, also a Cambodian refugee. Nuon withdrew his bid last December, in an effort to unify the Council.

Chau’s incredible story reflected the journey of many immigrants in achieving the American dream. The Lowell Sun reported that as a child, Chau fled the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia in 1979 with his mother, together with his six siblings. They dodged minefields and bullets before reaching a refugee camp. Chau’s mother passed away in November, nearly two weeks after casting a vote for him.

Chau served on the Lowell City Council starting in 2019. He is known for his constituent services and outreach within the city neighborhoods.

 

About Mayor Chau

Sokhary Chau was raised in the Acre and lived in the Lower Highlands, Massachusetts for over 30 years. The Lowell newspaper reported that in his youth, he won a scholarship to the prestigious Phillips Academy in Andover. He won another scholarship and majored in economics and political science at Macalester College.

Chau was elected as City Councilor-at-Large in 2019. He was re-elected last November in his neighborhood, The Lower Highlands, (District 6). He won as mayor by an 11-0 vote of the City Council.

As a “hands-on” working Councilor, Sokhary was known for his constituent services and outreach within the City neighborhoods.  He served as Chair of the Public Safety Subcommittee. He was a member of the following subcommittees: Economic/Downtown Development, Education Partnership, Nonprofit Organizations, and Zoning. As a former small business owner, he has a deep commitment to the struggles of the city’s small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Among Chau’s major motions during his first term include: City subsidy of small businesses during COVID- Environmental cleanup of waterways; Protection from violence in the neighborhoods; Social justice in all city services; Diversifying the City workforce to reflect the City demographics; Transparency in city meetings and contracts; Tax relief for senior residents; and Neighborhood stability and resident input.

Working hard for tax relief and keeping seniors in their homes, Chau’s presence was well-known throughout the city. During his campaign, he pledged to continue working hard to encourage planned and controlled economic development to provide tax relief to homeowners, and also generate money into the city.

Chau and his wife Samong Rattanayong, along with their two sons, Philip and Matthew, live on B Street in the Highlands neighborhood.