WASHINGTON–The Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) held a reception at the Capitol’s Visitors Center on January 20, honoring two APA mayors who made history recently.

Last November, Jean Quan became the first Chinese American and the first Asian American to be elected mayor of a major city (Oakland, California). Also in California, San Francisco City Administrator Edwin Lee was unanimously voted by the 11-member Board of Supervisors as interim mayor until January 2012.

Both knew each other “as students and activists,” said Lee, who recalled fighting for equality and labor rights, representing tenants and restaurant workers as part of the Asian Law Caucus.

Oakland Mayor Quan, whose priority issues are education and healthcare, said she was outspent by her opponent $1 million to her $345,00. She noted, “My election was a surprise to a lot of people,” but not to her family.

Her victory is a lesson in taking a risk. “Sometimes, it’s important to take a stand,” she said. Her family “took a second mortgage on our house” in her determination to become mayor.

“We garnered a thousand volunteers,” she added, touting the grassroots nature of her campaign. “I think we helped Kamala Harris to win,” referring to the female and the first Asian American California Attorney General.

It is sweet victory for “a poor kid whose father died when I was young,” and whose mother was “an illiterate immigrant” from China, who came to the U.S. under a policy that allowed entry to the wife of a World War II veteran.

Mayor Quan also talked about being at the White House the previous evening, with interim San Francisco Mayor Lee and other mayors. “It felt like cracking the glass ceiling,” she said. Lee, on his seventh day as mayor that previous night, recalled attending a state dinner with “President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for the visiting Chinese premier.”

Mayor Lee took office last January 11. He said he’s “quite satisfied as city administrator” and does not plan to run for mayor when he steps down next January. He will serve the remaining term of Mayor Gavin Newsom, who was elected California’s lieutenant governor last November.

AP reported San Francisco is now the country’s largest city led by an Asian American, according to UCLA Asian Studies Center director emeritus Don Nakanishi.

In his remarks to some 150 leaders and guests, Lee said he welcomed being mayor for the opportunity of “opening up as many doors as possible,” such as in census count, access to services or promoting living wages. He paid tribute to the sacrifices and struggles “of our parents and families in opening doors for us.”

Role Model

Mayor Lee said he was thrilled to be in the same room with Former U.S. Commerce and subsequently Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta, “who is a role model for me.” APAICS founder Mineta served as San Jose, California mayor and U.S. congressman.

Mineta said public service does not have to be confined to elective office. “You can participate on boards and commissions, and you will find it to be really rewarding, although not financially, but truly rewarding.”

“Through APAICS, we want to train people, encourage them to pursue public service goals, whether though elective office or as members of boards and commissions,” he said. He also commended volunteers in the audience, “whether you are doing it working as staff, or working in nonprofit NGOs,” referring to non-governmental organizations.

Interim APAICS Executive Director Ruby Moy opened the evening’s program. AMGEN Director of Global Government Affairs Howard Moon welcomed the Asian American mayors, who are in town attending an annual conference of the nation’s mayors. He said AMGEN, a biotech company, “is very proud to sponsor tonight’s event.”

Among those present at the reception were veteran California Mayors Gilbert Wong (Cupertino), Mike Gin (Redondo Beach), and Christopher L. Cabaldon (West Sacramento).

In an interview, Mayor Gin said, “There aren’t that many Asian American mayors. We have the most number of mayors in California, and there are two in Hawaii.” APAICS, with its internship and fellowship programs aimed at increasing Asian Americans in elective and appointive office, is trying to change that.