At the age of 23, I was elected to a citywide office on the Campbell City Council. I ran for office with all of the naiveté, optimism and dedication that any first-time candidate would have — except for the distinctive fact that I was also Asian, gay and young.
I received hate mail during the campaign stating, “We want American interests, not Chinese interests. We want businesses in English, not in Chinese.” I was somewhat puzzled by the ignorance in the letter, given that I am a fourth-generation Californian who speaks more Spanish than Chinese.
I grew up on the notion that our society “embraces diversity,” and I was thrown into politics on the promise that there was room for people who looked like me. I knew I had a purpose to be a voice for people who otherwise had no advocate.
My knowledge of government was modest: I was a graduate of political science from San Jose State University and served on a number boards and community-based organizations, including as vice-chair of the Santa Clara County Commission on Senior Care. I was confident in my abilities to reason and to understand complex matters. However, no amount of experience prepared me to be the youngest voice on a five-member council that controls everything from affordable housing to public safety and a budget of over $50 million.
Although I held strong, principled beliefs about the needs of our community, I felt relegated to be the voice for ethnic, cultural and youth issues. I embraced this responsibility and didn’t want my voice silenced on these relevant matters of diversity and cultural competency. Every time I spoke out, I questioned my purpose, my effectiveness and myself.
I attended state and national conferences for officeholders and was often greeted with jokes about my age. Regular comments from “seasoned” elected officials centered on them having “ties, socks and shoes” older than me. I would also hear, “What high school do you go to?” or “Who are you an intern for?” An elicited terse response was no doubt impending, but I always managed to laugh along and come to the conclusion that Asians just age well.
I am, however, not unaccompanied in my accounts. Other young elected officials around the country share the common objective to be respected and treated as equals. I recently returned from a conference of the Young Elected Officials Network, a group of over 250 like-minded and accomplished public officials. The network seeks to support young elected officials with leadership and personal development training, while also preparing them with the knowledge and skills necessary to turn their modern ideas into outstanding public policy.
Affordable housing is a strong priority for young elected officials, given that many of us cannot afford to purchase a home in the current market; many of our other colleagues purchased their homes when they were priced under $50,000. Young people continue to pay into Social Security, but many must feel alarmed by the fact that it may run out by the year 2041 and we may not receive those benefits.
Young Asian Americans often are encouraged to become doctors, lawyers and engineers, while they are discouraged from entering the public sector. We must, however, understand the importance of civic participation and our social responsibility. While our Asian population exceeds 30 percent in many Bay Area counties, our voter registration remains comparatively low. Asian Americans are nearing critical mass in many areas, but we still have a long way to go in order to achieve political representation and greater civic consciousness. By empowering young people at an early age, we will have a vested and diverse nation that will benefit from a strong foundation.
Evan Low was elected to the Campbell City Council in November 2006. He currently works as a district representative for State Sen. Elaine Alquist.