The Fresno City Council is back to having every seat filled as Brandon Vang was sworn in on Thursday.
Vang took the oath of office to represent District 5, giving the district’s residents representation after current Fresno County Supervisor Luis Chavez resigned the seat at the beginning of the year to take his new position.
The big picture: Vang took the oath of office that was given by city Clerk Todd Stermer in the council chambers at the beginning of Thursday’s meeting.
- Following the oath, Vang discussed his family history and his path to getting elected to the city council.
Driving the news: The Fresno County elections office certified the election results in the special election for District 5 last week.
- Vang narrowly won a majority of the vote and avoided a runoff election against Fresno Unified Trustee Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas.
What he’s saying: Vang was emotional at times as he gave his opening statements from the dais.
- “I am here today because of the baby steps that I took a long, long time ago,” Vang said.
- He came to the U.S. at six years old as a refugee from Laos, living in Orange County, Long Beach and Sacramento before coming to Fresno.
- “I remember living in these cities nearing the downtown areas and taking advantage of the resources of the downtown area, and the libraries, etcetera,” Vang said. “That’s how I got started with my American dream, is at the libraries. My parents instilled in me the value of perseverance, hard work and that America is the greatest country in the world, and if you apply yourself you will achieve your dream. And today I am living my American dream. Thank you to my parents who are no longer with us.”
Watch: Watch Vang take the oath of office and what he had to say:
