Zhang Zhaohong: Chinese Americans in politics and the three Chinese mayors in Arizona

Zhang Zhaohong: Chinese Americans in politics and the three Chinese mayors in Arizona Author: Zhang Zhaohong The history of Chinese American political participation can be traced back to the end of the 19th century. 189…

>Author: Zhang Zhaohong

The history of Chinese participation in politics in the United States can be traced back to the end of the 19th century. In 1895, a group of Chinese in San Francisco headed by Chen De established the "General Administration of the Same Origin", which was the first national political organization for Chinese in the United States. The current "CACA Chapter of Phoenix City" (referred to as CACA) is still a branch of the "CACA General Administration". However, in that era, it was actually very difficult for Chinese people to participate in American politics. Because the United States does not allow Chinese to become American citizens, they are not citizens and therefore cannot enjoy the rights of citizens to participate. After World War II, the United States repealed the Chinese Exclusion Act, allowing Chinese to become naturalized citizens, creating conditions for participating in politics. Deng Yuening, also known as Rongxun, was born on February 4, 1904, in an overseas Chinese family in Yong'an, Hulong Township, Chikan, Kaiping. When he was 14 years old, he boarded a ship in Guangzhou bound for San Francisco and came to the United States. In 1946, Deng Yuening once again ran for the Arizona House of Representatives as a Democratic candidate, and was successfully elected. He became the first Chinese in the history of the United States who was not born in the United States and was elected as a U.S. state representative. After being elected as a congressman, Deng Yuening contacted lawyers from all walks of life in the United States and actively proposed and urged the revision of immigration laws based on the principles of freedom, equality, and the rule of law. In 1952, she won victory. The U.S. Immigration Service canceled the inhumane immigration procedures that required Chinese people to undergo confinement inspection when entering the country, and allowed Chinese people to apply to bring their spouses to enter the country, so that all new Asian immigrants to the United States in the future would benefit from this. On December 19, 1977, Deng Yuening passed away in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, at the age of 73. In 1978, Huang Jinbo, who had practiced medicine in the United States for many years, was elected as the deputy mayor of Cerritos, California, becoming the first Chinese mayor in the United States. He served as deputy mayor for three consecutive terms and mayor for two terms. In 1983, Ms. Chen Liwanruo was elected mayor of Monterey Park, becoming the first Chinese female mayor in the history of the United States. After that, more and more Chinese participated in politics. From members of Congress and local state assemblies to governors and mayors, Chinese people were everywhere. U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao and Washington State Governor Gary Locke have become representatives of Chinese people participating in politics. According to incomplete statistics, there are about 50 Chinese elected officials in office in the United States so far. According to the administrative divisions of the United States, there are large cities and small cities. Large cities implement a chief executive (i.e. mayor) responsibility system, while small cities implement a rotation system for members of the parliament, that is, the mayor is served by members of the assembly in turns. Each member can serve as mayor for 9 months during a four-year term. Running for mayor or city councilor in small and medium-sized cities with a large number of Chinese people is the main way for Chinese people to participate in politics. In addition, judging from the personal circumstances of the many Chinese mayors currently elected, most of them immigrated to the United States in their youth, have a long life experience in the United States, understand the requirements of voters, care about the lives of ethnic minorities, and dare to speak for the Chinese. To be elected as a city councilor or mayor, he must be a person accepted by the citizens, able to actively participate in various community activities, and have a good understanding of the ecological and political environment of the community; he must also be enthusiastic about public affairs and sincerely serve the community. In addition, you should also have certain leadership and public speaking skills. Data show that the Chinese can enter the political arena mainly relying on the support of the Chinese, but the three Chinese mayors who successfully ran for mayor in Alberta are exceptions.

>Three Chinese-American mayors in Arizona

Among small and medium-sized cities in the United States, three Chinese mayors are from Arizona. The first is Egmund Tang, the mayor of Peoria, Alberta. Deng Daming served in the military, went to college, and did a warehouse business. He began to enter politics in 1955 and was elected as a city councilor in Piola, and was re-elected for 18 years. From 1973 to 1979, Deng Daming successfully became deputy mayor. In 1979, he successfully ran for mayor and was re-elected until 1985. In the year when he began to enter politics, there were almost no Chinese in the local area. The earliest "Chinese Address Book" (1971) found shows that there were only two Chinese families in Piaolia City at that time, one was the Deng Daming family, and the other was Mrs. Deng Jialuan. If you were to run for office in an environment where almost all Westerners and Mexicans were in those days, you would have to work extra hard to succeed. Deng Daming served as a city councilor, deputy mayor and mayor for 30 years, which is a rare record in the history of Chinese politics in the United States. The second one is Willie Wong, the mayor of Mesa, Alberta. He graduated from the state university of the state. He served as the chairman of the Mesa Youth Association, the chairman of the Police Council, and the chairman of the Maricopa County Political Research Association. He served as the deputy mayor of Mesa from 1988 to 1989. In 1993, he ran for mayor and was elected, becoming the Chinese-American mayor with the largest population in the United States. At that time, the Asian population in Mesa only accounted for one percent of the city's total population. It was not easy for him to succeed. After Deng Weili took office, he established a sister city relationship with Kaiping, Guangdong, China. In 1993, he wanted to lead a delegation back to Kaiping to sign a contract, but he was exhausted from working in the municipal government. There was a possibility of being hospitalized at any time, and he had to seek permission from a doctor even to board a plane. Whether it was out of longing for his hometown or the spirit of the Deng family ancestors, Mayor Deng finally returned to Kaiping safely, in high spirits and with a smooth schedule. The mayor of Kaiping personally handed a city key to Mayor Deng Weili and congratulated him on becoming an honorary citizen of Kaiping City. Those who wanted to win this honor back then needed to invest 10 million Hong Kong dollars or make a pure donation of 1 million Hong Kong dollars to obtain certification. There are dozens of well-known overseas Chinese in Hong Kong, Macao and overseas on that list, but none of them is like Deng Weili, a disciple of Kaiping who entered politics in the United States and was honored as mayor. It was he who filled this gap. When Deng Weili returned to Kaiping, the villagers cheered for him and his ancestral graves were rebuilt. Surrounded by the incense, the Deng family's ancestors saw a filial son and grandson far away in the United States, who had cultivated righteousness in the West, and returned across the ocean to Chikan, Kaiping, adding a halo to the remote mountain tomb of his ancestors. The third one is Michael Hing, who became the mayor of Superior City in Alberta in 2009. Deng Dingqi's ancestral home is Chikan, Kaiping. His great-grandfather Deng Yeshuang went to the United States as a Chinese laborer during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty to build railways and reservoirs, and later returned to China to settle down. My grandfather, Deng Chunqing, came to the United States in his youth and ran a grocery store here. Due to his enthusiastic service, he was respected by the local government and everyone. A street was named after him. It is really rare for Chinese to have this honor. Deng Dingqi's father, Deng Xinhua, was born in the United States, received Western education, and was academically successful. In the 1930s, when the U.S. economy was in recession, Deng Xinhua and his four other siblings returned to China to live with their mother. They did not return to the United States until 1938. His father, Deng Xinhua, did not forget his family roots and returned to his hometown twice in 1993 and 1999 to donate money to schools in his hometown. Deng Dingqi is a descendant of the fourth generation of Kaiping people. He was born in the United States and studied agriculture at university. He later turned to business, opened a supermarket, and had a successful career. After entering politics, he ran for office and became the first local mayor of Chinese descent. Influenced by his family, Mayor Deng Dingqi is enthusiastic about serving the community. In 2009, Mayor Deng Dingqi attended the spring banquet of the Fei Deng Gaomi Office and received a medal from Chairman Deng Fengzhan in recognition of his contribution to serving the community. The Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Kaiping City, far away in the motherland, also sent a congratulatory letter for his election as mayor. The three mayors, Deng Daming, Deng Weili and Deng Dingqi, are able to stand out in mainstream American society. They are indeed the light of the local Chinese and will become a model for future Chinese to strive for success.

Today, another Chinese person in Alberta bravely stood up to participate in politics! He is Sam Huang who is running for the position of City Council Members of the Chandler City Government this year. Although this is only a regional election, the results of the election are of great significance to the influence of us Chinese and Asians. We Chinese should give strong support and encouragement to change the political landscape and enhance the status of us Chinese. The election campaign has begun, and we hope more Chinese people will participate!

(Information on three Chinese-American mayors in Arizona has been included in Zhang Zhaohong's new book "Pearl of the Desert")