Betty Duong Becomes Santa Clara County’s 1st Vietnamese American Supervisor

Betty Duong officially became Santa Clara County’s first Vietnamese American supervisor on Tuesday after the board took a historic vote appointing her to finish out the term of Cindy Chavez.

Duong won election over Madison Nguyen last month to represent District 2, which includes San José, Alum Rock and the East Foothills. Although Duong wasn’t set to be sworn in until next month, termed-out Supervisor Cindy Chavez vacated the seat after the election.

Amid emotional praise and long cheers in the boardroom, Vice President Otto Lee brought the motion to appoint Duong, who was formerly Chavez’s chief of staff, to ensure continuity of representation for San José residents.

“To all the county individuals, retired and current, who built the system to receive and support immigrants and refugees; to the community leaders and members who worked tirelessly to create a new home for themselves and one another; to our neighbors, committed to creating a welcoming environment and community for all: I hope today makes you proud,” Duong said, becoming emotional after she took her oath of office. “It is an honor of a lifetime.”

Duong’s parents came to Santa Clara County nearly 50 years ago as part of the Vietnamese refugee resettlement program that the U.S. launched in 1975 after the fall of Saigon. She was born at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center and recalled growing up in Section 8 housing with her siblings, benefiting from the county’s programs and services.

“Santa Clara County shaped me, nurtured me and inspired my commitment to public service,” Duong said.

She has worked for the county for more than a decade. In 2016, Duong led a successful $950 million affordable housing bond campaign, and she previously headed the county’s Office of Labor Standards Enforcement.

In her campaign for supervisor, Duong emphasized expanding affordable housing, providing rent assistance and increasing homelessness services. She also supported investments in public safety, including in pre- and post-criminal justice system programs to help combat issues that contribute to crime, like mental health and housing.

She had support from labor groups and numerous politicians, including Chavez. Chavez, who would have termed out after this year, left her post early to become county manager of New Mexico’s Bernalillo County in mid-November.

Traditionally, the board would have waited until after Duong’s win was certified by the Santa Clara County registrar on Dec. 5 to appoint her to the seat, but because of the vacancy on the Board of Supervisors and an overlapping vacancy on the San José City Council, they moved to install her more quickly.

San José City Councilmember Omar Torres, who represented much of downtown, resigned effective Nov. 27 after he was arrested on Election Day and charged with three felony child molestation counts.

“These vacancies are disproportionately affecting residents of downtown San José and surrounding neighborhoods … and including, of course, [the] Eastside, which is one of the most vulnerable areas of our county,” Lee said. “Today, we are taking a number of critical votes that would’ve lacked the vote of a supervisor representing one-fifth of our county, serving more than 3,750 residents.”

The board’s unanimous decision appoints Duong to the seat until the end of Chavez’s term. Next month, she will be sworn in as District 2 supervisor for her full four-year term.

KQED’s Sara Hossaini contributed to this report.