The first Viet ever elected to political office in the U.S. is jumping back into the fray, running for the local sanitary board.
When Tony Lam won his seat on the Westminster City Council in 1992, he was the first Vietnamese-American to successfully run a campaign to fruition. His success unleashed a huge wave of participation by Viets in politics that resulted in the vast number of candidates and office holders we see today.
After almost a decade not running for anything, Lam is now back, seeking a seat on the Midway City Sanitary Board, as one of four candidates vying for three seats.
In his candidate statement (here), Lam said he would “provide experienced leadership.”
“While serving the City of Westminster as Mayor Pro-Tem, Councilman and Planning Commissioner, I cut costs, improve city services, and rebuilt our water system. I know the importance of maintaining our utilities to protect city assets,” he wrote.
Of his previous elected office, Lam wrote, “I was the first Vietnamese American elected official in the United States, elected with support throughout Westminster. I am recognized as a consensus builder.”
Lam is currently on the Orange County Planning Commission and the Orange County Airport Authority, appointed to both posts by OC Supervisor Janet Nguyen.
Lam first won his election in 1992 and served three terms until he decided not to run again in 2002.
In 1999, Lam was the subject of a lengthy and obscene picketing by none other than Ky Ngo - something that still scares other Vietnamese office holders today. Read the Reg’s Frank Mickadeit’s analysis of Lam’s case here.
During the 2008 elections, OC supervisor candidate Dina Nguyen and her supporters – all allies of Assemblyman Van Tran – also accused Lam of being a communist sympathizer.
The Midway City Sanitary Board, despite its name, serves the city of Westminster, plus the small unincorporated area known as Midway City – making it Lam’s natural stomping ground.
The race for three seats features two incumbents – Westminster Mayor Margie Rice and Westminster Councilman Tyler Diep – and two challengers, Lam and Frank Cobo.
well he was by far and away the best ever viet elected official to date. it’s too bad that every single viet elected official that came after tony lam has been a total disgrace. especially janet nguyen who he is in business with. funny how that came to be. i remember the reason for the protest that eventually closed down his restaurant was because he didnt speak out against the video store owner so the ignorants of the community labeled him a communist. i mean how stupid can people be to not understand that you have a right to put up any picture or poster on your wall? after all this is america. what happened back then to him was a disgrace and brought such shame to the viet community even though so many fail to see that. well i wish tony lam the best a lot has happened since he was elected and i hope his ties to that filthy swine janet nguyen dont hurt him in this election. but somehow i’ll just bet idiots in the community will again label him a communist.
Jose s. The Viet hater,
Tony Lam is a disgrace to the Viet community. He is by far, the worse elected Viet official. The man is sly, has no principle, and likes to kow tow to people like Jose s.
Tony Lam can’t get elected to anything. He is nearly 80 and needs to take
care of his grandchildren not sit on any boards.
When was the last time anybody see Tony Lam fighting for democracy and human rights in Vietnam? He’s MIA. Profiles of cowardice is Tony Lam.
How is this Tony Lam guy a “consensus builder”? Oh really? What did he really build during the ten years that he was on the Westminster city council? Why is this guy not disappear for good?
Tony Lam is commie! I dont know why, but he is! So is Macy’s dept store. Have you seen Macy’s gift card? Its a red gift card with a star in the middle. Yeah the star is white, but anybody can just fill it in with a yellow marker and make it the commie flag!!!!! Dao dao cong san!!!!! Carl’s jr is commie too. Their star looks like the commie flag. DA Daooo!!!!
Sorry to disappoint you Jose, but everyone know what kind of man Tony Lam is except you. Just ask anyone who have worked in his restaurant then you’ll know. The real reason why he has to move out of his old location is because he got in an argument with Thanh Son Tofu’s owner and when she bought the land and the building she then kicked him out. And if you want to know why they got into an argument is because he yelled at her for giving out water to the protesters.
Viet Voters of Westminster,
here’s your chance to TAKE OUT THE TRASH! Don’t vote for Tyler Diep Mien Truong! he’s a loyal Van Tran henchmen and a cocky kid whose learned to abused
his power And intimidated the city’s police department to protect Quan Nhau like Cytrist, prostitution and illegal businesses in you city!!!
THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU GIVE HIM YOUR SUPPORT
lottapoop = Anti Viet jealous pimp working for whore Loretta
Loretta = Trash can
Tyler Diep will win and again, lottapoop will end up in the toilet
American Armforces are communists ! you can see a big communist star painted on the wings of their aircrafts. Then after a few decades of hiding, last week they showed their true color by hoisting the VNMese communist flag on the McCain Naval Ship !
Tony Lam is corrupted! and you see the same in Tyler Diep Mien Truong, Dina Nguyen, Andy Quack, Van Tran and Tri Ta is beginning to show his true color!
You want to know more about Tyler diep mien truong and his dirty dealings? you ask me!!! I know him too well. I used to volunteer for that whole group, for Andy, Trung, Lan, Dina and even helped Truong (Tyler). But I decided to distant myself and get as far away from this whole group as I can. They are a bunch of crooks and con artist. They know nothing about being a public servant. when they need to raise funds, they put together a SHAKE DOWN LIST and they tackle these businesses one by one. they don’t care how much or how many times you’ve donated, if they could still get some from you, they will call on you. Especially when you have something that’s about to go before the council, they will hit you harder!!! that’s how corrupted they are. Good luck to the WEstminster constituents if you still want to re elect corrupted crooks like Tyler diep mien truong to office. He’s worst then Tony Lam.
TA DUC TRI is spineless and has NO LEADERSHIP quality. He’s just another Trannies and a follower.
They will gang up to take you out or make it difficult for your business if you support their opponents. I KNOW. they did that to my friend’s MOm’s restaurant in Little Saigon. One by one they visit and hassle her and ask why she’s supporting Janet and NOT DUMB DINA Nguyen when she was running for suppervisorial.