3 Jinshan female candidates call for voting for those who speak out for the Chinese community

Three Asian American female candidates—Connie Chan, the incumbent city council member for District 1, Sharon Lai, a candidate for District 3, and Xiaoyan Chen, a candidate for District 11—held a press conference on October 10 in front of City Hall to urge Chinese American voters to cast their ballots for candidates who can effectively advocate for the Asian community.

During the event, representatives highlighted that over one-third of San Francisco’s population is of Asian and Pacific Islander descent, with many residents speaking only Chinese, including Cantonese, Taishanese, and Mandarin. They emphasized the importance of electing candidates who are proficient in these languages to ensure that the concerns of Chinese-speaking voters regarding public safety, housing, and economic opportunities are understood and addressed.

Connie Chan, a first-generation immigrant who has served as a translator for her family and community since childhood, stressed the importance of culturally and linguistically representative leadership. During her term, she has collaborated with fellow council member Dean Preston to propose legislation aimed at enhancing language accessibility and fostering a more inclusive and participatory community.

“Having representatives who are culturally and linguistically competent is crucial,” Chan stated. “Through such representation, our community can continue to access city resources fairly. We encourage voters this election season to consider the significance of having language-accessible representatives.”

Sharon Lai, who is campaigning for the District 3 council seat that includes neighborhoods like Chinatown and North Beach, aims to amplify the voices of residents and initiate improvements in public safety, housing, homelessness, mental health, transportation, economic development, and support for small businesses.

“It’s vital to have representatives who can speak the language of constituents, particularly when it comes to issues like housing and public services,” Lai said. “This is key to creating an inclusive and effective government.”

Xiaoyan Chen, a first-generation immigrant and mother who has lived in District 11 for 24 years, has been serving her community for over two decades since high school. She expressed her commitment to ensuring that city officials listen to the needs of residents and strive for fairer resource allocations if elected as city council member.

“I understand the struggles immigrants face in America due to language barriers—I was once in that position myself,” Chen shared. “I am running to make sure our community’s voices are heard and acknowledged.”

“I’ve been serving my community for over 20 years. Advocacy isn’t just a value of mine; it’s also a responsibility I feel I owe after benefiting from societal resources. From helping home care workers negotiate wages to supporting small businesses against malicious lawsuits, if elected, I will continue to advocate for crucial community issues,” she added.

California Assemblymember David Chiu voiced his support for the three candidates, highlighting their capabilities and experiences. He noted Chan’s extensive background in government, Lai’s expertise in business and public service, and Chen’s leadership in advocating for immigrants and working families. With nearly 40% of San Francisco’s population being Asian, yet lacking representation in city leadership roles, Chiu emphasized the importance of voting to ensure that the voices of the Asian community are represented.

Peter Leung, president of the Community Residents Association, echoed the urgency for voters to consider language and representation in their choices. “Now is the ideal time to elect leaders who can effectively communicate and advocate for all residents,” he urged.