Georgia gets its first-ever Asian American mayor
[Source]
John Park, a longtime councilmember in Brookhaven, Georgia, made history on Tuesday by becoming the state's first-ever Asian American mayor.
Victory: Park defeated Lauren Kiefer for mayor in Brookhaven, securing 59% of the vote – a total of 3,564 votes – on Tuesday night, as per unofficial results. He will succeed Mayor John Ernst.
During his campaign, Park highlighted his work as a councilmember, including helping keep taxes low and improving the city's parks and green spaces. "Our victory is proof that hard work and unwavering commitment to the people will always win in Brookhaven," he said in a statement.
"We're going to do great things together... I'll be a mayor for ALL of Brookhaven, especially those that didn't vote for me. Thank you to every single one of you that called your friends and volunteered. It's you that won, not me. It's Brookhaven that won tonight." pic.twitter.com/JjZbABVIUd
Trending on NextShark: Teenage law clerk becomes youngest person to ever pass California bar exam
— Park for Mayor (@electpark) December 6, 2023
Why this matters: Park’s victory makes him the first Asian American to serve as a mayor in a city in Georgia. His family reportedly moved from South Korea to Decatur, Georgia, when he was a child.
Trending on NextShark: Japanese man who spent $16,000 to become a dog 'fails' agility test
Park worked as a technical consultant for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, helping track communicable diseases. He first ran for a council seat in 2014.
What he’s saying: Park previously promised Brookhaven that he will "see our vision through." A video posted on X shows him thanking those who helped and supported him in the election.
“We're going to do great things together... I'll be a mayor for ALL of Brookhaven, especially those that didn't vote for me,” he wrote in the post. “It's you that won, not me. It's Brookhaven that won tonight."
Trending on NextShark: Manila crowned world's top city destination for 2023
What they're saying: Rep. Michelle Au (D, GA-50) and former Rep. Bee Nguyen congratulated Park on X, highlighting his milestone as the first Asian American mayor in the state.
Brookhaven just elected Georgia's first Asian American mayor! Congrats John @electpark! 🍑
— Bee Nguyen 🐝 (@BeeForGeorgia) December 6, 2023
Trending on NextShark: AI helps family reunite with son abducted 25 years ago
Congratulations to John Park, Georgia’s first Asian American mayor!
(@electpark) https://t.co/XoUEpfhEc9
Trending on NextShark: ‘The Tiger’s Apprentice’ trailer: Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, Sandra Oh, Lucy Liu star in animated fantasy flick
— Dr. Michelle Au (@AuforGA) December 6, 2023
Download the NextShark App:
Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!