Two days after winning the race for Maplewood mayor, Council Member Chonburi Lee was still fielding many of the hundreds of texts, calls and messages that flooded in from all over the country.
His election as Minnesota’s second Hmong mayor is a milestone, following on the heels of St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her’s historic election a year ago.
Maplewood has grown rapidly in recent decades, drawing many Asian American families. And having Lee as mayor will help reflect that diversity, said Mee Vang, board president of The United Hmong Family.
“It really sets a standard, and it really makes all of us proud,” she said.
Seng Alex Vang, the managing editor of Hmong American Experience, is based in Fresno, California and tracks Hmong elected leaders in the United States. He said there have only been a handful of Hmong American mayors across the country.
Vang said Minnesota has a higher rate of Hmong American elected leaders than anywhere else in the country due to the large Hmong population. The state also draws other immigrant communities due to its longstanding support of refugees.
“Minnesota is very unique in that way, unlike other communities like across the country, who just don’t have the infrastructure to support candidates in that way,” he said.
Lee defeated incumbent Mayor Marylee Abrams, with 58% of the vote to 41% for Abrams.
State Rep. Jay Xiong, DFL-St. Paul, has known Lee for many years and worked as a campaign manager for his mayoral run. He said the campaign consisted of a lot of door-knocking, community events and phone calls to residents.
Xiong said Lee will be able to be a voice for people of color and immigrant communities, who have been significantly impacted by Operation Metro Surge.
“I know that if anyone’s going to stand up to this administration and make sure that at the local level we are supporting all neighbors, it will be Chonburi,” Xiong said.
Lee said his team campaigned hard all year, but going up against an incumbent was a challenge.
“A lot of voters turned out this time around, and I’m incredibly proud of the work,” he said. “I think the community is excited with me.”
Door-knocking made the biggest difference in the campaign, Lee said. He said elected officials should not just be seen during campaign season, they should be in community spaces.
“My campaign manager [Xiong] wants me to make phone calls, and I’m like, nope. I want to be at the door, so I’m out there,” Lee said. “Any opportunity that I get, it’s at the door, talking to people, seeing people face to face. I really think that that was something that helped contribute.”
Lee is grateful that the residents of Maplewood opened their doors, hearts and listened to his vision, as well as the many conversations they had with his team throughout the city. As mayor, Lee thinks it’s important to set a clear vision for the city. His first steps include sitting down with city staff to set an idea of where his vision is going to be important, along with his strategic plan.
“I want to make sure that I have a good, strong relationship with my council members going forward, so we can have a good, strong team as we make decisions for the city of Maplewood,” he said.
Community members react
East metro residents expressed excitement about Maplewood electing its first Hmong mayor, and said diversity and representation matters in city leadership.
Alena Chang, 19, lives in St. Paul and works at the Pan Asian Center at the Maplewood Mall.
“It’s definitely awesome to see more Hmong people thriving as they should be,” she said.
Chang said having Hmong people in leadership positions like mayoral offices can be especially motivating for younger generations, who may not envision themselves in those roles.
“It gives a good role model to the younger kids to help them realize like, you can definitely do more,” she said.
Bee Yang, 60, owns IV Wellness and Beauty Spa in the Maplewood Mall. He said Maplewood is a diverse area with many immigrant families, and having a mayor with a similar lived experience is helpful. He hopes Lee will address issues like public safety and supporting business owners.
“We came here as immigrants, and we need to try to contribute to the community, giving back for what America has given us. And one way is our skills, our talents, wherever they may be. And for him, maybe it’s to contribute, from the top down in whatever way he can, and I think that’s a good thing.”
Jack Le, 23, lives in the Maplewood area and said he was pleased to hear that a mayor of Asian descent was elected for the first time in the city.
“Hearing about a new mayor getting elected and that they’re Asian means a lot to us Asians. We definitely take pride in that, and we just hope and look forward to the good things that the mayor does for us,” Le said.
Vang, the The United Hmong Family board president, said Lee is a well-known figure in the community that has worked as an emcee for many cultural events.
“Chonburi just continues to be consistent with his ability to connect to people and really listen. Whether he has the answers yet or not, but he is very keen in making sure that people who have concerns are heard,” she said.
Other Hmong American elected officials in Minnesota said they were glad to see Lee be elected and bring more representation to city leadership.
State Rep. Samantha Vang, DFL-Brooklyn Center, said Lee represents what many residents of Maplewood are experiencing. As someone who came to the United States as a refugee and a working father of a young family, he is relatable and approachable, she said.
“I think he represents a lot of the values that I think everyday Minnesotans care a lot about,” she said.
St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her said in a statement that she’s looking forward to working with Lee, and that she’s “thrilled” for Maplewood.
“Our parents came here as refugees and rebuilt from nothing. Seeing their kids lead the cities that welcomed them is something special. This one belongs to the whole community,” Her said.
