John Tran
Encyclopedia
John Tran is an American
politician who served on the Rosemead, California city council
as that city's first Asian-American mayor. He currently serves as a board member for the El Monte Union High School District.
on November 20, 1975, the fourth of six children. Sponsored by an American family, Tran and his family left Communist controlled Vietnam
in 1979, immigrating
to the United States
and settling originally in Oklahoma
. After moving to Arizona
, the Tran family next moved to Monterey Park, California
when Tran was 10 years old. They later settled in Rosemead, California
. Tran attended school in the Garvey School District during his elementary and middle school years, graduating from Garvey Intermediate School. In 1993, Tran graduated from Mark Keppel High School
in the Alhambra High School District.
Upon graduation from high school, Tran married his first wife, an American citizen. When Tran turned 18 years old, he became a naturalized
United States citizen. Tran is the father of two sons from his first marriage and two children with his current wife. He has lived in Rosemead for over 19 years.
During the time he served the Garvey School District, Tran assisted in setting high expectations for district administrators and staff and was involved in the development and approval of two joint-use agreements with the City of Rosemead to build two gymnasiums to be placed on each of the district's two intermediate school campuses. While serving on the Garvey School Board, Tran also served on the board of directors of the California Latino School Board Members Association and was a member of the California School Board Association. While chairperson of the Garvey School District bond committee, Tran participated in coordinating the work of the staff and community to facilitate the passing of General Obligation Bond Q; a 30 million-dollar bond initiative to benefit the students of the Garvey School District by continuing modernization of the district's school campuses.
Following his school board service, Tran was elected to the Rosemead city council
in March, 2005 - serving only one term. Tran is the first Asian-American elected to the council. As with many cities in the state of California, the Rosemead city council rotates its members into the mayor’s position; Tran was appointed mayor of Rosemead in March, 2007. Running for re-election to the city council in March 2009, Tran lost the bid by only one vote.
On November 3, 2009, Tran contested and won the seat of a two-term incumbent on The El Monte Union High School District
School Board. Tran announced his candidacy for the California State Assembly
's 49th district seat, vacated by termed out Assemblyman Mike Eng
, in August 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician who served on the Rosemead, California city council
Rosemead, California
Rosemead is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 53,764. Rosemead is part of a cluster of cities, along with Arcadia, Temple City, Monterey Park, San Marino, and San Gabriel, in the west San Gabriel Valley with a growing Asian...
as that city's first Asian-American mayor. He currently serves as a board member for the El Monte Union High School District.
Early and personal life
John Tran was born in Saigon, South VietnamSouth Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
on November 20, 1975, the fourth of six children. Sponsored by an American family, Tran and his family left Communist controlled Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
in 1979, immigrating
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and settling originally in Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. After moving to Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, the Tran family next moved to Monterey Park, California
Monterey Park, California
Monterey Park is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, east of downtown Los Angeles. The city's motto is "Pride in the past, Faith in the future"...
when Tran was 10 years old. They later settled in Rosemead, California
Rosemead, California
Rosemead is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 53,764. Rosemead is part of a cluster of cities, along with Arcadia, Temple City, Monterey Park, San Marino, and San Gabriel, in the west San Gabriel Valley with a growing Asian...
. Tran attended school in the Garvey School District during his elementary and middle school years, graduating from Garvey Intermediate School. In 1993, Tran graduated from Mark Keppel High School
Mark Keppel High School
Mark Keppel High School is a four-year California Distinguished School located in the city of Alhambra, California in the Alhambra Unified School District. The school is on the southern edge of Alhambra, adjacent to the City of Monterey Park, and borders the Interstate 10 Freeway...
in the Alhambra High School District.
Upon graduation from high school, Tran married his first wife, an American citizen. When Tran turned 18 years old, he became a naturalized
Naturalization
Naturalization is the acquisition of citizenship and nationality by somebody who was not a citizen of that country at the time of birth....
United States citizen. Tran is the father of two sons from his first marriage and two children with his current wife. He has lived in Rosemead for over 19 years.
Career and public service
Tran started his public service career as a member of the Garvey School District Board of Education in 1999. At age 23, Tran was the youngest member to be elected to the board; he later served as Garvey's school board president in 2002. While serving on the Garvey School Board, Tran also served on the board of directors of the California Latino School Board Members Association and was a member of the California School Board Association.During the time he served the Garvey School District, Tran assisted in setting high expectations for district administrators and staff and was involved in the development and approval of two joint-use agreements with the City of Rosemead to build two gymnasiums to be placed on each of the district's two intermediate school campuses. While serving on the Garvey School Board, Tran also served on the board of directors of the California Latino School Board Members Association and was a member of the California School Board Association. While chairperson of the Garvey School District bond committee, Tran participated in coordinating the work of the staff and community to facilitate the passing of General Obligation Bond Q; a 30 million-dollar bond initiative to benefit the students of the Garvey School District by continuing modernization of the district's school campuses.
Following his school board service, Tran was elected to the Rosemead city council
Rosemead, California
Rosemead is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 53,764. Rosemead is part of a cluster of cities, along with Arcadia, Temple City, Monterey Park, San Marino, and San Gabriel, in the west San Gabriel Valley with a growing Asian...
in March, 2005 - serving only one term. Tran is the first Asian-American elected to the council. As with many cities in the state of California, the Rosemead city council rotates its members into the mayor’s position; Tran was appointed mayor of Rosemead in March, 2007. Running for re-election to the city council in March 2009, Tran lost the bid by only one vote.
On November 3, 2009, Tran contested and won the seat of a two-term incumbent on The El Monte Union High School District
El Monte Union High School District
El Monte Union High School District is a high school district with its headquarters in El Monte, California. It serves the city of El Monte and a portion of Rosemead...
School Board. Tran announced his candidacy for the California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
's 49th district seat, vacated by termed out Assemblyman Mike Eng
Mike Eng
Michael "Mike" F. Eng was elected to the California State Assembly in November 2006 and represents the 49th District. He is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party...
, in August 2011.