Moments before her husband took his seat as Fresno’s newest city councilmember, May Lee admitted she had nerves. After all, she endured just as much on the campaign trail as her husband, Brandon Vang.

Vang took his place on the dais representing southeast Fresno, bringing the city council to full strength on Thursday. The city council unanimously accepted the March 18 special election results. Vang delivered his opening remarks in both Hmong and English, talking about immigrating to America as a refugee from Laos in 1979.

His emotions flowed when talking about his parents, now both deceased, and his brother who died in the Secret War. Vang fought through tears, recalling how his brother sacrificed his life for his family.

“My parents instilled in me the value of perseverance, hard work, and that America is the greatest country in the world, and if you apply yourself, you will achieve your dream. And today, I am living my American dream,” Vang said.

The full house at City Hall gave Vang a standing ovation after he took the oath of office.

“When I graduated in 1990 from McLane High School, I would not have imagined that I would be sitting here,” Vang said.

Vang’s first order of business was issuing a proclamation for local Hmong leader Lue N. Yang, former executive director of the Fresno Center for New Americans.

Related Story: Brandon Vang Wins Fresno City Council Special Election Outright

Vang: ‘I Am Independent’

Only one city councilmember, Miguel Arias, publicly supported Vang during the campaign. Arias is holding a fundraiser for Vang on Thursday night.

“I’m not aligning myself to anybody, councilmembers or any stakeholders. I will try to do my very best to represent the constituents in District 5 and that’s what I have done. That’s why I am here today because I am independent during the campaign and I hope to be independent in the future,” Vang said in a brief chat with Politics 101.

There are several policy issues that will come before Vang — the tobacco shop ordinance, the future of growth in southeast Fresno, and what to name a new sports complex. Vang was not ready to talk.

“We’re doing 100 miles an hour, and I’m starting at 60, so wait until I get 200 miles an hour, and then I will have the conversation,” Vang said.

“District 5 has been historically neglected and I’ve lived there for 16 years and I know what the landscape is like. We cannot solve issues overnight. It’s going to take a lengthy period of time to solve issues in District 5. But right now I’m just happy to get started,” he said.

Tavlian Contract Canceled

During the campaign, Vang advocated for small businesses and public safety. He endured a negative attack ad mailer from an independent expenditure group called Fresno Future Forward. The mailer accused Vang of statutory rape in the 1990s.

Vang and his wife, in an interview with GV Wire, admitted he was 20 and she was 15 when they had their first child in 1993. They were married in 1995, continuing to raise a family. Vang was never criminally charged.

“My family, we faced adversity, we overcame challenges, we are stronger today because of you (Vang’s wife). This is vindication,” Vang said from the dais.

Despite a mystery surrounding Fresno Future Forward, GV Wire found links to local political consultant Alex Tavlian.

Before he left office, former District 5 representative Luis Chavez signed a contract with Tavlian’s public affairs firm, Local Government Strategic Consulting. Signed on Dec. 17, LGSSC would provide public outreach services.

Related Story: Is Fresno Political Consultant Alex Tavlian Behind Election Attack Mailer?

Vang canceled a $100,000 contract with Tavlian and LGSC within hours of taking office.

LGSC sent four invoices — on the first of each month, January through April — for a total of $33,333.32.

In an April 10 letter Vang sent to LGSC, he said his office is not paying on the invoice, as it was not authorized by Mike Karbassi, the city council president. Karbassi oversaw the District 5 office during the councilmember vacancy.

“Karbassi did not authorize rendering of these services or making these payments,” Vang wrote.

Vang added that the payments might exceed the $100,000 threshold requiring a city council vote, “as such, your request to process the invoice will be denied.”

“It’s been a pleasure serving the office of District 5 for these past years. I wish Councilman Vang and his staff the best in strengthening southeast Fresno,” Tavlian said by text.

About the Election

Vang won a special election on March 18, with 50.19% of the vote — nine votes above the majority to avoid a runoff. He defeated Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas (35.01%), Chavez’s wife, and three other candidates.

No one requested a recount, Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters James Kus said. That sealed Vang’s victory, allowing the city council to declare the election results without delay.

Vang is the second city councilmember of Hmong heritage. He acknowledged his predecessor, Blong Xiong, calling him a “trailblazer.”  Xiong, who attended the ceremony, served on the city council 2007-2015.

Vang officially resigned from his position as Sanger Unified board trustee on Tuesday, giving a farewell address to the school board. He said he will miss his every-other-Tuesday meetings, but looks forward to Thursday meetings in Fresno, as seen in this video captured by The Sanger Scene.

 

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