By Jennifer Chien
Los Angeles, CA—Former California Assemblyman Mike Eng, who is running for the State Senate District 22, was awarded today Elected Official of the Year by the United Democrats of the San Gabriel Valley.
“This award is very import for me”, said Eng. Citing his own immigrant background, Eng shared with the audience his personal story and his public service experience. “I never thought I could graduate from school. Now I become a lawyer and an elected official”
“My parents have always taught me that it is important to give back to serving the community. That is why I am very very proud to say that my public service is not something I think about. It is something that my parents have always taught me it is the right thing to do,” Eng added.
Mike Eng has been active in the communities for the last 40 years. And his public service started from the board of the city library of Monterey Park. He had been a member of the city council and mayor before he served as the State Assemblyman from 2006 to 2012. In 2013 he was elected to the Board of Trustees of the Los Angeles Community College District.
According to Denise Menchaca, the president of the United Democrats of the San Gabriel Valley, this organization was founded 30 years ago. The purpose is to promote activism among Democrats within the Western San Gabriel Valley by focusing its resources on short-term and long-term goals, including promotion of Democratic unity and activism in the region, participation in the campaigns of Democratic candidates in elections at all levels, developing vigorous fundraising strategies, and actively mentoring young community members as to the meaning and importance of the principles of the Democratic Party.
In today’s event, Bob Bruesch, the vice president of the Garvey School Board of Education, was honored with Carroll Leese Memorial Member of the Year Award. And Ed Rendon, the founder of San Gabriel Valley Civic Alliance, was awarded Community Member of the Year.
State Senator Ed Hernandez, State Assemblyman Blanca Rubio, San Gabriel Council member Chin Ho Liao, Garvey School Board member Henry Lo, and Thomas Wong, the president of the Board of Directors of San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, and other elected officials attended the event.
