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
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— 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.
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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."
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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
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Congratulations to John Park, Georgia’s first Asian American mayor!
(@electpark) https://t.co/XoUEpfhEc9
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— Dr. Michelle Au (@AuforGA) December 6, 2023
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