U.S. District Court Judge David Carter delivered the oath, just as he did 20 years ago when I began my career as a Garden Grove City councilmember. Following the oath, I began my speech by quoting one of my favorite presidents, Abraham Lincoln.

“It often requires more courage to dare to do right than to fear to do wrong,” I said. This quote showed that President Lincoln dared to do right even when it was hard. He didn’t choose the easy path, but rather the correct path and it even cost him his life.

I’ve tried to live by these standards my entire life. Throughout my career, I’ve pushed against the status quo of what was ‘acceptable’ or ‘gratifying.’ I’ve been an outsider in politics: I’ve been the youngest, the first Asian, the first woman, and a working mom with young children. But I got here because of community support like yours and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Other speakers included Judge David Carter, Sheriff Don Barnes, District Attorney Todd Spitzer, Asssemblywoman Diane Dixon and several local elected officials. Each speaker had a common theme of fighting for democracy at all costs.

I was first elected to the Board in 2007 and from there, served as a member of the California Assembly and Senate. My focus was fighting excessive taxation, government overreach and public safety. I authored a law that increases the penalty for fentanyl dealers to a maximum of life in prison.