Ben Zhang hosting Arcadia Unified School Board campaign kickoff event on Feb. 17

Ben Zhang, who is seeking a position on the Arcadia Unified School Board of Directors, is hosting a campaign kickoff event today. Located at the Meizhou Dongpo restaurant on 400 S. Baldwin Ave., the event will begin with a reception at 5 p.m. and will conclude with a dinner at 6 p.m.

Zhang is a business owner, project manager and community volunteer in Arcadia. He currently manages a senior living facility, works with local non-profits such as the Arcadia Police Foundation and American Red Cross, along with establishing several developments throughout San Gabriel Valley. 

At the age of 15, Ben took on a role in local political campaigns, volunteering for numerous city council and state senate candidates. In September 2021, Ben was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Arcadia Police Foundation, where he has worked with law enforcement to improve public safety and reinstitute the Arcadia K-9 unit.

“Our school district has failed families and teachers alike in its response to the COVID-19 epidemic. Parents, students, and teachers are frustrated by an inefficient testing policy, confusing rules, and a lack of distance-learning options,” Zhang said. “In addition to engaging more with parents and our community, we must acknowledge and tackle the mental health crisis in our schools in order to foster a safe environment for our students.”

There are five distinct focuses that Zhang plans to attack if he becomes a member of the Board of Directors. Those include

• Improve our district’s COVID-19 response, including: a more efficient testing policy, better distance-learning options and more flexibility for students
• Keep an open dialogue and foster a collaborative environment with parents and our community
• Implement a district-wide focus on student mental health awareness
• Collaborate with local police and law enforcement personnel to make student and campus safety a top priority
• Ensure Arcadia Unified stays one of the top districts in the country

So far, he has received several endorsement from local officials, including 55th Assemblyman Phillip Chen, Arcadia Mayor Sho Tay, Arcadia Mayor Pro Tem Paul Cheng and the Chairwoman of the Chinese American Federation Phoebe Chen.

The gathering is free for all to attend, as Zhang’s campaign staff will be handing out contributor information sheets in which attendees will be able to donate to his campaign. 

Arcadia citizens will be able to vote for the open Board spot during the Primary Election on June 7.

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