Arcadia City Councilwoman Sharon Kwan was sworn in as mayor on Tuesday to become the first female Asian American to hold the designation.
Councilman Michael Cao served as mayor since July. Councilwoman Eileen Wang is now the mayor pro tem.
Kwan was elected to the council’s District 2 seat in November 2022. Prior to her election, Kwan served for a decade as president of Arcadia’s Rancho Santa Anita Property Owners Association. She is also a board member for the USC Arcadia Hospital Foundation and the Downtown Arcadia Improvement Association.
“It has been a joy to call this incredible place home for over 20 years,” Kwan said in a statement. “Now, as mayor of Arcadia, I am humbled to serve as both a leader and a voice for our city. I want every family to find not just shelter in Arcadia, but a community that honors their story, respects their hard work and helps build the future their children deserve.”
Fluent in English, Mandarin and Cantonese, Kwan is committed to bridging cultures and fostering unity, according to the city.
“With deep roots in the community and a profound appreciation for its diversity, she is uniquely positioned to build connections across all walks of life, from longtime residents to high school students eager to get involved and make a difference,” city officials said in a statement. “As a woman of color and successful small business owner, Mayor Kwan has long been an advocate for women in leadership.”
A mother of four, Kwan has instilled the value of education within her own family and also with the city’s young people, officials said. She regularly supports students from the Arcadia Unified School District.
In remarks at her oath of office ceremony, Kwan reiterated her focus on public safety, transparency and fiscal stewardship during her mayoral term.
The offices of mayor and mayor pro tem are filled automatically by rotation among the council members with each serving a term of about 9.5 months.
