In a ceremony held on December 10th in Irvine, Melinda Liu, a Taiwanese-born woman, was sworn in as a city council member, making her the first elected Taiwanese-American female council member in Irvine. The event was attended by hundreds of residents and well-wishers who gathered to witness the historic inauguration ceremony. In addition to the in-person audience, many others participated in the ceremony through the live broadcast provided by the city council.
Born in Taipei, Melinda Liu moved to Los Angeles with her family at the age of 16. As a 1.5-generation immigrant, she often assisted her parents with English correspondence and accompanying them to medical appointments, experiencing firsthand the challenges faced by new immigrants. After graduating from UC Berkeley, Melinda Liu pursued a law degree at Southwestern Law School. With years of dedication to Irvine, she is a practicing attorney specializing in divorce mediation and estate planning.
Expressing heartfelt gratitude to her mentors, family, and friends who traveled from near and far to attend the inauguration ceremony, Melinda Liu pledged to wholeheartedly commit herself to making Irvine a more diverse and livable city.
Melinda Liu’s father, Liu Shuzheng, served as a city council member in Taipei. Despite initially viewing council members with differing opinions from her father as “bad people” when she was young, Melinda Liu learned from her father the importance of cooperation and understanding in order to serve the community effectively. This experience deeply influenced her perspective on the dedication required of public officials and the significance of communication and cooperation in democratic governance.
During her campaign, Melinda Liu visited thousands of households in the district to gain a thorough understanding of the residents’ concerns on issues such as education, public safety, and economic development.
Established in 1971, Irvine is home to over 300,000 residents, with Asians making up approximately 42% of the population. This year, three newly elected city council members are of Asian descent, including Filipino-Chinese William Go and Vietnamese-American James Mai. Irvine established a sister city relationship with Taoyuan City, Taiwan in 2001, which has fostered frequent interactions over the years.
Melinda Liu is actively involved in Taiwanese community organizations and activities in Orange County. Both she and her mother, Hua Qing, are alumnae of Taipei’s Zhongshan Girls High School and witnessed the historical transition of the school’s name from Beining No. 2 Girls High School to Zhongshan Girls High School. Having resided in Irvine for over 20 years, Melinda Liu has been actively engaged in community affairs, serving as the president of the Northwood High School Parent-Teacher Association and the chairperson of the South Coast Chinese Cultural Association. As a lawyer, she provides legal assistance to the community, helping many in need.
Xiao Beiru, the director of the Orange County Chinese Cultural and Educational Service Center, attended Melinda Liu’s swearing-in ceremony as a city council member in Irvine, congratulating her on her inauguration. Xiao acknowledged Melinda Liu’s community service accomplishments and the strong support she has received from local voters, emphasizing her role as the first Mandarin-speaking council member in Irvine. Xiao looks forward to Melinda Liu fostering deeper exchanges between Taiwan and the United States and bridging the gap between local residents and Taiwan after joining the city council.