On the evening of May 15, at 6:30 PM, the re-election and swearing-in ceremony of the first Chinese-American female city council member in Stafford, Alice Chen, was held at Stafford City Hall. Various distinguished guests including Texas State Representative Ron Reynolds, Houston Mayor John Whitmire, former Missouri City Mayor Alan Norman, former mayor Cecil Willis, school board member Patricia Saw, Chinese community leaders, representatives, and members of the campaign team were present to congratulate and witness the event.
During the meeting, Mayor Ken Mathew announced the results of the city council election held on May 4, 2024. Alice Chen was re-elected for the third time and took the oath of office. Special guest, Houston Mayor John Whitmire, served as the swearing-in official and expressed his congratulations on Alice Chen’s third consecutive term. Whitmire thanked all elected officials present for their contributions to the community and emphasized the importance of unity and cooperation between cities in facing challenges.
Recognizing Alice Chen’s longstanding dedication to public affairs, Whitmire praised her for promoting cultural diversity and fostering stronger community integration and Asian connections that have significantly contributed to the city’s economic and trade development. Following the oath administered by Whitmire, Alice Chen officially assumed her role as city council member.
Alan Norman commended Alice Chen as a dedicated public servant and highlighted her significant contributions to the city’s development over the past five years. State Representative Ron Reynolds presented a certificate of commendation to Alice Chen, acknowledging the challenges of re-election and praising her as an outstanding public servant in the current polarized political climate nationwide.
In her inaugural speech, Alice Chen expressed her deepest gratitude to all those who steadfastly supported her throughout the campaign, reflecting on the challenges faced and celebrating the city’s accomplishments over the past five years. She thanked volunteers, supporters, and over 37 officials from Congressman Al Green to local government officials who stood by her. Special appreciation was extended to Dr. Chen Shizhong and his family for their love and support.
Since 2019, Alice Chen has served as the first Chinese-American female city council member, fulfilling a deeply personal American dream inspired by her late grandfather, who served as mayor in Taiwan. Her grandfather’s influence guided her life’s mission of community service, instilling a commitment to work tirelessly and focus on giving back to the community.
During the meeting, Alice Chen announced the awarding of $20,000 college scholarships to three Stanford High School students, emphasizing the transformative impact these scholarships will have on their lives. Under her leadership, the Kelsey Seybold scholarship program received a generous donation of $250,000, ensuring residents’ safety and security by fostering close collaboration between the city government, police, and fire departments. Leveraging her financial expertise, Chen is dedicated to promoting city business development and fostering cooperative partnerships.
Finally, Director Wang Yingrong of the Overseas Chinese Education Center and friends from the Chinese community presented flowers and well wishes, commemorating this joyful moment with a group photo. After the meeting, Alice Chen was once again appointed as the Vice Mayor of the city council.