Helen Tran’s commute to work is about to get a whole lot shorter.
The 40-year-old human resources director presently leads Jim Penman in the race to become the next mayor of San Bernardino, according to unofficial election returns released by the county Registrar of Voters Wednesday, Nov. 9.
From her West Covina office Wednesday, Tran called the results “beautiful.”
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“I was so happy to see (the numbers) because the community spoke,” she said in a phone interview. “San Bernardino is ready for new leadership. It’s time to launch the city forward.”
And that, Tran added, is why she held her Election Day watch party at San Bernardino International Airport.
“We’re going to launch this city forward,” she repeated.
Though county election officials had more than 220,000 ballots left to count as of 10 a.m. Wednesday, Tran held 62% of the vote counted so far, compared to Penman’s 38%.
Tran, who worked at City Hall for more than a decade before departing three years ago for West Covina, stands to become the first Asian American mayor of San Bernardino and only the third female to hold the position.
Evlyn Wilcox served as mayor from 1985-89. Judith Valles, from 1998-2006.
“It’s a major breakthrough,” Tran said Wednesday, “especially in the (Asian American Pacific Islander) world. There aren’t a lot of AAPI elected leaders, and even when I became a director, I was the only AAPI in that role. Now, being a mayor, that means that regardless of who you are, you can be a leader like a mayor and be able to be effective.
“I try not to look at race because I look at the person,” she added, “but it’s nice to know I am the first AAPI elected official in the history of San Bernardino, which speaks volumes.”
In a phone interview Wednesday, Penman said he called Tran to congratulate her on her win.
“I wish her well,” the former city attorney added. “I hope all the people who supported me will get behind her. We need to have a united front to deal with the city’s problems. Helen is going to be our mayor and we’ll need to be behind her.”
Should Tran ultimately secure the mayor’s seat, she would join a diverse group of representatives.
Three members on the San Bernardino City Council are Hispanic. One is White and two are Black. Councilman Ben Reynoso is biracial, Hispanic and Black.
Tran also would be the third woman on the eight-person dais.
Borrowing her word de jour Wednesday, the mayor-elect called the diversity among city leaders “beautiful.”
“The council really, truly represents a community, a diverse community,” Tran said. “And we are all going to come together as one community, one family and really embrace our cultures, our backgrounds.”
Tuesday evening, Tran celebrated her early lead with scores of supporters – none bigger than her parents.
The little girl who once wanted to become a teacher was leading the race to become the mayor of the largest city in San Bernardino County, and Kim Lam and Victor Nguyen could not have been prouder, Tran said Wednesday.
“My mom always wanted me to be a public servant because she said my grandfather was a mayoral-like community member in their small town in Vietnam,” Tran added. “She said we have a public servant heart and it’s in our blood.
“It was meant to happen.”
