Thu Nguyen Explained

Thu Nguyen
Office:Member of the
Term Start:January 3, 2022
Birth Place:Vietnam
Party:Democratic
Education:Clark University (BA)

Thu Nguyen (born 1991 or 1992)[1] is a Vietnamese-born American politician and community organizer who is a member of the Worcester City Council, serving since 2022. Nguyen is the first openly non-binary candidate elected to public office in Massachusetts history.

Early life and education

Nguyen was born in Vietnam. Their father, a veteran who served in the Vietnam War, spent seven years as a prisoner of war, and subsequently sought asylum in Worcester, Massachusetts, where Nguyen, along with their family, immigrated to as refugees when they were one year old. Growing up in poverty while attending Worcester Public Schools, they graduated from Clark University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in studio art and sociology.[2]

Career

Following their graduation from Clark, Nguyen founded a program focusing on helping to ensure that graduating students of Worcester's Claremont Academy could get into college. They are also the projects director for the Southeast Asian Coalition, "an organization that supports small businesses, promoting civic engagement and strengthening communities," and the founder of Worcester Mutual Aid, which, during the COVID-19 pandemic, raised almost $75,000 for struggling families.[2]

On February 4, 2021, Nguyen announced their candidacy for an at-large seat on the Worcester City Council in a statement reading: "We need a Worcester that is safe and strong. As a youth worker, I know that when we invest in our young people with community-based programs, after-school activities, and youth jobs we can prevent violence and make us all safer."[3] They were endorsed by a number of progressive organizations, including #VOTEPROCHOICE.[4] They placed fourth in a field of 10 candidates in the November 2 election; by finishing within the top six, they were elected to the council, becoming its first Southeast Asian member, as well as, according to the LGBTQ Victory Fund, the first non-binary elected official in the history of Massachusetts.[5] Following their victory, when asked about the issues they would prioritize once sworn in, they cited the need to address housing, expressing in particular their opposition to gentrification, and creating a more "honest, transparent and accessible government."[6] They were inaugurated on January 3, 2022.[7]

Electoral history

2021 Worcester at-large City Council election[8]
CandidateVotes%
Joseph M. Petty (incumbent)8,80513.00
Kate Toomey (incumbent)7,97611.78
Khrystian E. King (incumbent)7,80811.53
Thu Nguyen7,37410.89
Morris A. Bergman (incumbent)7,34410.84
Donna M. Colorio (incumbent)7,28510.76
Matthew E. Wally6,6649.84
Bill Coleman5,4488.04
Guillermo Creamer Jr.5,2717.78
Peter A. Stefan3,7585.55
blank votes36,223

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Foskett. Steven H. Jr.. Thu Nguyen looking to make history in Worcester as first nonbinary councilor. Telegram & Gazette. February 20, 2021. June 23, 2022.
  2. Web site: Lee. Jiselle. Vietnamese refugee Thu Nguyen makes history as first nonbinary city council member in Massachusetts. NextShark. November 4, 2021. November 17, 2021.
  3. Web site: McNamara. Neal. Thu Nguyen Running As First Nonbinary Worcester Council Candidate. Worcester, MA Patch. February 5, 2021. November 18, 2021.
  4. Web site: Meet Our 2021 Candidates .
    1. VOTEPROCHOICE
    . 14 February 2022 . 14 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220214162741/https://www.voteprochoice.us/endorsed-candidates-2021 . dead .
  5. Web site: Foskett. Steven H. Jr.. City Council at-large: Thu Nguyen first nonbinary person elected to office in Massachusetts. Telegram & Gazette. November 3, 2021. November 14, 2021.
  6. Web site: Shenoy. Rupa. Guzman. Dan. Worcester community activist on being first openly nonbinary person elected in Mass.. WBUR-FM. November 9, 2021. November 14, 2021.
  7. Web site: Bonner. Michael. Worcester's 2022 inauguration highlights most diverse council, school committee in city's history. The Republican. January 3, 2022. January 11, 2022.
  8. Web site: OFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS MUNICIPAL ELECTION 11/02/2021. Worcester, Massachusetts. November 12, 2021. November 18, 2021.