Chinese community mourns the loss of Wilma Chan, a community leader and political trailblazer

(SAN FRANCISCO) Members of the Chinese community all over the Bay Area are mourning the loss of Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan, a political pioneer and community leader, who was killed on November 3 when she walked her dog and was struck by a vehicle.

The Chinese Progressive Association (CPA) in San Francisco Chinatown joins in mourning the passing of Chan. "As a CPA community, we are saddened by the loss of such a beloved leader. Wilma was one of the founding members of the Chinese Progressive Association nearly fifty years ago, part of a collective effort to organize the Chinese community, uplift the voice and needs of our working people, and to build an intergenerational grassroots social justice movement," CPA wrote in a statement.

CPA Board Chair Emeritus Pam Tau Lee shared her experience working with Chan at their young ages and wrote, “In 1972, Wilma was fresh out of college and was part of the Asian movement to return to community and embraced the spirit of serving the people. Though we were all in our early twenties, Wilma’s calm demeanor and her political astuteness won over the elder's trust during the formation of CPA. She was kind and patient and generous to her peers like myself and although we were the same age, I was blessed to be mentored by her.”

"We are grateful for her leadership over the past five decades -- her championing of progressive values, her fierce advocacy for our children and families, and her commitment to affordable housing and healthcare for the uninsured." CPA continued in the statement, "Long before other policy makers supported health justice, Wilma fought for the passage of the Affordable Care Act and passed a bill that expanded Medi-Cal to all children regardless of immigration status. We will always remember Wilma as an Asian American woman champion who laid the groundwork to build real power for our working people of color."

Chan was 72 and a resident of the city of Alameda. She lived in Oakland for over 20 years before moving to Alameda.

According to the Alameda Police Department, on November 3, a motorist struck Chan as she was crossing Shoreline Drive, near Grand Street, at approximately 8 a.m. where it is popular with pedestrians and bicyclists.

Chan suffered a head injury and was taken to Highland Hospital in Oakland. She died in the afternoon around 2:30 p.m. The motorist stayed at the scene and is cooperating with authorities for investigation. The details of the crash has not been released by the police yet.

During her 31-year tenure as an elected political leader in the Bay Area, Chan had continuously made history in the early 1990s for the Chinese and Asian American community.

Chan was the first Asian American elected to Oakland School Board. Then she also was the first Asian elected to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors and later became the first Asian President of the Board. She was the first Chinese American elected to the state legislature from Alameda County and the Bay Area. Chan was the first Asian to serve as the majority leader and whip in Sacramento, the State Capitol.

Chan was born in Boston, Massachusetts to Chinese immigrant parents on October 5, 1949. She graduated from Wellesley College with a bachelor degree in History and earned a master's degree in Education Policy from Stanford University.

In her early days as a young woman, from the late 1960s into the 1980s, Chan was active in San Francisco Bay Area progressive political movements.

Like many Asian American elected officials across the country, Chan was first elected to public office as a member of the Oakland Board of Education in 1990. Four years later, Chan was elected to Alameda County Board of Supervisors in 1994 as the first Asian Supervisor and re-elected in 1998.

In 2000, while serving as the President of the County Board of Supervisors, Chan was elected to the California State Assembly. In the meantime, Chan became the first Chinese American in the Bay Area elected to the state legislature. She served as the first Asian majority leader and whip in the State Assembly. In 2006, Chan termed out of the Assembly.

In 2010, Chan ran for her old seat in the Alameda County Board of Supervisors and won. She was re-elected in 2014 and 2018. Her current term will end in 2022.

As a state and county legislator for over three decades, Chan's primary legislative areas included health care, senior services, early childhood education, environmental health, jobs and economic development.

One of Chan's most significant accomplishments as supervisor was keeping San Leandro Hospital open after Sutter Health announced it would close the facility. At the time, San Leandro Hospital was the sole acute care facility in San Leandro with its emergency room serving the local community.

Assemblymember Phil Ting representing San Francisco and Daly City issued a statement to remember Chan, "Shocked and saddened to learn about the loss of Supervisor Wilma Chan. She was an AAPI trail blazer and fighter for those who had no voice. When she was elected to the Assembly in 2000, there were no AAPIs serving in either house. Thank you for everything!”

"This is such tragic news. Wilma Chan was an icon in the Asian American community and fought tirelessly to lift up all Californians. This senseless traffic violence needs to end," said San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu, who was the Assemblymember representing San Francisco until recently to be appointed and sworn into the office of City Attorney on November 1.

Angela Chan, a civil right lawyer and the Policy Director at Asian Law Caucus, said on Twitter, "Heartbreaking to hear about the sudden death of Sup. Wilma Chan. One of the last things she did - just yesterday - was urge Alameda Sheriff to end all ICE transfers at Alameda County TRUTH Act Forum. Thank you for fighting for immigrant communities up until your last moment."

Governor Gavin Newsom visited a health clinic in Alameda County to promote the COVID-19 vaccine booster shots on October 27, a week before Chan's passing.

Chan attended Newsom’s event and spoke to the media. It was Chan’s final public appearance in front of the media cameras. Newsom said in a statement to send his condolence, “We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan. Her decades of service to the community, championing health care, affordable housing and support for families, has touched the lives of many. Our thoughts are with her loved ones at this time.”