Arcadia swears in its 1st woman Asian American mayor

Sharon Kwan made history on April 15 by becoming Arcadia, California’s first woman Asian American mayor.

About Kwan: Kwan, who was previously elected to represent District 2 on the Arcadia City Council, succeeds Michael Cao, who served as mayor since July 2024. Before joining the council, Kwan led Arcadia’s Rancho Santa Anita Property Owners Association for a decade. A 20-year Arcadia resident and mother of four, Kwan is a small business owner who entered the financial services industry in the 1990s when few women of color were represented. She holds a Bachelor of Science from UC Riverside, where she graduated cum laude and was awarded “Most Outstanding Student.”

Reactions: At her swearing-in ceremony, Kwan said she is “humbled to serve as both a leader and a voice” for the city. “I want every family to find not just shelter in Arcadia, but a community that honors their story, respects their hard work and helps build the future their children deserve,” she said. City officials also highlighted that Kwan — who is fluent in English, Mandarin and Cantonese — is “uniquely positioned to build connections across all walks of life” given her deep community roots and appreciation for diversity.

Kwan will focus on public safety, transparency and fiscal stewardship during her nearly 10-month mayoral term.