Tony Lam

Tony Lam (born October 4, 1936) is a Vietnamese American politician. He served three terms as a member of the Westminster, California City Council from 1992 to 2002. Lam was the first Vietnamese American to be elected to political office in the United States. After Vietnam was partitioned in 1954, Lam moved to South Vietnam. He learned English while serving in the Vietnamese navy. At the age of 28, with his older sibling, Dean, Lam managed Lam Brothers Corp, an independent contractor for the military at Cam Ranh Bay. By 1992, he owned three Vietnamese restaurants in Little Saigon, Orange County.

In 1992, Lam was elected to Westminster City Council with the motto "Tax Fighter, Crime Fighter", becoming the first Vietnamese American to be elected to political office. As a result, his restaurant was picketed for 73 days.

Electoral history