Lily Mei
Mayor
510-284-4011
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Biography

Mayor Lily Mei is a prominent and accomplished leader known for her exceptional contributions to public service and her dedication to her community. Mayor Mei has always been deeply connected to the needs and aspirations of her fellow residents. Her visionary leadership, commitment to inclusivity, and tireless advocacy for pragmatic policies have made her a respected figure in regional government.

Mayor Lily Mei's journey in public service began with her election to the Fremont School board in 2008. Her ability to foster collaboration and build consensus earned her the trust and admiration of her colleagues and constituents alike.

In 2016, Mayor Mei's outstanding leadership and unwavering passion for improving her community won her the mayorship on platform focused on economic development, affordable housing, public safety, infrastructure, and environmental sustainability. Her message resonated with the residents of Fremont, and she emerged victorious, becoming the city's first female and first minority/Asian-American Mayor.

Throughout her tenure, Mayor Mei has implemented a plethora of transformative initiatives that have positively impacted her community. Under her mayorship, the city has experienced remarkable progress in various sectors. She established the city's first Mobility Task Force, leading to the development of a comprehensive Mobility Action Plan that has greatly improved transportation infrastructure.

Mayor Mei's commitment to environmental stewardship has earned Fremont accolades and recognition as a leading city in sustainability practices. She has championed sustainable development, fostering a green economy and supporting renewable energy projects. Her dedication to sustainability has positioned Fremont as the 4th greenest city in the United States and earned the first city awarded the prestigious SolSmart Platinum award from the U.S. Department of Energy in the United States.

Affordable housing has been a key focus for Mayor Mei, and she has worked tirelessly to address the housing crisis in the region. Through partnerships with developers and community organizations, she has facilitated the construction of the most affordable housing units in her city’s history during her tenure and implemented programs to assist vulnerable populations making significant impact in providing housing options for all residents.

Recognizing the importance of a robust transportation system, Mayor Mei has spearheaded efforts to improve public transit infrastructure including opening of additional transit hubs, advocating and championing funding resources for public projects including implementation of bike lanes, and the promotion of carpooling and ride sharing services. These initiatives have enhanced mobility and reduced traffic congestion, improving the overall quality of life for residents.

Mayor Lily Mei's exceptional leadership and dedication to public service have garnered recognitions from San Francisco Business Times Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business, International Leadership Foundation Leadership Award, and Citizens for Better Community Citizen of the Year. Her transformative initiatives and unwavering commitment to the well-being of Fremont's residents have positioned her city as a model for others to follow.

If you’d asked someone 10 years ago what cities they associate with Silicon Valley, they might not have said Fremont – but things are changing, and thanks to her mayorship, it’s time everyone knew Fremont by name.  

Term Information

• Elected Term Began: December 13, 2016
• Term Expires: December 2024

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Yang Shao
Councilmember, District 4
510-284-4019
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Biography

Vice Mayor Shao grew up in Hefei, Anhui Province in China where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Polymer Chemistry from University of Science and Technology of China. He came to the U.S. in 1990 for graduate studies and earned both an M.A. (Master of Arts) degree and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Harvard University. Vice Mayor Shao moved to the Bay Area in 1996 and has been serving in the local bio-technology and bio-pharmaceutical industries for over 20 years. He is currently the Director of Protein Chemistry with a large bio-pharmaceutical company in Hayward.

In 2003, Vice Mayor Shao and his family moved to Fremont and have proudly called Fremont home ever since. He began participating in school-related activities while both his children were going through public schools in Fremont. He is interested in ensuring that at-risk and minority students are provided equitable learning opportunities and enjoys volunteering as a youth counselor.

Vice Mayor Shao was elected in 2014 as a School Board Trustee to the Fremont Unified School District serving from January 2014 to December 2018. In the year of 2018, he served as President of the FUSD School Board and member of the Liaison Committee between FUSD School Board and Fremont City Council.

While engaged in education, Vice Mayor Shao plays an active role in diverse community activities. He is a board member of Citizens for Better Community, Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs (East Bay Chapter), an advisor of Music for Minors II, and a volunteer of Fremont Unified Student Store. Vice Mayor Shao is also a regular blood donor; he has donated over 17 liters of blood over the past 20 years.

At the state level, Vice Mayor Shao was a board member of the Asian Pacific Islander School Board Members Association (APISBMA) for California, actively promoting Asian and Pacific Islander school board members’ participation on California School Board Association’s activities with ties to ethnic school board member associations statewide.

Vice Mayor Shao lives in Fremont with his wife, Lanfang Hsu, and their children, Jonathan and Claudia.

Term Information

• Term Began: December 11, 2018
• Re-Elected Term Began: December 13, 2022
• Term Expires: December 2026

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Teresa Keng
Councilmember, District 1
510-284-4012
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Biography

Councilmember Teresa Keng was first elected for a two-year term to represent North Fremont’s District 1 in 2018. She is the first Councilmember to represent North Fremont in 12 years. She was re-elected for a four-year term in 2020.

Councilmember Keng believes that working and creating jobs for the local community is necessary for the economic vitality of the City of Fremont. In 2016, Councilmember Keng opened Milk and Honey Cafe, her own small family restaurant business in Fremont. Since then, she has been proud to share authentic Taiwanese cuisine and culture with the broader community.

Cultural representation and inclusiveness are important and as a member of a multicultural family with roots in Taiwan, Hong Kong, India, China, and the United States, she serves as a bridge that embraces all Fremont residents. As your councilmember, Teresa wants to make local government more accessible, and as a resident, she shares her neighbors’ concerns regarding traffic congestion, public safety, and senior services. On City Council, Councilmember Keng has worked to create better partnerships between city hall and our schools and prioritized working with our local non-profit agencies to deliver free food and resources for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

During her spare time, Councilmember Keng enjoys teaching and learning from others. Over the past 20 years, she has regularly taught English to seniors. Councilmember Keng also enjoys volunteering for her local PTA and the Fremont Rotary Club. She is fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese, Taiwanese, and in her free time is studying Spanish.

Councilmember Keng is passionate about the same community in which she grew up and continues to call home. She graduated from Newark Memorial High School in 1993, and in 1997 she received a B.A. in Business and Economics from UCLA. In 2000, she obtained her M.S. in traditional Chinese medicine. Councilmember Keng is the proud wife of a Marine, arriving in a horse-drawn carriage to a dreamlike procession, she said “Yes” to her husband Robert at the Palmdale Estates in Mission San Jose. Inspired by her two children who are both on the autism spectrum, Council Member Keng has been passionate about educational equity and fair school funding, particularly for those of special needs. Councilmember Keng is currently pursuing a Doctoral Degree in Education Leadership at San Jose State University. She and her family currently reside in North Fremont.

Term Information

• Term Began: December 11, 2018
• Term Expires: December 2024

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Desrie Campbell
Councilmember, District 2
510-284-4008
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Biography

Councilmember Desrie Campbell grew up in Washington D.C. She moved to the Bay Area in 1993 and Fremont in 1996; she quickly knew Fremont would be her forever home. Councilmember Campbell raised her four sons in Fremont and now has three grandsons and two granddaughters, who are current students’ alumni of Fremont schools. 

Councilmember Campbell has been a public servant all her life, first serving in Washington D.C. on various campaigns for D.C. City Government, as well as working on Capitol Hill for a small Lobbying firm. After moving to California, she continued her public service by working with many community-based organizations including Fremont Education Foundation, ABODE Services, OneChild, Ohlone College Foundation, and Educators on Mission.

In 2012, Councilmember Campbell was elected to serve on the Fremont Unified School District Board of Education. She served for ten years and represented more than 35,000 students and their families. As a Trustee, she was a member of the California School Boards Association Delegate Assembly, where she received a Master’s in Governance.

Councilmember Campbell holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a master’s degree in Public Administration. She has also served Fremont as a Human Relations Commissioner, and former chair of the Alameda County Commission on the Status of Women. After being elected to the Fremont City Council in 2022, she was appointed to serve on the League of California Cities Community Services Policy Committee where she advocates for reducing homelessness and increasing the supply of affordable housing while retaining local decision-making.

As a leader, Councilmember Campbell is deeply committed to improving the lives of all Fremont Residents. Her direct leadership has resulted in increased transparency and accountability. She is committed to improving mental health in addition to building bridges and partnerships with the community for improved living conditions.  In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking and reading.

Term Information

• Elected Term Began: December 13, 2022
• Term Expires: December 2026

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Jenny Kassan
Councilmember, District 3
510-284-4018
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Biography

Councilmember Jenny Kassan grew up in Los Angeles. When she moved to Berkeley to attend college at U.C. Berkeley she fell in love with the Bay Area and knew it would be her long-term home.

After graduating from U.C. Berkeley, Councilmember Kassan moved to Washington DC where she worked for Ralph Nader, writing articles for various publications. She then attended Yale Law School in New Haven, Connecticut.

After graduating from law school in 1995, Councilmember Kassan moved back to Berkeley to get her masters degree in City Planning. Just a few weeks after starting the masters program, she got an internship at the Unity Council, a nationally recognized community development organization located in Oakland. She worked at the Unity Council for eleven years. Her duties included developing the Fruitvale Transit Village, streetscape beautification, small business assistance, and social enterprise development.

In 2006, Councilmember Kassan left the Unity Council to join a small law firm focused on the structure and financing of social enterprises. In 2015, she left that firm to start her own practice which is based out of her home in Fremont. Her business is a certified B Corporation (B Corporations are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose).

She is the author of a book called “Raise Capital on Your Own Terms: How to Fund Your Business without Selling Your Soul” and is very passionate about supporting small businesses.

She is also the president of a national nonprofit organization focused on grassroots community development called Community Ventures.

Term Information

• Term Began: December 18, 2018
• Re-Elected Term Began: December 13, 2022
• Term Expires: December 2026

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Raj Salwan
Councilmember, District 5
510-284-4082
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Biography

Councilmember Raj Salwan grew up in Fremont and is proud to call it home. He attended Vallejo Mill Elementary School and walked to school from the one-bedroom apartment where his father, mother, and two siblings resided. Fremont gave him the opportunity to go from that one-bedroom apartment to help run a successful business and serve as a Human Relations Commissioner, Planning Commissioner, Councilmember, and as the Vice Mayor of Fremont.

He has been serving in city government in various capacities for over 15 years. Councilmember Salwan is proud to achieve the American dream, desires to give back to the community that has given him so much, and to make Fremont an even better place to live, work, and raise families.

Councilmember Salwan is an Alternate on the Alameda County Transportation Commission, and has served in every capacity in local commissions, non-profit boards, and in regional bodies. He is a proud contributor to the success of Fremont schools in his role as a subcommittee member of the joint City Council-School District Liaison Committee.

Councilmember Salwan prides himself on getting things done through finding common ground through consensus building and collaboration. His efforts lead to the founding of the Innovation District in Warm Springs which is home to Tesla, Seagate, Lam Research, Western Digital, Delta, and many other companies focused on advanced manufacturing, clean technology, medical devices, and high tech.

Councilmember Salwan championed the many initiatives to reduce cut through traffic in Fremont many of which were later adopted by the City of Fremont. He has advocated through authentic engagement with stakeholders for improving infrastructure both locally and regionally.

Councilmember Salwan attended University of California, Irvine and studied Biological Sciences, and has a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from School of Veterinary Medicine at Tuskegee University.

Councilmember Salwan is a proud husband and father of three children attending Fremont Public Schools. As a parent, he understands how good schools enrich our community. As a small business owner, he knows what it takes to attract high quality business that will set up shop here, stay, and grow in our community.

His vision for Fremont is a simple one - He wants all Fremont residents to have the same opportunities that Fremont gave him: a home they can afford, a good education from a school near where they live, a high-skilled job with decent pay, parks to play in, and a safe environment.

Term Information

• Elected Term Began: December 13, 2016
• Term Expires: December 2024

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Teresa Cox
Councilmember, District 6
510-284-4007
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Biography

Councilmember Cox is the first African-American ever elected in 64 years on November 3, 2020 to Fremont City Council and representing District 6 – Irvington District. First ever open District 6 seat was run for the first time in City of Fremont history in this 2020 election cycle due to city re-districting. First time ever the City of Fremont will do swearing in ceremony via Zoom.

Councilmember Cox is a national trailblazer three times. The daughter of schoolteachers, lost parents at a young age, Councilmember Cox overcame life’s obstacles and broke down numerous barriers to dedicate her life to improving the community around her.

Councilmember Cox, who made national headlines as the first African-American woman with a degree in nuclear engineering, has ties to President Barack Obama's administration. She was appointed by the former U.S. Commerce Secretary and China Ambassador Gary Locke and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk to serve as a Trade Adviser working on international trade & business, and small and minority business initiatives.

Councilmember Cox serves as a Councilmember of the California District Export Council. She has been re-appointed by the current Administration’s US Commerce Secretary and originally appointed by the Obama Administration’s U.S. Commerce Secretary & former China Ambassador Gary Locke to support small business initiatives to create local jobs and business opportunities with the U.S. Department of Commerce and domestic & foreign government officials.

Councilmember Cox was the first African-American ever elected in 2008 and has served twelve (12) years as Vice-Chair, Ohlone Community College Board of Trustees where she has also devoted her time to improving our education system. Her efforts have led Ohlone College to improve every year and ranked Top 5 among all of California Community College and Top 7 nationally with the highest transfer rates to 4-year universities. In her time as a Trustee she’s also fought for women’s rights for equal pay and minorities & women initiatives, passage of a $350 million dollar bond measure for new academic core buildings, sports facilities, and increased high tech and green technology on the Ohlone campus.

Councilmember Cox has received numerous awards of distinction including State of California Assembly Woman of the Year, City of Fremont Leadership Award, and Congressional Awards from Congressmembers Ro Khanna, Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Lee, and Eric Swalwell.

Councilmember Cox earned a B.S. in Nuclear Engineering from Northwestern University in Illinois and a MBA Degree from the Simon Graduate School of Business Administration in Rochester, New York. She was the former Chair, Commissioner for the City of Fremont Economic Development Advisory Commission. She lead the Fremont Delegation and visited Fremont businesses and Ohlone Community College’s sister College in Shanghai and Suzhou, China.

Councilmember Cox previously worked at The White House Office of Public Engagement where she coordinated events to strengthen community relations with constituent groups at national levels.

Professionally, Councilmember Cox is currently Senior Strategic Sourcing Officer (Procurement Executive) with County of Santa Clara to oversee multi-billion dollar budget in procurement and contract activities for over 110 County Buildings and 3 County Hospitals. She has worked in senior management for several Silicon Valley firms including Facebook, Lam Research, Western Digital, and 24-Hour Fitness USA.

Councilmember Cox is the proud mother of two amazing children, a daughter and a son raised in Fremont and volunteers at their school, community, and sports activities.

Term Information

• Term Began: December 8, 2020
• Term Expires: December 2024

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