SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Helen Tran was sworn in as the first Asian American mayor of San Bernardino on Dec. 21.

She is only the third woman to take on the role over the course of the city’s 168-year history.

Tran is the daughter of Vietnamese refugees and a longtime San Bernardino resident after she moved with her family from San Diego to San Bernardino at just six years old.

She came to the city knowing English.

“Growing up there really instilled in me that that city gave us a chance to live and thrive,” she told “Inside the Issues,” host Alex Cohen a few weeks before her inauguration.

Mayor Tran said she never envisioned entering public office and having a career in politics, instead she had grand plans to be a 3rd grade teacher. But after graduating college from UC Santa Cruz, she began work as a staffer for San Bernardino and eventually rose to become the city’s youngest human resources director.

Most recently, she ran West Covina’s human resources and risk management department before beginning her campaign for San Bernardino mayor.

“I never thought I was going to end up in this role, but connected the dots and my inner consciousness told me there’s a reason why I’m here. There’s a reason why I was exposed to politics at a young age,” Tran said. “We need to serve this community better and I know I can do it, given my experience and knowledge and background.”

In her new role, Tran plans to prioritize public safety, infrastructure projects and reducing homelessness. She says San Bernardino has the resources to invest in improving parks and sidewalks, and building shelters and emergency accommodations for those experiencing housing insecurity.

“We just need to lead effectively in order to ensure that we stay on course to be the leading city in our region and Inland Empire,” she noted.

Before she started her new position, Tran was one of 25 mayors selected to take part in Harvard University’s intensive program to train city leaders. She says the classes helped equip her and her team for the first 100 days in office. 

Even though she’s new to the political arena, Mayor Tran is devoted to carrying out policies to ensure San Bernardino runs effectively, efficiently and innovatively. 

“I just look at my parents, who remind me constantly to do what’s good, to do what’s best for others like those who have given us that opportunity to thrive.” 

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