My-Linh Thai

My-Linh Thai (Vietnamese: Thái Mỹ Linh) is an American politician and pharmacist who serves in the Washington State House of Representatives representing the 41st district in King County. Thai, a Vietnamese immigrant who lives in Bellevue, served as a school board member prior to her election in 2018, replacing retiring legislator Judy Clibborn.

My-Linh Thai
Member of the Washington House of Representatives
from the 41st district
Assumed office
January 14, 2019
Preceded byJudy Clibborn
Personal details
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Don Thai
ResidenceBellevue, Washington
Alma materUniversity of Washington School of Pharmacy (BS)
OccupationPharmacist
Position2

Early life and career

My-Linh Thai was born in Vietnam, but immigrated to the United States in 1983 as a war refugee. She arrived in the Seattle area at the age of 15 and enrolled at Federal Way High School despite not knowing the English language.[1][2] Thai graduated from the University of Washington School of Pharmacy and worked as a practicing pharmacist in Billings, Montana, before moving with her family to Bellevue, Washington, in 2008.[1][3] She has also worked as a medical interpreter for Vietnamese immigrants and returned to the country to teach one of the first graduate nursing programs in Vietnam.[4]

She became involved in the Somerset parent-teacher association (PTA) shortly after moving to the city, during a sabbatical from her work as a pharmacist.[2] Thai was appointed PTA president, earning an advocacy award from the state PTA,[2] and was elected to the Bellevue School District school board in 2013.[1][4] During her first term as a school board member, Thai advocated against racial inequality and campaigned to hire a racially-diverse set of teachers to reflect the demographics of the Bellevue school body.[4] She was re-elected to a second term in 2017 and was appointed as the board president. Thai also served as the vice president of the Washington State School Directors' Association.[2][4]

Political career

Election

Thai filed her candidacy for the 41st district seat in early April 2018, shortly after incumbent Judy Clibborn announced her retirement.[3] Running on a platform centered around education and healthcare reform, she received the endorsement of the 41st District Democrats, the Washington Education Association, the Washington State Labor Council, and The Seattle Times, and The Stranger.[1][5] Thai took 43 percent of the vote in the primary election, advancing to the general election alongside Republican Michael Appleby.[6]

Thai was elected in the general election on November 6, 2018, winning 65 percent of the vote over Appleby's 35 percent.[7][8] She became one of the first two Vietnamese American legislators to be elected to the Washington State Legislature, alongside Joe Nguyen from the 34th district.[9] Thai announced her resignation from the school board the following day.[10] She was sworn-in on January 14, 2019, wearing a traditional Vietnamese dress.[11]

Thai served as Washington's representative during the roll call at the 2020 Democratic National Convention, recording a message from Seattle.[12]

Personal life

My-Linh is married to Don Thai, a neurologist at the Valley Medical Center in Renton.[3] They have two children and reside in Bellevue, Washington.[1]

References
  1. Madigan, Grace (June 20, 2018). "My-Linh Thai is running in the 41st Legislative District and fighting for equity". International Examiner. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  2. "41st District candidates talk taxes, housing, and safety". Bellevue Reporter. October 26, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  3. "Bellevue School Board President to run for State House seat". Bellevue Reporter. April 2, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  4. "My-Linh Thai running for Bellevue School Board". Northwest Asian Weekly. June 24, 2013. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  5. "A simple guide to your Seattle primary election ballot". Crosscut.com. July 31, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  6. "August 7, 2018 Primary Results". King County Elections. August 21, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  7. "Senn and Thai lead opponents in Legislative District 41". Bellevue Reporter. November 6, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  8. "Legislative District 41 - State Representative Pos. 2 - County Results". Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
  9. Padmanabhan, Jaya (November 16, 2018). "Trump effect—Mid-terms a turning point for Asian American voters nationally". International Examiner. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  10. "My-Linh Thai Resigns from Bellevue School Board". Bellevue School District. November 7, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  11. O'Sullivan, Joseph (January 15, 2019). "Washington's Legislature this year looks more like the people it serves". The Seattle Times. p. B1. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  12. Camden, Jim (August 18, 2020). "Legislator who came to United States as refugee presents Washington's votes to nominate Biden". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
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