I’m thrilled to announce that I am running to become a member of the Select Board! *
As a member of your Select Board, I will ensure that Bedford continues to maintain its small-town community while our infrastructure and services are up-to-date, sustainable, and accessible to all. Our children are our future, and our elders are the backbones of our community. We have one of the best public education systems in the Commonwealth, and although we need to maintain our fiscal health, I want to invest selectively and wisely to support the School Committee’s efforts to maintain and improve our school’s quality and offer our children more programs and support. I want to make housing available and affordable for seniors. Traffic and issues of climate change are major issues that impact our quality of life, and I am committed to working across departments, committees, and groups to implement creative solutions for a healthier community.
My first priority for the next few weeks is to go on a listening tour in our community, to meet as many residents as possible to hear your perspectives on what you love about Bedford and how you hope we can improve.
I respectfully ask for your support at our Town Caucus on January 7, 2020. I’m excited to work hard to earn your trust, support, and vote on March 14, 2020.
As a liaison between citizens and government, I am committed to being an open, accessible and engaging Select Board member. With my business experiences as a relationship manager and business advisor, combined with my community service background, I will listen and learn, and link our residents to the resources they need. When elected, I commit to host a monthly check-in to provide updates and enlist feedback. I will also use various communication channels to connect with everyone on issues that matter in our community.
“Be the change you want to see in the world.”
This quote sums up my perspective on life and my passion to serve. As a refugee who came to the U.S. at age 9 with nothing but the clothes on my back, and speaking no English, I am blessed to have overcome many challenges to be where I am today. If you were to tell me when I was a little girl living in a Thailand refugee camp that one day I would come to the U.S. and live the life that I have, I wouldn’t have believed it. My family and I are incredibly lucky to live in this wonderful community and to have my two children attend Davis and Lane Schools. I am ready, willing and able to give back and to collaborate with everyone to make Bedford the best possible place to live.
I’ve been privileged to be a part of several Bedford organizations that make me proud to be a resident, including the Rotary Club of Bedford and to serve as a board member to the Bedford Chamber of Commerce, Middlesex Community College, and the Communities For Restorative Justice.
As a community banker at Enterprise Bank for over 13 years and as a community activist for over 20 years, I have worked tirelessly to improve the lives of thousands of people in many diverse communities in Massachusetts. I’ve helped families and young professionals buy their first homes, build their businesses and advocated for them to get the resources that they need.
I’ve helped many non-profit organizations achieve success. I am particularly proud of how I was able to resuscitate a struggling organization that provided important resources to the community. I was a junior member of the Board of the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association, an organization that helps Cambodians and other immigrants with social and economic programs. The organization was losing its funding, morale was low, and the community had lost confidence in the organization’s ability to serve them. I stepped up to be President and, when the Executive Director quit, I fulfilled that role as well. I knew changes needed to be made, and I wasn’t afraid to make them.
Shortly after, 7 people died in a horrible fire. Most of the victims were Cambodians. I was instrumental in providing translation and support and raised over a quarter of a million dollars so they can get back on their feet.
Under my leadership, the organization has thrived, doubling their budget and continuing to give services to Cambodians and other immigrants.
My life experiences, career, and community service will make me an effective Select Board member who will bring our collective decision making into the opportunities and challenges that our town is facing today and in the future. I will serve the town with understanding, empathy and thoughtfulness.
I’ll release my campaign website soon. Visit and like my Facebook page www.Facebook.com/BophaForBedford. Come share your issues and ideas and join our team. If you can’t make an event, I’d still love to hear from you so email or call, [email protected] / 781-913-4976.
Together, we’ll make Bedford the best place for us to live, work, raise a family, and retire!
* Editor’s Note: At Bedford’s Special Town Meeting on November 4, 2019, Article 17 ~ to change ‘Selectmen’ to ‘Select Board’ ~ passed unanimously on a voice vote. Because Article 17 is a change to Bedford’s Charter, it must also be approved in the Town’s election on March 4 to become official.
Loading ...
