SHARON KWAN BECOMES ARCADIA’S FIRST ASIAN FEMALE MAYOR
ARCADIA, CA – Sharon Kwan of the Arcadia City Council was sworn in as the Mayor on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, succeeding Mayor Michael Cao, who most recently served as Arcadia’s Mayor since July 2024. Council Member Eileen Wang will now serve as Mayor Pro Tem.
In a historic milestone for Arcadia, Sharon Kwan is the first female Asian American to hold the role of mayor.
“It has been a joy to call this incredible place home for over 20 years,” said Mayor Kwan. “Now, as Mayor of Arcadia, I am humbled to serve as both a leader and a voice for our city. I want every family to find not just shelter in Arcadia, but a community that honors their story, respects their hard work and helps build the future their children deserve.”
Mayor Kwan was elected to the Arcadia City Council in November 2022, representing District 2. Prior to her election to the City Council, Mayor Kwan served for a decade as President of Arcadia’s Rancho Santa Anita Property Owners Association. Her commitment to civic engagement extends to being a board member for both the USC Arcadia Hospital Foundation and the Downtown Arcadia Improvement Association.
Fluent in English, Mandarin and Cantonese, Mayor Kwan is committed to bridging cultures and fostering unity. With deep roots in the community and a profound appreciation for its diversity, she is uniquely positioned to build connections across all walks of life, from longtime residents to high school students eager to get involved and make a difference. As a woman of color and successful small business owner, Mayor Kwan has long been an advocate for women in leadership.
A proud mother of four, Mayor Kwan has instilled the value of education in her own family and with Arcadia’s youth, regularly supporting students from the Arcadia Unified School District. In her remarks at her oath of office ceremony, Mayor Kwan reiterated her focus on public safety, transparency and fiscal stewardship for her upcoming term.
The offices of Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem are filled automatically by rotation among the Councilmembers with each serving a term of approximately nine and one-half months.
