Mayorship

Lily stayed active in her community by staying updated on local issues. She consistently attended City Council, PTA, Neighborhood watch meetings. She paid attention to the details and advocated for constant city improvement.

When Lily learned that a specific group wanted to build a gambling parlor in the Monterey Park Corporate Center. When Lily caught wind of their plans, she immediately informed and organized people within the community. She and a significant number of community members gathered at City Hall to protest the potential construction.

First Run for City Council

Many PTA mothers suggested that instead of speaking to City Council, Lily should run for a seat. In 1981 she officially decided to participate in the race.

Lily and Paul were committed to getting the API vote. Her efforts included creating a bilingual voter’s registration handbook in collaboration with the Chinese Political Action Committee and the League of Women’s voters.

On Election Day, Lily found out she had lost by 28 votes. The Los Angeles Times immediately asked Lily if she was going to request a recount. She declined and congratulated her opponent Irv Gilman.

Second Run for City Council

In 1982, in accordance with the regular election cycle, Lily ran again for City Council. Lily took a year off work as administrator of Children and Family services to campaign.

She won the council election in a landslide with 4,754 votes, the largest number of votes in Monterey Park’s history. 

On November 28, 1983, Lily Lee Chen was inaugurated as Mayor of Monterey Park, sworn in by U.S. District Court Judge Robert M. Takasugi. Both her father and her father-in-law were there.