Brandon Vang sworn-in to Fresno City Council

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- After months, determination is nary longer an bare spot connected the Fresno City Council, arsenic Brandon Vang was sworn into his District 5 seat.

"My sanction is G Brandon Vang and the arrogant caller Fresno City Council subordinate representing District 5," said Vang. "Before I continue, I would similar to marque my remarks successful my parent tongue."

As Brandon Vang took his spot successful Fresno City Council, helium paid homage to his Hmong heritage, arsenic helium was the archetypal idiosyncratic of Hmong descent to clasp a assembly spot successful a decade.

Vang elaborate his beingness arsenic an migrant increasing up successful Fresno and, astatine 1 point, teared up, referring to his mother's caller decease arsenic helium credited his household for helping him, successful his words, execute his American dream.

Speaking to members of the media aft the ceremony, Vang lone wanted to absorption connected what was ahead.

"There's a batch connected my plate," said Vang. "District 5 has been historically neglected and I've lived determination for 16 years and I cognize what the scenery is like. We cannot lick the issues overnight. It's going to instrumentality a lengthy play of clip to solve."

However, Vang didn't talk astir the contentious months starring to the swearing-in connected Thursday.

Vang faced 3 different candidates successful the race, taking an aboriginal lead.

As voters formed their ballots mailers were sent to hundreds of homes successful District 5, callling Vang "disgusting" and saying helium "engaged successful alleged statutory rape."

Vang called the allegations "completely mendacious and profoundly hurtful," adjacent speaking with Action News to respond to the accusations.

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The flyers alleged Vang engaged successful statutory rape starring to a 1993 gestation with his present wife, May Lee, earlier they were married.

He was 20 astatine the time, she was 15.

She fiercely defended her husband.

"If I had to bash it each implicit again, I astir apt would person done the aforesaid happening because, you know, I emotion Brandon, and passim this full time, I don't telephone it a mistake," said Lee.

A person, identified arsenic Riley Moore, filed paperwork with the metropolis aft sending the mailers and was fined by the metropolis for failing to comply with predetermination laws.

At the time, Vang said helium was considering ineligible action, but did not code the contented connected Thursday.

As for what policies Vang volition absorption on, helium wouldn't spell into specifics. He said that volition travel aft his archetypal time present contiguous successful Council and what helium hears from the voters.

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