Division Defeated

Councilwoman, where are you headed next? I approached briskly.

I’m trying to visit all the candidates tonight.

To jump from one candidate’s election night celebration to another, in a city wounded by polarization, is a political crime. Unthinkable, at least, in the eyes of partisan figures. But Sharon Kalani, East Torrance’s voice on the Torrance City Council, deigned to take on the risk of visiting every candidate on the ballot for citywide office that night—to send her best wishes after the end of a divisive campaign season—even those she openly opposed. A step in the right direction toward community healing, there was no greater desire in me than to join her.

Do you mind if I shadow you for the evening?

Yes, she nodded, I was hoping you’d ask that.

We made quick stops in each of the seven election night watch parties in Torrance, but the final candidate we visited was for a community college trustee vying to be Mayor. Sharon and I were supporters of George Chen, his opponent. She publicly endorsed Chen, and I was the president of a political action committee which sponsored two commercials supporting him.

Those who know me know I love a good adventure. But this was something else. In the parking lot, I began to tense up. Color flushed from my face. I clenched my hands so the Councilwoman wouldn’t see me trembling in the passenger seat. For a split-second, I considered staying in the car. But I knew I wouldn’t sleep peacefully if I bailed out of an uncomfortable situation because I was scared of what could happen. Taking a sword to my fear, I followed her in.?

Considering the nature of the campaign cycle which preceded this night, I held the anxiety that at any moment, she and I could be shooed away as unwelcome.?

Upon entering the gates which opened up into the restaurant patio, the trustee came forward resolutely. Thank you so much for coming, he said warmly, almost overcome by the screams of the enthusiastic crowd while he shook our hands.

Suddenly, a group of his student volunteers approached me, and called my name. To my amazement, they also welcomed me with a Thank you. They rotated sharing how much they appreciated my efforts promoting their needs at the students’ political action committee, through initiatives like establishing a program for students to be mentored by their elected officials and hosting workshops for local officials to hear the concerns of their young constituents.?

I was honored beyond measure, but all these initiatives were not achieved solely on my own. I felt undeserving of their gratitude.

While we had intended to briefly wish everyone the best of luck, ironically, Sharon and I spent the most time with the candidate we were most diametrically opposed to. By the time we left, I danced excitedly with just about everyone. We shared a meal. We took photos together. We exchanged phone numbers. We, in effect, extended olive branches to one another.

That night, we won a race much greater than for a seat in public office. We declared victory over political polarizations. We had division defeated. We said to hell with the kind of unfriendly rivalry that hurts the soul of our community.

The months following the election could be characterized by a renewed calling to sustain this victory over polarization. I began to attend community events like coffee meet and greets or volunteer at back-to-school backpack drives hosted by public servants I often disagreed with. I also made sure to extend an invitation to my like-minded peers, to share with them what I learned in action－those who don’t see eye-to-eye with us are not our enemies.

Chen was subsequently elected the first Asian-American Mayor of the City of Torrance. Mayor Chen and Councilmember Kalani continue to be enormous role models for me in public service today.

We have a responsibility to hold true to our convictions. But as I’ve found out, equal to this responsibility is that of trying to see the good in one another. The most important task to which we are called is to build a community that challenges each other’s ideas by day, and dances with each other by night.