As a long-time resident of Alameda, Lena has served in leadership positions in the community:
- Alameda City Council/Vice-Mayor
- President, Alameda Health Care District Board of Directors
- President of the Alameda League of Women Voters
- President, Alameda County Asian Pacific American Democratic Caucus
- Chair, East Bay Asian Voter Education Consortium
- Executive board, National Women’s Political Caucus
- Boardmember, Save the Bay
- Boardmember, Friends of the Park
Lena served on the Alameda City Council from 2006-2014. In November 2006, she garnered the highest number of votes in that election to become Vice-Mayor. She was re-elected in November 2010. During her previous tenure on the City Council, Lena provided leadership on tough issues to improve the quality of life.
Navigating through the worst economic recession in our generation, she worked with her colleagues to support key city services:
- maintaining public safety
- enhancing public library services
- retaining the Alameda Animal Shelter
- funding youth sports
- protecting open space at the Jean Sweeney Park and the Chuck Corica Golf Course
- preserving protect historic landmarks like the Meyers House
Leveraging funding from the state, she work to create 18 units of affordable housing for the disabled at the Jack Capon Villa, 62 units at Park Alameda and 38 units at Shinsei Gardens.
Lena has also served as Alameda’s representative with the League of California Cities, and was elected to the Executive Board of the East Bay Division and as president of the Asian Pacific Islander Caucus of the League. She also serves on the Environmental Quality Policy Committee and Water Task of the League. She was Alameda’s representative on the Alameda County Waste Management Authority and Stopwaste.org, and chaired Alameda County’s first Energy Council.
In early 2000, Lena chaired the Alameda County Planning Commission, promoting sustainable land use practices through the Transportation Planning Element, transit-oriented housing and pedestrian/bicycle-friendly communities, and adopted the County’s Housing Element.
Lena is a licensed civil engineer in California and manages the water and power resources for the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD), engaging in collaborative negotiations with other utility agencies and statewide organizations. Lena represents EBMUD in several policy areas within the county, state and federal jurisdictions.
Lena was recognized by the California State Legislature as “Woman of the Year” for the 16th Assembly District in 2005 for her service and leadership in the community. She is a graduate of U.C. Berkeley and the holds a Bachelor of Science degree in civil/environmental engineering and a Masters degree in public administration.
