{{Short description|American lawyer, banking CEO and former mayor (born 1936)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Betty Chu<br>趙譚美生 | image = Betty Chu.jpg | office = Mayor of Monterey Park | term_start = March 13, 2006 | term_end = 2007 | preceded = Frank Venti | succeeded = Frank Venti | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1936}} | birth_place = San Diego, California, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | education = University of Southern California (BS, JD) | party = Republican | known_for = Co-Founder of East West Bank | spouse = Robert Chu | children = 3 | birth_name = Betty Tom }} '''Betty Tom Chu''' (born 1936)<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2023-03-09 |title=辛恬专访: 美国前华裔市长谈土地限购令与「排华法案」 |url=https://www.soundofhope.org/post/702875 |access-date= |website=Sound of Hope |language=zh}}</ref> is an American lawyer, politician and banker. She is known for being the first Chinese-American woman to pass the bar admission of State Bar of California. She was also the first Chinese-American woman to be the chief executive of a bank.
Chu served as mayor of Monterey Park, California in 2006, and held two elected terms on the city council between 2003 and 2012.<ref>{{Cite book|title=New York and Los Angeles : the uncertain future|date=2013|publisher=Oxford University Press|others=Halle, David., Beveridge, Andrew A., 1945-|isbn=9780199778386|location=New York|oclc=808316421}}</ref> She ran for the 32nd Congressional district as a Republican in May 2009, and lost to Judy Chu.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.whittierdailynews.com/general-news/20090519/chu-clinches-victory-in-congressional-primary|title=Chu clinches victory in congressional primary|date=2009-05-19|website=Whittier Daily News|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-12}}</ref>
== Early life and education == Chu was born in San Diego, California.<ref name="jasonjem_chu">{{cite web |url=http://www.jasonjem.com/Pages/Portraits/Chinese_Americans/Chu_Betty.html |title=Betty Tom-Chu |publisher=jasonjem.com |access-date=November 18, 2018}}</ref><ref name="fedpartnership">{{cite web |url=https://www.fedpartnership.gov/minority-banking-timeline/betty-tom-chu |title=Minority Banking Timeline - 1973 Betty Tom Chu |publisher=fedpartnership.gov |accessdate=November 18, 2018}}</ref> She was named Betty because it was the only English name her mother could pronounce.<ref name=":0" /> Her father, Tom Kay Chu, owned a farm on land inherited from his grandfather,<ref name=":1" /> and her mother, Yee Siu King, was an immigrant from Guangzhou.<ref name="jasonjem_chu" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Ethnoburb : the new ethnic community in urban America|last=Li|first=Wei|date=2009|publisher=University of Hawai'i Press|isbn=9781441619624|location=Honolulu|oclc=436233534}}</ref> By age nine, Chu wanted to pursue a career in law as a working class advocate, after witnessing one of the migrant workers on her father's farm be beaten.<ref name="jasonjem_chu" /><ref name=":0" />
After graduating from Grossmont High School, she earned a Bachelor of Science and a Juris Doctor from University of Southern California.<ref name="votesmart_chu">{{cite web |url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/111045/betty-chu |title=Betty Chu's Biography |publisher =votesmart.org |access-date=November 18, 2018}}</ref><ref name=":0" />
== Career == In June 1961, Chu was admitted to the State Bar of California.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://members.calbar.ca.gov/fal/Licensee/Detail/31871 |title=Attorney Licensee Profile - Betty Tom Chu #31871 |publisher=calbar.ca.gov |access-date=November 18, 2018}}</ref> In 1961, Chu became the first Chinese-American woman lawyer in Southern California.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-07-15-vw-4037-story.html |title=Asian-Pacific Group Plans Award Dinner |work=Los Angeles Times |date=July 15, 1992 |access-date=November 18, 2018}}</ref> As a pioneer in the legal field, Chu's career was supported by Hiram Kwan, founder of "Kwan, Quan, Cohen, and Lum", a law firm in Los Angeles Chinatown.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://susieling.wordpress.com/tag/betty-tom-chu/ |title=Chinese American Pioneers in the Legal Profession |publisher=Thinking Aloud |first=Susie |last=Long |date=August 24, 2016 |access-date=November 18, 2018}}</ref>
In 1973, Chu was one of the founding members of East West Federal Bank (now East West Bancorp).<ref name="votesmart_chu"/><ref name="jasonjem_chu"/><ref name="fedpartnership"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.routingnumberusa.com/east-west-bank-routing-number/ |title=East West Bank ABA Routing Transit Numbers (RTN) |publisher=routingnumberusa.com |access-date=November 18, 2018}}</ref> Chu also co-founded Trust Saving Bank and served as its chairperson and CEO; she was the first Chinese American woman to run a bank in the United States.<ref name="votesmart_chu"/><ref name="latimes_police">{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-02-21-me-2664-story.html |title=7 Chosen to Screen Field for Chief Job... |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |first=Laurie |last=Becklund |date=February 21, 1992 |access-date=November 19, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://imdiversity.com/villages/asian/a-history-of-chinese-american-banking-in-los-angeles/ |title=A History of Chinese American Banking in Los Angeles |publisher=imdiversity.com |access-date=November 19, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://beta.worldcat.org/archivegrid/collection/data/263184897|title=Betty Tom Chu, the only Chinese woman bank head / photo by Paul Chinn|website=beta.worldcat.org|language=en|access-date=2019-01-12}}</ref>
She has taught classes at California College of Law and Los Angeles Community College.<ref name="votesmart_chu"/>
In 1992, Chu was a member of the Los Angeles Police Department's Police Chief selection committee.<ref name="latimes_police"/>
Chu was an elected city council member of Monterey Park, California from 2003 to 2007, and again 2009–2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://thecitizensvoice.net/?p=5574|title=Monterey Park Council Member Betty Tom Chu Resigns from Office {{!}} The Citizen's Voice|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-12}}</ref> On March 13, 2006, Chu was sworn in as the mayor of Monterey Park.<ref name="highbeam_chu">{{cite web |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1000514791.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119132518/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1000514791.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 19, 2018 |title=Betty Tom Chu To Be Sworn In As Monterey Park Mayor |publisher=highbeam.com |date=March 9, 2006 |access-date=November 18, 2018}}</ref> In May 2009, Chu campaigned for the 32nd Congressional district as a Republican, but she lost to Judy Chu, her cousin by marriage.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://articles.latimes.com/2009/may/18/local/me-elexbox18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090922092227/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/may/18/local/me-elexbox18 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 22, 2009 |title=Election at a Glance |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=November 19, 2018}}</ref>
On June 11, 2012, Chu abruptly resigned from the city council and stated this was due to "philosophical differences" with other council members. According to the Pasadena Star News, she stated in a speech to the council: "Some other council members don’t spend adequate time reviewing staff reports and supporting documents … and it is evident from frequent 4-1 votes on key vital issues that facts don’t really matter because there is a deep political and philosophical divide."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2012/06/12/monterey-park-councilwoman-betty-chu-unexpectedly-resigns/ |title=Monterey Park Councilwoman Betty Chu Unexpectedly Resigns |publisher=Pasadena star news.com |first=Lauren |last=Gold|date=June 12, 2012 |access-date=November 18, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.alhambrasource.org/monterey-park-councilwoman-resigns |publisher=alhambrasource.org |title=Monterey Park Councilwoman Resigns |date=June 12, 2012 |access-date=November 19, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2012/06/12/monterey-park-councilwoman-betty-chu-unexpectedly-resigns/|title=Monterey Park Councilwoman Betty Chu unexpectedly resigns|date=2012-06-12|website=Pasadena Star News|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-12}}</ref>
On June 5, 2014, the California State Senate passed the Senate Joint Resolution 23 and 122, which is associated to formally apology for past California anti-Chinese legislation. This resolution passage is the work and request by The Apology for the Chinese Exclusion Act Committee, which Chu is one of the founding members.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thecitizensvoice.net/?p=8894 |title=California Resolution for Apology to Chinese Americans Passes Unanimously |publisher=the citizens voice.netnet |first=Nancy |last=Arcuri |date=June 17, 2014 |access-date=November 18, 2018}}</ref>
In 2016, Chu was an Alternate Delegate for the Republican National Convention.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.joincalifornia.com/candidate/13337 |title=Betty Chu |publisher=JoinCalifornia.com |access-date=November 18, 2018}}</ref>
In 2018, Chu partnered with John Gee and the Chinese American Citizens Alliance of Orange County to urge Congress to pass the Congressional Gold Medal for Chinese Americans who served in World War II. With the help of Congressman Ed Royce, she was able to successfully garner bipartisan support and the bill was signed into law by President Donald Trump on December 20, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.caww2.org/campaign-1|title = Congressional Gold Medal}}</ref>
Today, Chu is actively involved in local and national politics. She sits on the board of Asian Industry B2B which is founded by Marc Ang and the Chinese American Citizens Alliance of Orange County. She is also one of the key signers of the ballot argument against 2020 California Proposition 16 and sits as an Honorary Co-chair of Californians for Equal Rights alongside Ward Connerly, Tom Campbell, Gail Heriot, and Manuel Klausner.
== Personal life == She was married to Robert Chu until his passing. They share three children. She currently resides in Orange County, CA.<ref name="votesmart_chu"/><ref name="highbeam_chu"/>
== Awards == * 2005 Honoree of Los Angeles Chinese American Pioneers in Law. (Chinese Historical Society of Southern California) <ref>{{citation | url=https://chssc.org/research/chssc-honorees/ |title=CHSSC Honoree - 2005 Chinese American Pioneers in Law|publisher=chssc.org |accessdate=November 18, 2018}}</ref>
== See also == *Asian American and Pacific Islands American conservatism in the United States *Chinese Exclusion Act *Chinese Historical Society of Southern California *List of first women lawyers and judges in California
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [http://investor.eastwestbank.com/CorporateProfile East West Bancorp profile] * [http://aib2b.org/about/leadership-team/ Asian Industry B2B - Betty Tom Chu, Ambassador] * [https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106590901 Chu Vs. Chu:Unique Congressional Face Off on NPR]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Chu, Betty Tom}} Category:Living people Category:American women bankers Category:Bankers from California Category:American mayors of Chinese descent Category:American politicians of Chinese descent Category:Grossmont High School alumni Category:Women mayors of places in California Category:20th-century American women lawyers Category:20th-century American lawyers Category:California Republicans Category:Asian conservatism in the United States Category:Politicians from San Diego Category:American anti-communists Category:Anti–People's Republic of China activists Category:UCLA School of Law alumni Category:1936 births