{{Short description|American politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | office = 43rd Mayor of Terre Haute | term_start = January 2024 | term_end = | predecessor = Duke Bennett | successor = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|3|4}} | birth_place = Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S. | party = Democratic | education = Indiana University Bloomington (BA, MPA) | relatives = Apsara Sakbun (sister) | image = BrandonSakbun.jpg | caption = Sakbun in 2025 }}
'''Brandon Sakbun''' (born March 4, 1996) is an American politician and former United States Army captain, currently serving as the mayor of Terre Haute, Indiana.
==Early life and education== Sakbun was born in 1996 in Terre Haute, Indiana to Dr. Vannara Sakbun and Mrs. Carlene Sakbun.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Baumgarth |first=Clayton |date=2023-11-08 |title=Longtime Terre Haute mayor ousted by political newcomer |url=https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/longtime-terre-haute-mayor-ousted-by-political-newcomer |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=WFYI Public Media |language=en-us}}</ref> One of his parents is an immigrant from Cambodia and the other is an immigrant from Jamaica.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Brandon Sakbun: The 27 Years old History-Making Mayor of Terre Haute, Indiana|url=https://thenewamericansmag.com/2023/12/20/brandon-sakbun-the-27-years-old-history-making-mayor-of-terre-haute-indiana/|date=December 20, 2023|access-date=July 24, 2024|first=Okon|last=Ekpenyong|publisher=New Americans Magazine}}</ref> Sakbun attended Terre Haute South Vigo High School. After graduating from high school, he attended Indiana University Bloomington where he received a bachelor's degree in finance at the Kelley School of Business and a master's degree in public affairs at the O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs.
Sakbun has two sisters, one of which, Apsara, represented Cambodia in swimming in the 2024 Summer Olympics.<ref>{{cite web|last=Berney|first=Jack|date=June 27, 2024|title= Former South swimmer Apsara Sakbun to swim for Cambodia in 2024 Olympics|url= https://www.wane.com/news/former-south-swimmer-apsara-sakbun-to-swim-for-cambodia-in-2024-olympics|website=WANE 15}}</ref>
==Army career== While in college, Sakbun was in the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant upon graduation in 2018.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Meet Brandon {{!}} Sakbun for Mayor |url=https://www.sakbunformayor.com/meet-brandon |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230827222736/https://www.sakbunformayor.com/meet-brandon |archive-date=August 27, 2023 |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=Sakbunformayor |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Board |first=Tribune-Star Editorial |date=2023-11-10 |title=Tribune-Star Editorial: City voters like what they see in Brandon Sakbun |url=https://www.cleburnetimesreview.com/cnhi_network/tribune-star-editorial-city-voters-like-what-they-see-in-brandon-sakbun/article_4e07b996-b4f9-5eb9-91f5-11d0ea0b0f77.html |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=Cleburne Times-Review |language=en}}</ref> He was in the army for 5 years, rising to the rank of Captain. He also served on several strike teams with the 75th Ranger Regiment. Shortly prior to becoming mayor, Sakbun transitioned to the Indiana National Guard.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Essex |first=Chris |date=2023-11-07 |title=Brandon Sakbun defeats incumbent Duke Bennett to serve as Terre Haute's mayor |url=https://www.wthitv.com/news/brandon-sakbun-defeats-incumbent-duke-bennett-to-serve-as-terre-hautes-mayor/article_15a4a3dc-7dd5-11ee-bd36-a7b8f4ed2998.html |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=WTHI-TV |language=en}}</ref>
==Mayoral candidacy== On January 31, 2023, Sakbun announced his candidacy for mayor of Terre Haute, Indiana, running as a Democrat.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-01 |title=Brandon Sakbun announces his candidacy for mayor of Terre Haute |url=https://www.mywabashvalley.com/news/local-news/brandon-sakbun-announces-his-candidacy-for-mayor-of-terre-haute/ |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=MyWabashValley.com |language=en-US}}</ref> The incumbent mayor was Republican Duke Bennett, who had been in office since 2008 and was running for a fifth term in office. Sakbun ran a campaign based on expanding and improving infrastructure and improving educational and job opportunities in the city.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Bryant |first=Caleb |date=2023-11-09 |title=Mayor-elect Brandon Sakbun has big plans for Terre Haute - here's what he told us in a one-on-one interview |url=https://www.wthitv.com/news/mayor-elect-brandon-sakbun-has-big-plans-for-terre-haute---heres-what-he/article_40997b7a-7f3e-11ee-98cd-535a2caac7f6.html |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=WTHI-TV |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=PLATFORM {{!}} Sakbun for Mayor |url=https://www.sakbunformayor.com/platform |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=Sakbunformayor |language=en}}</ref> He was notable for his "inexhaustible energy" displayed while campaigning.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tribune-Star |first=David Kronke {{!}} |date=2023-11-07 |title=Sakbun defeats Bennett for Terre Haute mayor |url=https://www.tribstar.com/news/local_news/sakbun-defeats-bennett-for-terre-haute-mayor/article_e60fd946-7dd6-11ee-b01d-c3d9d2eda237.html |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=Terre Haute Tribune-Star |language=en}}</ref>
===Election===<!-- 2023 Terre Haute mayoral election redirects here. Please make sure that you don't change this title without changing the redirect target of that page -->
====Candidates==== =====Democratic===== *Brandon Sakbun, member of the Indiana National Guard and former Army Captain *Pat Goodwin, engineer<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-01-15 |title=Resume {{!}} Goodwin for Commissioner |url=https://goodwinforterrehaute.com/resume/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115230547/https://goodwinforterrehaute.com/resume/ |archive-date=January 15, 2021 |access-date=November 11, 2021}}</ref>
=====Republican===== *Duke Bennett, incumbent mayor (2008-2023)
====Democratic primary==== In the Democratic primary, Sakbun defeated Goodwin by a margin of 54%-46%.{{Election box begin no change|title=Democratic primary results<ref>{{Cite web |last=WTHI-TV |title=Election Results |url=https://www.wthitv.com/news/election-results/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604133026/https://www.wthitv.com/news/election-results/ |archive-date=June 4, 2023 |access-date=November 11, 2023 |website=WTHI-TV |language=en}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Brandon Sakbun|votes=2,414|percentage=56.2%}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Pat Goodwin|votes=2,034|percentage=45.8%}} {{Election box total no change|votes=4,448|percentage=100.00%}} {{Election box end}}
====Republican primary==== Incumbent mayor Bennett was nominated without opposition.
====General election==== In the general election, Sakbun defeated Bennett by a margin of 60%-40%, making him the youngest mayor in Terre Haute history.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Benter |first=Brandyn |title=Brandon Sakbun wins Terre Haute Mayoral Race |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/careersandeducation/brandon-sakbun-wins-terre-haute-mayoral-race/ar-AA1jyQcR |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=WTWO Terre Haute via MSN.com}}</ref> {{Election box begin no change|title=General election result<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-11 |title=Election Results General Election {{!}} wthitv.com |url=https://www.wthitv.com/news/election-results/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231111182612/https://www.wthitv.com/news/election-results/ |archive-date=2023-11-11 |access-date=2023-11-11}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Brandon Sakbun|votes=5,666|percentage=59.9%}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Duke Bennett|votes=3,806|percentage=40.1%}} {{Election box total no change|votes=9,472|percentage=100.00%}} {{Election box gain with party link no change|winner=Democratic Party (United States)|loser=Republican Party (United States)}} {{Election box end}}
==Mayoral tenure== Sakbun was sworn into office in January 2024.<ref name=":2" />
In Sakbun's first year, he improved city infrastructure, increased the housing stock for the city, rebuilt parks, and invested in public safety. He became well known for his bipartisan pragmatic approach to government.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tribune-Star |first=David Kronke {{!}} |date=2025-01-01 |title=Sakbun's first year: Terre Haute's young mayor talks it over |url=https://www.tribstar.com/news/local_news/sakbuns-first-year-terre-hautes-young-mayor-talks-it-over/article_a8611b36-c3b8-11ef-93a4-778157e53b2b.html |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=Terre Haute Tribune-Star |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sakbun, Brandon}} Category:1996 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century mayors of places in Indiana Category:21st-century United States Army personnel Category:Mayors of Terre Haute, Indiana Category:American mayors of Asian descent Category:American politicians of Jamaican descent Category:American people of Cambodian descent Category:Indiana Democrats Category:Indiana National Guard personnel Category:Kelley School of Business alumni Category:O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs alumni Category:United States Army officers