Chao Wu (politician)
American politician
Chao Wu (born 1976 or 1977)[ 1] is an American politician. He is a member of the Maryland House of Delegates for District 9A in Howard and Montgomery counties. He was previously a member of the Howard County Board of Education from 2018 to 2022.
Background
Wu attended the University of Science and Technology of China , where he earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree in 2001; the National University of Singapore , where he earned a master degree in electrical and computer engineering in 2003;[ 2] and the University of Maryland, College Park , receiving a Doctor of Philosophy degree in electrical and computer engineering in 2009.[ 3] [ 4] While at the University of Maryland, Wu served as president of the local Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA) chapter.[ 5] As CSSA president, Wu campaigned against Tibetan independence and perceived biased content in The Diamondback towards the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.[ 5]
After graduating, Wu worked in the private and public sectors, specializing in data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cybersecurity and enterprise risk management.[ 4] Wu represented the River Hill community of Columbia, Maryland on the Columbia Association's board of directors until 2018,[ 6] and served as a board member of the River Hill Village Association from 2012 to 2018.[ 7] During this time, Wu was instrumental in initiating Columbia 's sister city agreement with Liyang .[ 5] [ 8]
In November 2017 Wu filed to run for the Howard County Board of Education.[ 7] He won the nonpartisan primary election on June 27, 2018,[ 9] and later won election to the board on November 6.[ 3] In December 2020, Wu was elected as the Board of Education's chairperson, becoming the first Asian American to lead the board.[ 10] In October 2021, Wu was named to serve as a board member to the Maryland Association of Boards of Education.[ 11]
In February 2022 Wu filed to run for the Maryland House of Delegates.[ 12] He won the Democratic primary on July 19, 2022, and later won the general election on November 8, narrowly defeating incumbent state delegate Trent Kittleman with Natalie Ziegler .[ 13]
In the legislature
Wu in the Ways and Means Committee, 2024
Wu was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 11, 2023.[ 14] He is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.[ 15]
Personal life
Wu lives in Clarksville, Maryland .[ 12] He is a father of two children.[ 16]
Political positions
In June 2021 Wu voted against ending the school system's school resource officer program. The school board voted 5–3 to continue the program.[ 17]
Electoral history
Howard County Board of Education primary election, 2018[ 18]
Candidate
Votes
%
Vicky Cutroneo
20,602
14.1
Bob Glascock
17,503
12.0
Robert Wayne Miller
16,469
11.3
Chao Wu
15,600
10.7
Jen Mallo
13,545
9.3
Sabina Taj
13,326
9.2
Anita Pandey
10,041
6.9
Danny Mackey
9,980
6.9
Carleen Pena
8,301
5.7
Saif Rehman
7,582
5.2
Mavourene Robinson
5,828
4.0
Timothy Hodgson Hamilton
3,691
2.5
Christopher Michael Hilfiger
3,171
2.2
Howard County Board of Education general election, 2018[ 19]
Candidate
Votes
%
Vicky Cutroneo
58,426
15.1
Chao Wu
54,254
14.1
Jen Mallo
53,766
13.9
Sabina Taj
51,842
13.4
Bob Glascock
46,929
12.2
Robert Wayne Miller
43,847
11.4
Anita Pandey
38,109
9.9
Danny Mackey
36,923
9.6
Write-in
1,685
0.4
References
^ Ehrenhaft, Ethan (December 1, 2022). "As Vicky Cutroneo and Chao Wu end terms on Howard school board, they say last four years were challenging and rewarding" . Howard County Times . Archived from the original on January 13, 2023. Retrieved January 13, 2023 .
^ "Members – Delegate Chao Wu" . mgaleg.maryland.gov . Maryland General Assembly . January 11, 2023. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023 .
^ a b "Alum Chao Wu wins public office in Howard County" . ece.umd.edu . University of Maryland, College Park . December 6, 2018. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022 .
^ a b "Q&A Series – Next Generation Leaders: Dr. Chao Wu" . Committee of 100 . Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022 .
^ a b c Hamilton, Clive ; Ohlberg, Mareike (September 3, 2020). "Political elites on the periphery". Hidden Hand: Exposing How the Chinese Communist Party is Reshaping the World . Simon and Schuster . pp. 93 . ISBN 978-1-78607-784-4 . OCLC 1150166864 .
^ Greisman, David (April 9, 2012). "Few contested races in upcoming CA board, village elections" . The Baltimore Sun . Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022 .
^ a b Michaels, Andrew (November 6, 2017). "Candidates eyeing Howard Board of Education seats in 2018" . The Baltimore Sun . Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022 .
^ Holzberg, Janene (June 15, 2018). "Columbia poised to add China's Liyang as sister city" . The Baltimore Sun . Archived from the original on March 10, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2023 . Han's attention focused on Columbia after she was introduced to Chao Wu, a Chinese-American who is a member of the Columbia Association village board, is running for a seat on the Howard County Board of Education and writes a blog about Columbia. He is serving as a vice chair on the Liyang Sister City Committee.
^ Nocera, Jess (June 27, 2018). "Eight Howard County school board candidates advance" . Howard County Times . Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022 .
^ Meyer, Jacob Calvin (December 7, 2020). "After swearing in of new members, Chao Wu becomes first Asian American to serve as Howard school board chair" . Howard County Times . Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022 .
^ Shwe, Elizabeth (October 15, 2021). "Virginia McGraw Named New Maryland Association of Boards of Education President" . Maryland Matters . Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022 .
^ a b Haynes, Allana (March 1, 2022). "Three candidates running for two seats on Howard County school board" . Howard County Times . Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022 .
^ Bixby, Ginny (November 23, 2022). "Ziegler, Wu declare victory in tight District 9A House of Delegates race" . Bethesda Magazine . Archived from the original on November 23, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022 .
^ "Chao Wu, Maryland State Delegate" . Maryland Manual On-Line . Maryland State Archives. January 19, 2023. Archived from the original on January 21, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2023 .
^ Gaines, Danielle E. (January 5, 2023). "Jones announces new Democratic caucus, committee leaders for 2023 General Assembly session" . Maryland Matters . Archived from the original on January 6, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2023 .
^ Michaels, Andrew (January 9, 2017). "Pointers Run Elementary fourth-grader designs animal T-shirts for Ellicott City flood recovery" . Howard County Times . Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022 .
^ Haynes, Allana (June 25, 2021). "Resource officers will remain in Howard County schools next year, Board of Education decides in 5–3 vote" . Howard County Times . Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022 .
^ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for Howard County" . elections.maryland.gov . Maryland State Board of Elections. July 31, 2018. Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved December 28, 2022 .
^ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for Howard County" . elections.maryland.gov . Maryland State Board of Elections. November 12, 2018. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved December 28, 2022 .
^ "Official 2022 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates" . elections.maryland.gov . Maryland State Board of Elections. August 24, 2022. Archived from the original on February 2, 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2022 .
^ "Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election Results for House of Delegates" . elections.maryland.gov . Maryland State Board of Elections. July 12, 2022. Archived from the original on November 29, 2022. Retrieved November 29, 2022 .
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