Second-generation immigrant Quan Wei runs for Milpida City Council

Milpitas City Council candidate Bill Chuan, a Chinese-American veteran who served in the U.S. Army, is eager to bring his experience back to his community. In an exclusive interview, he shared, “I have a strong passion for service. I served my country in the U.S. Army, and now I want to serve my city with even greater capability.”

Bill is a second-generation immigrant born in the U.S. His parents hail from Shanghai, China, having also lived in Taiwan and Hong Kong. From a young age, Bill demonstrated a commitment to community service, engaging with children with special needs as a Boy Scout. After graduating high school, he joined the U.S. Army as an armor specialist, driving tanks, which deepened his sense of responsibility toward his country and society.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from California Polytechnic State University and has spent 25 years in the tech industry. His wife, Kelly Yip-Chuan, is the vice-chair of the Milpitas Unified School District Board, and together they have three daughters.

Since moving to Milpitas in 2008, Bill has actively participated in community affairs, contributing significantly through volunteer work. His involvement includes serving on the campus committee for Burnett Elementary School, participating in the Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps at Milpitas High School, and working with the Milpitas Zoning Advisory Committee. For the past five years, he has been a member of the Milpitas Planning Commission, where he served as both vice-chair and chair. Currently, he is involved with the Santa Clara Valley Water Resources Independent Monitoring Committee and is a member of the community emergency response team.

Although this is Bill’s first run for city council, he feels well-prepared thanks to his extensive experience in local matters. His top priority, he says, is public safety, aiming to keep emergency response times under three minutes in Milpitas.

Bill is also committed to enhancing public works initiatives to improve and upgrade aging infrastructure. This includes addressing congestion in busy areas and tackling issues such as street flooding and potholes. He plans to seek collaborative solutions to homelessness, partnering with city staff and external resources to implement both creative and practical approaches.

Additionally, he emphasizes the importance of maintaining a family-centric culture in Milpitas by ensuring the city can provide housing options that support the community. He advocates for affordable housing specifically for essential workers like police officers, firefighters, and teachers, as well as families in need.

“I will always listen to the voices of the residents and take their opinions into account,” he stated. “I care about our residents, especially the youth and the elderly, and I am committed to serving them. We need better transparency and fiscal accountability to show our residents that they are our priority, and that decisions are not made for political reasons.”