Biography of Ed Chau

Democratic Candidate for United States Congress, California's 42nd District - Challenger

Ed Chau was first elected to the Montebello Unified School District Board of Education in 1999 (with the highest number of votes) and re-elected in 2001 and 2005. He has served as the President (twice) and Vice-President on the School Board. The School District is the third largest in Los Angeles County. Ed ran for the School Board to make a difference and to promote quality education for our children's future. Toward that end, he advocates academic excellence, school safety, fiscal accountability, parental involvement, post-secondary and vocational education, technology, and community partnerships.

In 2004, Ed helped to pass a $98 million school bond that enabled the District to receive an additional $73 million in state matching funds to help relieve overcrowding, make repairs, and finance renovation for many of the aging schools. His many efforts have been recognized with the "Man of the Year" award by the Rio Hondo Boys and Girls Club in 2002; Ed was the recipient of the Montebello Council PTA Award in 2004. In 2007, Ed also received the Congressional Recognition of Excellence in Service from Congresswoman Grace Napolitano.

Prior to his election to the School Board, Ed served in various capacities for the city of Montebello, including the Budget Committee, Investment Committee, Traffic and Safety Commission, and the Civil Service Commission. Ed Chau has been the principal attorney for his law firm for the past 14 years; his areas of practice include commercial transactions, litigation, corporation, real estate, immigration, landlord and tenant law. In his law practice, Ed frequently represents small business owners and low-income clients. He firmly believes that attorneys have an obligation to society to make it a better place to live, and all persons should be treated equally under the law. Since 2001, Ed has also been volunteering his time to serve as a Judge Pro Tem for the Los Angeles Superior Court, adjudicating small claim and civil cases. In that role, Ed conducts court hearings and helps resolve disputes applying the law. After completing law school, Ed clerked for the LA City Attorney's Office, working in its Consumer Protection Section, Criminal Division.

Prior to becoming an attorney, Ed was an Engineer and Programmer for IBM and Unisys Corporation, respectively, for 10 years. He holds bachelor degrees in Computer Science and Sociology, both from USC, and a Juris Doctorate degree from Southwestern University School of Law. Ed obtained his law degree with night study while working full time for IBM.

Ed became interested in public service early on. While attending Belmont High School in Los Angeles, he worked part-time for the Department of Public Social Services, assisting low income families with SSI, AFDC and Medi-Cal benefits. He did volunteer work at the Chinatown Service Center, assisting new immigrants and low income families. Ed also volunteered part-time as a broadcaster for a non-profit radio station, and later as a volunteer attorney at the Asian Pacific American Legal Center.

Ed is married to Candice and they have one daughter, Caitlyn.