About Thai

THAI VIET PHAN was born near a refugee camp in Thailand after her parents fled the devastation of the Vietnam War. They were eventually settled in the United States after months of living in camps in Thailand and the Philippines. Tragically, her father succumbed to brain cancer soon after arriving in the states, forcing Thai’s mom to raise her and her sister as a single mom in a foreign country. Thai’s mom worked as a babysitter watching neighborhood kids, and they lived in garages and make-shift bedrooms with other families to make ends meet. Like many first-generation immigrant families fleeing conflict and oppression, they were no strangers to poverty.

Despite the struggle of growing up poor and unable to afford even basic school supplies, Thai excelled in the classroom. She attended local public schools and was the first in her family to graduate high school. She completed her bachelor’s degree at UCLA and later graduated from USC with a dual Law/Master of Public Policy degree. Throughout college and grad school, Thai worked multiple part-time jobs to supplement her student loans and afford housing and tuition.

Thai Viet Phan is married to her law school sweetheart, Paurav, a former Captain in the US Air Force JAG Corps. They returned to Thai’s beloved hometown after graduation and are proud homeowners in southwest Santa Ana.

Today, Thai works as municipal law attorney, where she provides legal advice and counsel to cities and other public agencies throughout Southern California. She is Santa Ana’s representative to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California where she provides policy input regarding strengthening our water resources. Thai also serves as Vice President of the Vietnamese American Bar Association of Southern California and Second District Representative to the Orange County Division of the League of California Cities.

Thai also mentors students and young people in Orange County by sharing the message of persistence, dedication, and community service. She has been a vocal advocate and leader for the disadvantaged and immigrant communities in Santa Ana. By always serving the residents, neighborhoods, and people of Santa Ana on the City Council, she will continue to be a strong voice for the community and City that gave her and her family so much.