May 10, 2005

Remember the name Evan Low—you’ll
be hearing it a lot in the future

Low, 23, ran for city council, recently named president of
local Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Democratic Club

By Jeanne Carbone Lewis
Staff Writer

Evan Low is setting the world on fire. Committed to community service, he serves on numerous boards, works at the Volunteer Center of Silicon Valley, substitute teaches, found time to run for Campbell City Council—and he’s only 23 years old.

Evan Low poses with Campbell Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Betty Deal at a 2004 Women’s Club of Campbell Crab Feed fundraiser. Photos courtesy of Evan Low.

“Evan is a wonderful young man,” said Leland High School teacher Carla Lucarotti who was Low’s adviser in the school’s Key Club. Low substitute teaches at Leland. “For his young age he is very focused. He is going to be extremely successful and do something great. I am so proud of him.”

Key Club is the largest service program for high school students under Kiwanis International. Low became active at Leland, serving as vice president his senior year and contributing 500 volunteer hours.

Christmas in the Park, Family Giving Tree, March of Dimes and packing sack lunches for Loaves and Fishes were only some of the organizations the group volunteered for.

His father was a huge influence
Low attributes his interest in community service to his father, Dr. Arthur Low, an optometrist in Campbell. He watched him serve as president of the Campbell Chamber of Commerce [he is still on their board of directors], was active in the Lions Club, awarded Campbell Citizen of the Year and volunteered for Flying Doctors. Dr. Low will be departing for Guadalajara, Mexico in November to distribute eyeglasses with 10 other doctors.

“Evan has taken my desire for community service and made it his passion,” said Dr. Low in a telephone interview regarding his son’s community activism.

After high school, Low continued his studies. He obtained an A.A. degree from DeAnza College and a B.A. Degree in Political Science from San Jose State University. He co-taught a leadership course at DeAnza and studied abroad in London, England doing undergraduate work, which gave him “a global perspective.”

Outspoken about the pressures of young people to attend a big name college, Low speaks to them at schools to seek another path, through work or life experiences and attend a community college. And he is candid with his passion for community involvement and civic participation.

Low’s resume is extensive. His experience is listed as a member of the Campbell Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors of Campbell Museum and Ainsley House Foundation, Downtown Campbell Business Association, West San Jose/Campbell Lion’s Club and Almaden Valley Kiwanis Club Treasurer [2001-2003].

A fourth generation Chinese American, Low’s involvement includes Asian Pacific American Students for Leadership, Asian Americans for Community Involvement and Asian Pacific American Leadership Institute. He was awarded the Asian American Hero Award by Santa Clara County Supervisor Liz Kniss for community involvement and civic activism.

Runs for city council
In November Low ran for Campbell City Council, the youngest candidate and the first Asian American to run for office in the city. His platform goals were to revitalize downtown Campbell and stimulate economic development while maintaining the suburban integrity and protecting open space, provide after school and youth programs, and public safety and traffic control. He lost by only 1 percent of the votes.

Low admits there are disadvantages to being young and in politics, such as credibility and lack of experience.

He contends that youth brings a fresh perspective, energy and a better representation of the community [Campbell’s average age is 35 yet the majority on the city council is old enough to collect Social Security]. He contends that the youth pay taxes, vote and serve in the armed forces and should be involved in the governmental decision making process.

“I’ve known Evan since he was young and his father would bring him to meetings,” said Betty Deal, executive director of the Campbell Chamber of Commerce. “His father was always supportive and Evan is taking up those traits of being involved. He put up a good race.”

Evan Low poses with the other Asian American Hero awardee at the group’s 2003 luncheon with Supervisor Liz Kniss.

Low works for the Volunteer Center of Silicon Valley managing community affairs. He most recently worked on the Human Race. He also works as an educator for San Jose Unified School District and DeAnza College. His Campbell Chamber of Commerce duties include the upcoming Boogie on the Bayou Festival downtown the second weekend of May.

Low was also a driving force in the recent special election Santa Clara Libraries vote. He is proud of the fact that the voters responded to continue funding the status quo for the libraries and is encouraged that Measure B almost passed. That measure would have added staff and kept the library open on Sundays and Mondays.

“The community overwhelmingly believed in our continued support in passing Measure A Although our library will still be closed two days out of the week, additional funding lost by only a small percentage. Sixty four percent of the voters were in favor of Measure B, which reflected a significant level of support for our Campbell Library,” said Low.

Will be a force for gay issues
Low recently was elected president of the Silicon Valley Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Democratic Club [LGBT]. LGBT is a chartered member of Santa Clara County Democratic Party and the California Democratic Party. It engages in legislative, political, education, civic welfare and other activities as well as promotes equal participation in the political process without regard to sexual orientation, race, religion, nationality, physical disability, creed, gender age, ethnic origin or economic status.

“In 30 years, same sex marriages will not be an issue,” said Low. “Once women were seen as property and interracial marriage was illegal. There will be an evolution [of marriage].”

LGBT meets monthly to discuss a wide range of political issues important to the lesbian and gay community, endorses and helps to elect Democratic candidates for public office and encourages openly-gay political candidates.

“Evan has an unwavering passion for community service,” said Jamie McLeod, vice mayor of the city of Santa Clara. “I have gotten to know him in his many roles as an advocate for the public, nonprofit and business communities in Silicon Valley. I am impressed by his energy and passion for helping people and his ease before business owners, political leaders, students and working families.

“We need leaders like Evan to help people feel comfortable with the political process,” continued McLeod.

“Others look to him for leadership especially from underrepresented communities. Many people from the Asian Pacific American, youth and my own LGBT community trust his sense of vision and strength of character. My only disagreement with Evan is that he is convinced that Campbell is the greatest city on earth and I am sure that Santa Clara is.”

Regarding his commitment to public service, Low is pragmatic.

“I was exposed at a young age to service and am passionate about young people getting involved,” said Low.

“I followed my passion and would encourage others to volunteer and make a positive contribution in their local communities. We are often busy with work and family but we should also find some way to give back. It is important to be involved.”