Anna Song (politician)

Anna E. Song is a South Korean-born American politician, best known for being California's first female South Korean-born elected official.

Originally been elected to the Santa Clara County Board of Education in November 2000, Song served as Board president in 2004, and she won overwhelming re-election to a second four-year Board term that fall. Her reelection to the Board in 2008 was a more contested race - Song prevailed with 53.73% of the vote against Milpitas City Councilmember Carmen Montano. Song also won reelection in 2012 against Berryessa School Board Member David Neighbors - earning 58% of the vote despite more than a quarter million dollars ($250,000) spent against her in the campaign. Anna Song was awarded the prestigious John F. Kennedy, Jr. Award from the California Democratic Party in 2002.

Song, a resident of Santa Clara, California, is the mother of Nicholas and Timothy. Song holds a BA from the Franciscan University of Steubenville and has completed graduate courses at the Franciscan School of Theology in Berkeley, California.

The County Board of Education, including Anna Song, have come under considerable fire for two contracts with two separate Superintendents they hired. Both contracts were for nearly $1,000,000 and required neither a down payment from the Superintendent nor payments on the loan until the Superintendent left the County Office of Education's employ. This story came to light because former Superintendent Chuck Weis was attempting to walk away from a penthouse apartment he purchased with the loan but which lost considerable value. Song assertively pushed to prevent Weis from abandoning his financial responsibility to the taxpayers. Song also led the successful effort to ensure the next Superintendent's contract was amended to place financial responsibility on him.

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