Rady Mom | |
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Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives | |
Assumed office January 7, 2015 |
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Preceded by | Kevin Murphy |
Personal details | |
Born | 1970 (age 46–47) Pailin, Cambodia |
Nationality | American |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Sirady Van |
Children | Justin, Joee, Amelia and Allyanna |
Alma mater | Middlesex Community College |
Occupation | Buddhist Monk, acupressure therapist, Politician |
Rady Mom (born 1970) is a representative in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, representing the 18th Middlesex district. The district was formerly represented by Kevin Murphy, who vacated his seat in 2014 when he was hired as the current city manager of Lowell. Mom is the first Cambodian-American to be elected to a state Legislature and the first Cambodian American elected to a stated legislature in the country.
Born in Pailin, Cambodia in 1970, the son of a ruby miner. When he was 10, his family was sent to a refugee camp by the Khmer Rouge. According to Mom, his entire family was on a list to be executed. Rady and his family emigrated to America in 1982, sponsored by the Chester Park United Methodist Church in Duluth, Minnesota. In 1984 they moved to Lowell, Massachusetts. Mom became an American Citizen in 1990. He attended Middlesex Community College. Rady, an acupressure therapist, owns Mom's Therapy & Herbal Center in Lowell, MA. Before going to college he became a Buddhist Monk. His grandfather was the high priest at the Lowell Glory Buddhist Temple.
Mom is a graduate of Middlesex Community College and in 2015 received the Distinguished Alumni Award at commencement.
Mom defeated independent Fred Bahou in the 2014 Massachusetts general election with 61.7% of the vote.
The 2016 election marked the first time three Cambodian-American candidates faced off for a state legislature position. Mom ran against Kamara Kay and Cheth Khim in a bid to keep his seat in the Massachusetts House. Mom faced heavy opposition, with a large part of the local Cambodian-American constituency disliking Mom's association with Hun Manet who visited Lowell in May, 2016. Mom won the election with 51% of the vote.