By Andy Chiang, APAICS Intern

Dr. Henry Lee of Derwood, Maryland was appointed to represent District 5 on the Montgomery County School Board, receiving 4 of the 7 board member votes in an election held on June 17.

He was one of 17 total applicants and 5 finalists who were interviewed for the position. Dr. Lee previously ran for the School Board position in 2002, but lost in a close race to current Board member Charles Haughey for one of the two at large seats.

Lee received votes from Charles Haughey (At Large), Gabriel Romero (District 1), Walter N. Lange (District 2) and Patricia B O'Neil (District 3). He takes the spot of Reginald M. Felton, who is no longer a school board member because he moved out of the district he represented. County board members are required by Maryland state law to reside in the district they represent.

Dr. Lee is a dentist who practices in Olney, MD and has been a long time community leader. His various activities included serving on the Interagency Coordinating Board of Montgomery County, and co-chairing the Montgomery County School Health Council. This past school year, Dr. Lee was president of the Redland Middle School Parent Teacher Association. He is also an active member of the Organization of Chinese Americans, Greater Washington, DC Chapter.

Dr. Lee now becomes only the second APIA to ever serve on the Montgomery County School Board. The first was Dr. Alan Cheung, who was also the first member from an ethnic minority to serve as the President of the School Board.

Many supporters took time out during the days preceding the vote to advocate for Dr. Lee's candidacy.