Wa Meng Yang of Milwaukee wins 1st Hmong Clan Council of Wisconsin election

More than 1,000 people turned out Saturday to vote in the first election to select the new cultural leader of the Wisconsin Hmong community.

Wa Meng Yang of Milwaukee won the election with 535 votes and will serve as president of the 18 Clan Council of Wisconsin for the next four years, according to Vaughn Vang, chair of the core community of the council.

It was the first time in the 35-year history of the council that it held an open election. The 18 members of the council previously voted on the president, Vang said.

The council represents the Hmong community in state and federal issues, as well as creating and preserving cultural policies.

Yang beat incumbent Txoua Xiong and Sivblong Vang, both of Green Bay.

The election for council president was held in Appleton, Eau Claire, Green Bay, La Crosse, Madison, Milwaukee and Wausau.

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