THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2022 Page 3 ~ THE ADVOCATE ASKS ~ An interview with Rep. Donald Wong on his plans for 2022 – including campaigning for a seventh two-year term representing Saugus on Beacon Hill Editor’s Note: For this week, we talked with Republican State Representative Donald H. Wong, who several weeks ago pulled nomination papers with plans of seeking a seventh two-year term representing residents in the Ninth Essex House District. Precincts 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 in Saugus make up the core of the district, which also includes parts of Lynn (Ward 1, Precincts 1 and 2) and Wakefield (Precincts 1, 2, 3 and 7). Wong, 70, is a 1970 graduate of Belmont High School. He has lived in Saugus for 47 years. Prior to his election to the State House, he served as chairman of the Saugus Board of Selectmen (20072011) and was a member of the Saugus Annual Town Meeting (2005-2007). He is a third-generation Chinese American. In 2010 he, along with Democratic State Representative Tackey Chan (Quincy), were the manages the Kowloon Restaurant – a popular Route 1 restaurant owned by three generations of his family at the same location for 70 years. Two years ago, he won a sixth term without facing opposition. Some highlights of this week’s interview follow. Q: A little more than two HIS REASON FOR SERVING: State Rep. Donald H. Wong credits his parents as “the ones who instilled in us ‘Give back to the community’ by working in government and also in our business – by giving back to the community.” first Asian Americans elected to the Massachusetts Legislature. Wong and his wife, Jeannie, have three grown children and four granddaughters. He is a businessman and president of Kowloon Group, Inc., which weeks ago – Feb. 14 – you pulled nomination papers to run for another term as state representative for the Ninth Essex House District seat. And so far, at least as of this week, you are the only candidate who is laying the groundwork for a political campaign in that race. So, what’s your biggest reason for running again? A: As long as I can bring things to my community and my district, I’m going to do the best I can to continue representing them. ASKS | SEE PAGE 6 WORKING FOR SAUGUS: Left to right: State Rep. Donald H. Wong (R-Saugus), State Rep. Jessica Giannino (D-Revere) and Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano, Sr. waited outside Saugus Town Hall for the start of the town’s annual tree lighting and festivities last December. Wong plans to run again – for a seventh term representing voters of the Ninth Essex House District seat. (Saugus Advocate photos by Mark E. Vogler).
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