Allan Fung Mayor of Cranston
Allan Fung for Governor.
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ABOUT ALLAN
Mayor Allan Wai-Ket Fung 馮偉傑 is known for his bold reforms that have made Cranston one of the Top 50 Cities to Live in America!
Allan was born in Providence, Rhode Island and is the eldest of Kwong Wen and Tan Ping’s three children. Growing up on the diverse south side of Providence, Allan has lived the American dream because of his parent’s amazing sacrifices. Leaving family and friends in Hong Kong and not knowing a word of English, they came to the United States to create a better life for the family that they were about to start. With faith and a lot of hard work, they opened Kong Wen Restaurant and became known for their excellent cooking. From an early age, Allan’s parents instilled a hard work ethic in him. He bused tables and washed dishes just as soon as he could stand on the milk cart and reach over the sink. He later waited on customers and even learned to cook, a skill that he uses today.
After graduating from St. Matthew’s School, Allan was admitted to the prestigious Classical High School where he became good friends with another future Mayor, Angel Taveras. Allan was the first in his family to go to college and graduated with honors from Rhode Island College and Suffolk University Law School.
Early in his professional career, Allan was a litigation attorney at a Providence law firm, then a criminal prosecutor in the Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit of the RI Attorney General’s Office, and later becoming Government Affairs Counsel for MetLife.
When he became increasingly frustrated with Cranston’s decline due to fiscal mismanagement, Allan decided to roll up his sleeves and ran successfully for an At-Large seat on the City Council. In 2008, he was elected as the first Chinese American Mayor in the history of Rhode Island.
FUNG WAS THE FIRST ASIAN-AMERICAN MAYOR ELECTED IN THE STATE’S HISTORY AND IS CURRENTLY SERVING HIS THIRD TERM.
Allan has turned Cranston from a municipality with deep financial troubles into one of the Top 50 Cities to Live in America as recognized for the past three years by 24/7 Wall Street. Allan has led the city to its highest bond rating in over two decades, increased business development by over $66 million and added over 2800 new jobs during his tenure. International retailers like Alex and Ani have their world headquarters in the city’s center, and others like L.L. Bean, Container Store and Crate & Barrel have flourished in recent years in Garden City. Manufacturers like Cadence, Yushin, and TACO continue to expand in Cranston. Solar farms will be a part of the landscape of the western part of the city while he’s also taken measures to improve and protect the coastline on the eastern side. The library system is nationally recognized for community outreach, and the schools – once riddled with millions in debt – are now running surpluses and being commended statewide.
After meeting during a hurricane in Florida in 2012, Allan married Barbara Ann Fenton, a physical therapist in June 2016. The ceremony took place at Barbara Ann’s home parish of St. Mary’s in Newport. When off duty, they are often found kayaking on the bay or riding their bikes around the state.