California's Secretary of State building in Sacramento is now officially named after the late March Fong Eu.
The naming is historic, but it's a bit different than what some are reporting.
March Fong Eu was the first Asian-American woman elected to a statewide office in the U.S. and served as California's Secretary of State for five straight terms.
She had many "firsts" during her career, including being the first woman to serve as acting California governor. She was also instrumental in getting the very facility built that now bears her name.
Some news organizations, state lawmakers and political groups cheered the naming as historic, saying it's the first state building to be named after a woman.
History was made yesterday when the Secretary of State’s office was named after the late March Fong Eu.
— Anthony Rendon (@Rendon63rd) March 26, 2019
It’s the first state building to be named after a woman — a fitting honor for a woman who served with distinction in the Assembly and as Secretary of State. pic.twitter.com/tmFfFew8oC
The California Secretary of State Building is now named after former Secretary March Fong Eu. This is the first state building in California named after a woman. #AAPI #WomensHistoryMonth https://t.co/F1eMVdt2yF
— Dr. Richard Pan (@DrPanMD) March 26, 2019
The Secretary of State building complex is renamed in honor of the late former CA Secretary of State March Fong Eu. This is the first time the CA state building is named for a woman. #Shero https://t.co/J12h9EOYxO
— SVAPADC (@svapadc) March 26, 2019
But, that's one "first" that's not exactly right.
The Department of General Services, which oversees all of the state-owned buildings, looked into it for us and pointed to a government building in San Bernardino named for Rosa Parks in 2008.
The March Fong Eu Secretary of State complex still breaks ground, however, as the first state-owned building to be named for an Asian-American woman.
CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you. As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.