State Representative – 11th Essex District

Hong Net is a Cambodian “Killing Fields” survivor. He came to the U.S. alone at the age of 15 from a refugee camp in Thailand with nothing but a plastic bag and an X-ray of a broken arm. Hong has 30 years of experience in social work, education, and governmental leadership in the U.S. and abroad. After graduating from college with a degree in Political Science, Hong was asked by the United Nations Development Program and the USAID to assist Cambodia’s newly formed democracy working with cabinet ministers for three years to create policies for their public safety, education, job creation, and tourism industry. He also was asked to run an international language center and taught English and computer skills to over 800 local students.

Here in the U.S. Hong was given the opportunity to teach ESL to new immigrant students in the Chicopee School System. He also taught citizen classes to Southeast Asian students in Lowell and was invited to speak at the United Nations in New York on politics in Cambodia and the Southeast Asian refugees.

Hong’s ongoing commitment to public service is reflected in his work as a Child Support Enforcement Specialist with the Department of Revenue providing help for 27 years securing economic assistance for children and families of Massachusetts and as Lynn’s City Councilor-At-Large for seven terms. Hong is a business partner at the Rainbow Adult Health Day Care on the Lynnway providing daily healthcare, counseling, and wraparound services to seniors and disabled residents throughout the North Shore. Hong is a former member of the board directors for the YMCP MetroNorth, RiveWorks Credit Union, LYSOA, advisory board of Project YES, delegate of the SEIU Local 509 to the North Shore Labor Council, and an advisor to the KARONA Center.

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Currently serving as a Member of the Lynn School Committee and as Legislative Director for Senator Brendan Crighton, Sean works on addressing some of the most pressing issues facing our community day in and day out. Sean believes his extensive experience already working in the State House will enable him to effectively serve on day one as a State Representative. 

His advocacy extends beyond government roles, as he is involved in numerous community organizations and initiatives, including serving as a Board Member of My Brother’s Table, the YMCA, and Alumni & Friends of Lynn Classical. He also co-founded a local non-profit, Kayak and Sail Lynn.

But Sean hasn’t just worked on the challenges that our residents face—he’s lived them. Raised in West Lynn (his mother grew up in King’s Lynn and his father grew up in Curwin Circle), he encountered a number of obstacles. He was born to a teen mother and neither of his parents had finished high school. His father was incarcerated when Sean was very young, and his mother faced substance use and mental health challenges. Sean experienced homelessness, eventually residing in a shelter in Lynn. Sean credits his community for helping him overcome these hurdles, which is why he has dedicated his life to giving back to it. His personal experiences provide him with a deep understanding of the challenges that our residents face, which he says fuels lots of his work.

Sean attended Lynn Public Schools for his entire K-12 education, including Callahan, Breed, and Classical. He later attended North Shore Community College and Amherst College. He is married to Kelsey, a special education teacher, coach, and union representative in Lynn Public Schools. Sean and Kelsey are expecting their first child in September.

He is focused on a wide range of issues to create a better future, including tackling the housing affordability crisis head-on, improving our education system by addressing our outdated schools with overcrowded classrooms, fixing our transportation infrastructure, and combating the alarming threat of climate change. 

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