He was an Asian-American running in a city where an estimated 1,827 of the 88,066 residents identify their race as Asian.

He was a Republican running in a city where just 6,161 of the voters are Republicans while 18,650 are Democrats.

He was a Republican running in a city that now has Democrats in all nine City Council seats. And he was a Republican running against an anti-Bush/pro-Obama tide that swept away GOP candidates across the country.

Yet Republican Allan W. Fung ran away with the Cranston mayoral election on Nov. 4, amassing 22,148 votes while Democrat Cynthia M. Fogarty managed just 13,019. In the process, Fung became the first Asian-American to be elected mayor in Rhode Island.

So how did Fung do it? “People already knew who I was, what I stood for,” Fung said as he sat at his campaign headquarters on Reservoir Avenue. Amid the smell of fresh paint, a giant “Congratulations Mayor-Elect Fung” balloon clung to the ceiling.

Fung, 38, a former state prosecutor who now works as a lawyer and lobbyist for the MetLife Auto & Home insurance company, said voters remembered him from the 2006 mayoral race, which he lost to Democrat Michael T. Napolitano by 79 votes, and he had served on the City Council for four years.

Fung said he focused on “getting my message out and relating to what the people had concerns about — the dire fiscal situation in the city of Cranston and the state.” He said he stood for “conservative fiscal principles.” And he said, “My message resonated across party lines,” reaching Republicans, Democrats and the 28,922 unaffiliated voters who outnumber members of both parties combined.

Fung said his style also resonated with people. Fung, who had been the top ally of the outspoken former Republican Mayor Stephen P. Laffey, said he tends to be more “low key” than Laffey and to “have a more broad-based approach where I’ll sit down, try to make sure I get all of the sides of an issue vetted and make my decision.”

Fung describes himself as a moderate on social issues. For example, he said he supports abortion rights. So as a low-key moderate on social issues, is Fung more like Laffey or Laffey’s opponent in the GOP’s 2006 Senate primary, former Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee? “Probably a balance of both,” he replied.

Fung said social issues were never a factor in the mayoral campaign. And he said race was not a factor, either. Fung’s parents grew up in China, moved to Providence in 1969 and ran the Kong Wen Restaurant in Cranston for 35 years.

Born in Providence in 1970, Fung said he is “very proud” to be the state’s first Asian-American mayor “even though it was not the driving force in why I was running or even a significant part of the campaign.”

“Hopefully, it shows to not only Asian-Americans — but to any other individuals who want to pursue a dream — that there shouldn’t be any barriers that can stop you from obtaining your goals,” he said. “And hopefully it also encourages other people of color, other Asian-Americans, to run for office.”

On election night, hours before President-elect Barack Obama talked about a “defining moment” for the country, Fung talked about a “defining moment” for Cranston and Rhode Island.

“A lot of people saw history made that night on the national level,” Fung said. “It signifies that America is moving forward” and is “more open-minded and accepting of change.” He paused for a moment and added, “Hopefully.”

efitzpat@projo.com