U.S. Elections
Chivukula, Harris, Khan and Pradhan were among 7 winners
The victory of Kamala Harris in race for district attorney of San Francisco capped a year which witnessed a large number of Indian Americans and people of South Asian origin running for office to have a greater voice in this country. Those who won represented the community, regardless of their political affiliations. For those who did not make it, the campaign process was an experience in and of itself. They considered it their tentative advent into politics and one that shaped their commitment to future political process.
Winners
New Jersey
CHIVUKULA REELECTED, Nov. 4: Upendra Chivukula, Democratic Assemblyman from New Jersey’s 17th District, won back his seat.
California
Harris defeatED incumbent DA, Dec. 9: Kamala D. Harris, 39, center, former deputy district attorney for San Francisco, defeated incumbent district attorney Terence Hallinan, 67, to become the first woman to be elected to the position in the city. Besides being the first Indian, she is said to be the first African American district attorney in California’s history. Harris received 56 percent of votes to Hallinan’s 44 percent in the runoffs that took place after the primaries on Nov. 5. She will assume office on Jan. 8.
Texas
KHAN ELECTED TO HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL, Dec. 9: Masrur J. Khan, 53, a real estate developer and former president of the Pakistani Association of Greater Houston, won the Houston City Council seat from District F in the City. The runoffs took place on Dec. 6. He defeated Terry McConn from this Southwestern district with 54 percent of the votes. The District F seat was anseat vacated by Councilman Mark Ellis. Seen in the photo is Khan with his wife.
New York
PRADHAN WON FROM ROCKLAND COUNTY, NEW YORK, Nov. 4: Democrat Dr. V.J. Pradhan, a dentist by profession, won the Nov. 4 re-election for his seat in the 17-member Democratic-controlled Rockland County legislature in New York. “A major reason for my success is the grassroots campaign that I am known for,” Pradhan said. A resident of Rockland County since 1976, and first elected to the legislature there in 1997, Pradhan is always in election mode.
Connecticut
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MEHROTRA WON FROM GLEN RIDGE COUNCIL: Ravi Mehrotra, a resident of Glen Ridge, N.J., won his race for a seat on the city council. He received 964 votes (27.8 percent). Mehrotra was elected for a three-year term.
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CHANDRA ON AMITY EDUCATION BOARD: Satish Chandra won his race for a seat on the Amity Regional District 5 Board of Education, Connecticut. He received 2,450 votes (52.67 percent). Chandra was elected for a two-year term to the Amity Regional District 5 Board of Education.
Michigan
Ahmed, Hamtramck City Council: Shahab Ahmed is believed to be the first Bangladeshi American to be elected to a City Council seat in the race for Hamtramck City Council in Michigan (nonpartisan elections).
Losers
California
RANDHAWA LOST RACE FOR CITY COUNCILMAN, Nov. 4: Paul Randhawa, local businessman in Fairfield, Calif., lost his bid for City Councilman on Nov. 4 when he came second to last in field of seven candidates vying for 2 seats.
‘RIC’ SINGH LOST RACE FOR ORCHARD SCHOOL DISTRICT: Richard ‘Ric’ Singh lost his race for Board Member of the Orchard School District in Santa Clara County, Calif., by a small margin. He was running for the short-term two-year seat. Singh got over 48.5 percent of the vote and his opponent Michele Riley about 50.6 percent.
JOHNSON LOST RACE FOR MANHATTAN BEACH: Stuart Johnson lost his race for the Manhattan Beach, Calif., Unified School District. Born in Dallas, Tex., he received 1,285 votes (13.11 percent). He worked the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
MAHAL LOST RACE FOR SCHOOL BOARD: Kuldip S. Mahal, a retired school employee, came dead last in elections to the Dos Palos-Oro Loma School District Board elections held on Nov. 4. He secured 30 votes (8.7 percent) in a more than 60-percent turnout for the four seats to be filled. There were six contenders for these seats.
New Jersey
Poondi lost RACE for edison town council: Satish Poondi, 21, who ran as the Republican candidate for the Edison Town Council, N.J., lost his bid in what he says was a closely fought election.
Amin lost RACE IN 18th district: Former New Jersey Lottery Commissioner Jasal Amin lost his bid for the State Assembly from the 18th District which includes Edison and East Brunswick Counties. Running for elected office for the first time, Amin, along with the other two Republicans running from this district, narrowed the gap with the Democrats.
Virginia
Syeed losT RACE for virginia’s loudoun county supervisor: Democrat Afeefa Syeed, educator and inter-faith activist, who ran for Virginia’s Loudoun County Supervisor for the newly-created Potomac District, lost the race due to low voter turnout and a virtual Republican rout of the region. Syeed, a community activist and director of Al Fatih Academy, a private elementary school in Herndon, Va., secured 34.45 percent of the vote, losing to Republican Bruce Tudlock who took more than 65 percent. A resident of Northern Virginia for the last 15 years, Syeed had carried out a vigorous door-to-door campaign donning her traditional Islamic head scarf, a challenge to the voting public to throw aside prejudices that have built up since 9/11.
Ohio
BHATI LOST RACE FOR INDIAN HILL SCHOOL BOARD: Jagdish K. Bhati, who ran for a seat on the Indian Hill School Board in Hamilton County, Ohio, was soundly defeated. He secured 301 votes, less than 5 percent of the vote (4.72 percent). The vote was split seven ways as seven candidates contended for the two seats. Bhati came second from last.
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