Thakar Singh Basati, 52, a community activist, will contest for the Township Clerk position in Palantine Township, near Chicago, on a democratic ticket. The election will be held on April 5.
‘‘There has been no representation of Asian Americans in the township. A lot of money is being spent, but none comes to the Asians,’’ Basati, who has been a community activist for a long time, told News India-Times. If he gets elected it will be a four-year term.
He decided to contest this post after he coordinated the activities of Asian American senior citizens and realized the kind of
problems they were having. ‘‘It should be ascertained where the money ($6 million)
the township collects goes. Diversity is another issue, if other communities are paying taxes they should also have adequate
representation,’’ said Basati.
One of the duties of a clerk is to do the disbursement of the capital accumulated.
Basati claims the township has been a
bastion for the Republicans for over 150 years. His involvement in social and cultural activities made the democratic party approach him for the clerk’s position.
He was the founder president of Punjabi Cultural Society in Palantine. He is also the founder of the Asian Americans Seniors Association in his township.
Basati moved to the U.S. from Chandigarh in India in 1976. He did B.A. and B.Sc from Punjab University.
After moving here, he worked as a CT technician in various hospitals till 1995.
Since then he has been a full-time realtor although he still does part-time CT
work.
Basati lives in Palantine with his wife who is a nurse. He has two daughters and a son.