Shyam Reddy

Corporate attorney Shyam Reddy, candidate for Georgia Secretary of State, whose parents are from villages in South Central India, says he is a Georgian through and through insists its time for new blood in the State’s leadership.

Casting himself as the “next generation leadership,” Reddy hearkens to his parents’ farming background, their immigration to this country, and their success, in defining his personality and goals. “While my parents instilled in me a deep-rooted appreciation for our Indian heritage, I was raised first and foremost as an American,” says Reddy, “I am a Georgian through and through.”

A corporate lawyer in the Atlanta office of Kilpatrick Stockton LLP, Reddy was born in Dublin, Georgia, graduated from Emory University, and got his law degree from the University of Georgia.

Calling himself fiscally conservative and socially responsible, Reddy who is on the Board of The Indus Entrepreneurs, says he will work to make Georgia more business-friendly.

“The campaign is going well,” Reddy told NIT. He announced his candidature March 23, and since then has received some media coverage. “I have a good campaign committee, and I am trying to raise a quarter million dollars by June 30,” said Reddy who has been attending numerous speaking events to make his presence felt. He helped found and currently serves on the Board of the Red Clay Democrats, an organization geared to bring in younger Democrats. He is a member of The Georgia Bar and The Indus Bar and part of the 2005 L.E.A.D. Atlanta Class of Leadership Atlanta.

“As Secretary of State, I will be ushering in the next generation of Southern Democratic leadership. This leadership represents deep and abiding Georgian values. My years of experience in practicing corporate law and working within the Georgia political landscape will serve me well in this role,” he contends. “I got up one morning feeling very frustrated that the Democrats were losing everything — in Georgia. The only way we can recover is to present new talent, fresh faces. I believe I am one of them,” he told News India-Times describing himself as a “diehard Democrat.”

Among the issues on his slate he cites — creating a strong business environment, bringing in election reform, fighting investment fraud, enforcing professional licensing standards, and preserving Georgia’s culture and history.

“I’m running for public office because I want to improve the lives of everyday Georgians and help make Georgia one of the best states in which to live and conduct business in America,” claims Reddy.

He refused to divulge the names of persons in his campaign committee, “I have 25 or 30 people. I’ve kept this group very private from media. That’s been more helpful in terms of fundraising.” He said for his fundraising he had a consultant who ran the Southeastern operations for former Presidential candidate Senator John Kerry.