Rajiv Gowda (Photo: Courtesy, Rajiv Gowda)

Rajiv Gowda, the incumbent council member from Staten Island, New York, was re-elected in May to the New York City Community Education Council from District 31.

Gowda, the first Indian /South Asian elected to public office in Staten Island in a new initiative under Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s sweeping school reforms is currently serving a one-year term in the Historic Community Education Council and beginning July 1 will serve a two-year term, an official announcement said.

Gowda a community activist and labor leader is also Joint Secretary of Federation of Indian Associations, Founder /President South Asian & Indo-Caribbean Americans for Political Progress, and member of the College of Staten Island President’s Community Advisory Council. An engineer by profession he is the only Asian American in the council, District 31, Staten Island. “The successful formula for making New York City Public Schools the best in world needs in addition to more funds from Albany, the active participation of not just parents and teachers but the entire community,” says Gowda. “I will work hard and hope to see that in my second term in office.”

(Compiled by M. Chooki from news dispatches)