Satish V. Poondi, 21, a Republican who is a student at the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, is going to run for the Edison Town Council, according to a news report. His district has a 13,000-strong electorate, of which 19 percent is Indian American. He was chosen as the Republican candidate without contesting a primary.

Poondi, who is the only Indian American in the race for the four seats for which elections are being held this year, is quoted as saying he is undeterred by the prospect of balancing the rigors of participating in an election campaign with his studies.

Endorsing the student’s candidature, Jesal Amin, who is contesting the electoral race for the New Jersey State Assembly from the 18th District, was quoted as saying in the report that though Poondi is young, he has a great potential.

Another Indian American, Parag Patel, a Democrat, is already part of the nine-member Council. If Poondi is elected to the Town Council, he will be the second person of Indian origin in the Council. Poondi, who is expected to receive a Doctor of Pharmacy degree in mid-2005, was quoted as saying that he is running for the Town Council because he believes the government can work for the people and help bring about change for the better in their lives. Listing his priorities if he is elected, Poondi said his accent would be on getting the economy moving in the right direction, extending valuable support to business in order to increase jobs, fighting the trend of frequent increases in property taxes, promoting better education by hiring more teachers, cutting administrative costs and increased spending on schools. Apart from his studies and political activities, Poondi also works on weekends as a manager at Pharmacare Pharmacy in New York and helps with their family-owned business.

He co-hosts a talk show devoted to current issues for a New Jersey-based radio station, and is involved with running a Web site that helps students enhance their academic performances.

(Compiled from a news dispatch by Charles Isaac)