Candidate for
Council Member; City of Union City

I am a pharmacist and a business executive

I am a pharmacist by profession. I have worked in pharmacies at Rite Aid and hospitals like Kaiser Permanente. I am also a Pharma/biotech executive.

Union City is my home

I have lived in Union City for 6 years. I came to the US in 1975 and lived on the East Coast for 7 years and now 28 years in the Bay Area, all with my wife Vijaya. Vijaya used to be a Teacher's Aide in the Cupertino Union School District and was also actively involved with the PTA. She is now busy with her volunteer work. We have raised two kids in the Bay Area. Both attended public schools and are in/from the state school system: my elder son, Harish, is as an assistant professor at UC Merced and Vinay, the younger son, is a recent graduate of UC Berkeley. My daughter-in-law, Lee-May, is a registered nurse who spent a couple years in Africa as a Peace Corps volunteer.

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world"

Why am I running for the City Council? Here are the two main reasons:

1.I want to make a difference.
2.I strongly believe in giving back to the country that has nurtured me and my family for so many years.

My Career

My first job in the US was as a Drug Clerk for a Duane Reade pharmacy in downtown Manhattan. I was paid $2.15 per hour when the minimum wage was $2.10 per hour. I know what it means to work hard in order to make ends meet. When I came to the Bay Area in 1982, I had a regular job at a pharmaceutical company, but I was also working Thursday nights at a Payless Pharmacy and weekend shifts at a Kaiser Permanente pharmacy.

I attended San Jose State University in the evenings and obtained my Masters degree in Quality Assurance. All that hard work ultimately paid off. I have moved up the ladder and was a manger, a director, and later a vice president, responsible for budgets, people, and projects. This country has been very kind to me and left me to set my own limits and go after my goals.

I have been a leader and involved with the community

I have been interested in leadership activities from my days in college. I started out as a Rotaract Youth Club member and later won a tough election to become the College Student Union President. I have been a Trustee and Vice President of cultural organizations.

In Union City, I have been an active player in the Save the Hills campaign, walking door-to-door to gather support to preserve our beautiful hills. I have also attended a number of meetings at City Hall, including those on the Climate Action Task Force and School Board meetings.

It will be my great privilege and honor to serve you as your Union City Council Member!