Two of the Indian American candidates , who contested for municipal elections in Texas last weekend, are headed to a runoff. Sanjay Singhal, a candidate in the Sugar Land district 2 city council race, and Sukh Kaur, San Antonio, district 1 city councilwoman, will face the run-off elections in June.
Singhal, an engineer and the president of the Telfair HOA, received 39 per cent of the votes in the May 3 election while contender Nasir Hussain received 22%. Kaur, who finished first among a crowded field of 10 candidates, fell short of gaining the 50 per cent plus one vote needed to avoid a runoff. She will face business owner Patty Gibbons in the runoff election.
“I’m humbled, grateful, and energised by the strong support I received from Sugar Land district 2 voters,” Singhal said after the election. He added that his view that the candidates need to focus on local issues faced by citizens and seek votes based on their past performance and not identity or race, was reinforced. He said that he is committed to serving the community.
Kaur said that she was proud of the team that she had put together. First elected in 2023, she is an educationist and a real estate business woman and the first Indian American to serve on the city council. In her campaign, she focused on affordable housing for residents of her district.
Indian American businessman Gurvinder Singh, who contested for the Sachse City Council Place 6, received 37.36 per cent of votes while the winner Matthew Prestenberg, received 62.64 per cent. For the Sugar Land City Council at-large Position 1, Dr George M. Kakkanatt, an Indian American veteran, community leader, and public servant, received 19.38 per cent. Jim Vonderhaar with 37.11% and Maggy Horgan, with almost 21 per cent of votes, are headed for a run-off for this seat.
In the race for Sugar Land district 4, Rick Miller won without a run off; defeating, among others, Indian American candidate and former planning and zoning commissioner Sapana Patel.
The state of Texas has emerged as a hub for Indian Americans with several running for elected office at different levels including federal, state, city, and school boards.
Singhal, an engineer and the president of the Telfair HOA, received 39 per cent of the votes in the May 3 election while contender Nasir Hussain received 22%. Kaur, who finished first among a crowded field of 10 candidates, fell short of gaining the 50 per cent plus one vote needed to avoid a runoff. She will face business owner Patty Gibbons in the runoff election.
“I’m humbled, grateful, and energised by the strong support I received from Sugar Land district 2 voters,” Singhal said after the election. He added that his view that the candidates need to focus on local issues faced by citizens and seek votes based on their past performance and not identity or race, was reinforced. He said that he is committed to serving the community.
Kaur said that she was proud of the team that she had put together. First elected in 2023, she is an educationist and a real estate business woman and the first Indian American to serve on the city council. In her campaign, she focused on affordable housing for residents of her district.
Indian American businessman Gurvinder Singh, who contested for the Sachse City Council Place 6, received 37.36 per cent of votes while the winner Matthew Prestenberg, received 62.64 per cent. For the Sugar Land City Council at-large Position 1, Dr George M. Kakkanatt, an Indian American veteran, community leader, and public servant, received 19.38 per cent. Jim Vonderhaar with 37.11% and Maggy Horgan, with almost 21 per cent of votes, are headed for a run-off for this seat.
In the race for Sugar Land district 4, Rick Miller won without a run off; defeating, among others, Indian American candidate and former planning and zoning commissioner Sapana Patel.
The state of Texas has emerged as a hub for Indian Americans with several running for elected office at different levels including federal, state, city, and school boards.
