NRI becomes NJ governor for a day
Kris Kolluri has become the first Indian American to become the governor of New Jersey, though just for a day.
History was made - even though for just a day - when Kris Kolluri became the first Indian American to become the governor of New Jersey. The state that has a large population of Indian origin.
The job came Kolluri's way on Thursday because governor Jon S Corzine, the Senate president, the assembly speaker and the attorney general were all out of town and as transportation commissioner he was next in the line of automatic succession.
If he too were out of town, the legislature would have been required to convene and appoint an acting governor under current state law even if the chief executive is away just for a day. New Jersey does not yet have a lieutenant governor, its first will take office only in 2010.
"At best my family will call me governor," quipped Kolluri, 38, who emigrated to New Jersey from India with his family in 1985.
His one-day stint won't give him enough time to solve the state's property tax dilemma. Instead, Kolluri brought his family and a few friends to Drumthwacket, the governor's mansion, to snap some pictures.
"I actually have a day job to do. I have to make sure the roads are safe and trains are running on time," said the fifth transportation commissioner to get the acting governor's job.
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