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NRI Sikh to contest for Illinois Lieutenant Governor in 2006
An NRI entrepreneur from Chicago has declared his "intentions" to contest for Lieutenant Governor of the crucial swing State of Illinois.
A successful Indo-American entrepreneur from Chicago has declared his "intentions" to contest for the post of Lieutenant Governor of the crucial swing State of Illinois.
Having contested unsuccessful for the U.S. Senate last year, Chirinjeev Kathuria has been writing letters in bulk to his fellow Republicans to support his candidature for Lieutenant Governor election in the year 2006.
"I would contest the election as a Republican," Kathuria, told the HindustanTimes.com
Asserting that Indians are the richest minority community in the United States and was highly respected, Kathuria – making mathematical calculations like an Indian politician – claimed only a minority candidate can win this seat for the Republicans in this crucial swing State.
"I am the best hope for the party. I am the only candidate who will attract the minority, young, and independent vote. I am the only minority candidate in the race and the only Asian American candidate running in both parties," claimed Kathuria, who is a Sikh.
Giving details of his mathematical calculations, he claimed to attract majority votes of 400,000 Asian-Americans. "Being a minority I could very easily attract 700,000 votes of Hispanic Americans and 950,000 registered voters of the African Americans," he said.
Traditionally, about 35 per cent of Hispanic American voters, 20 per cent of the Asian American voters, and 10 per cent of African American voters tend to vote Republican. "My candidacy will allow the Republican Party the best chance to win the Governor's seat," Kathuria stated.
A second generation Indian immigrant, Kathuria graduated in 1983 from Downers Grove North High School, earned a medical degree Brown University a MBA from the Stanford University.
In his letters Kathuria argues that his professional experience and his culture would be an asset both for the State and for the Republicans to win the election.
"My parents came to this country with little money. Any success that I have achieved I owe to the opportunities and freedoms that America has given me. That's why I want to represent the people of Illinois– to help them have the same opportunities I've had that they may have missed in the past," he said.
"Our gubernatorial race provides us with the opportunity to address and solve the issues which are foremost on the minds of Illinois voters -- jobs, homeland security, affordable healthcare, moral values, and the State's economy," he argues.
Referring to the fact he was the only physician in running, Kathuria – who has already in the campaign mode – said: "I consider a strong private health care sector as the key to the America's health. I plan to find ways for all people to afford private health care."
He also promises his electors he would prioritize making private health care accessible and making prescription drugs affordable.
Being a successful businessman, Kathuria promises to stimulate small businesses and close Illinois's deficit.
"I have been building businesses for more than a decade; as a result I can bring unique experiences and insights on how to grow the economy by stimulating small businesses. Small businesses account for the majority of the new job creation. I intend to implement tax incentives to assist small businesses and their growth and significantly reduce capital gains tax and the tax on dividends. This will allow for greater financial returns to senior citizens as they depend on dividend income and help stimulate the economy," Kathuria said.
