SACRAMENTO (TIP): Vin (Vinay) Kruttiventi is an Indian American Republican, who is vying for a seat in the 14th Congressional District, home to a large Indian American community.
Kruttiventi secured 17.8 percent of the vote in the March 5th primary and now faces incumbent Democrat Eric Swalwell, who is seeking his sixth term. Kruttiventi, a businessman and entrepreneur, came to the United States after earning an engineering degree from Osmania University in India. He is the founder and CEO of A5 Services, a business and technology consulting firm.
Kruttiventi has made a substantial personal investment of $500,000 into his congressional campaign.
The 14th Congressional District spans Lake, Napa, Yolo, Solano, and Sonoma Counties. According to the Cook Political Report PVI, the district leans heavily Democratic (+17).
If elected, Kruttiventi pledges to co-sponsor and advocate for a bill that will cap House members’ terms at three and senators’ terms at two.
Kruttiventi runs the Vinay Kruttiventi Foundation, dedicated to supporting nonprofit organizations in the Tri-Valley region. The foundation aims to empower nonprofits and small businesses to thrive and contribute to vibrant communities. Beyond his political and entrepreneurial pursuits, Kruttiventi describes himself as a devoted husband, father, community leader, philanthropist, and outdoors enthusiast. In his leisure time, he enjoys hiking the scenic trails of East Bay, watching basketball and baseball games with friends, and cherishing moments with his beloved wife and two daughters.
Tag: Sacramento
-
Indian American Republican candidate Vin Kruttiventi, vying for a seat in CA 14th district
-
Three Indian Americans appointed to key jobs by California Governor
Parminder Aujla
SACRAMENTO (TIP) : California Governor Gavin Newsom has appointed three Indian Americans to key posts in his administration. aginder Dhillon, of Sacramento, has been appointed Deputy Director of Program Support in the Division of Rehabilitative Programs at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Hemant Dhingra, of Clovis, has been appointed to the Medical Board of California, while Nisha Devi Rodrigo, of San Francisco, has been appointed to the Commission on the Status of Women and Girls.
Dhillon has been Associate Director at the Corrections department since 2019 and served in several positions in the Budget Management Branch from 2008 to 2010, including Staff Services Manager I and Associate Budget Analyst.
Dhillon was a Branch Chief at the California Department of Housing and Community Development from 2017 to 2019. She was a Branch Chief at the California Department of Public Health from 2012 to 2016 and a Health Program Specialist I there from 2010 to 2012.
Dhillon was a Research Analyst I at the Employment Development Department from 2006 to 2007. She was a Staff Services Analyst at the California Department of Transportation in 2006.
Dhillon earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of California, Davis.
This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $166,008. Dhillon is a Democrat.
Dhingra has been Chief of Medical Staff at the Saint Agnes Medical Center of Fresno since 2023, where he was Founding Program Director of Internal Medicine.
He has been President of the Nephrology Group since 2014. Dhingra is a member of the American Society of Nephrology and the California Medical Association.
He earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and completed his Fellowship in Nephrology at Texas Tech University. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Dhingra is a Democrat.
Rodrigo has been the founder of Kala Wellness since 2012 and an Eastern Medicine Practitioner with the United Nations since 2018.
She was the founder at the InFocus Wellness Institute from 2004 to 2012. Rodrigo did Communications for MP Graham Allen in the House of Commons in the UK Parliament from 2000 to 2001.
She was a Hansard Scholar at the London School of Economics and Political Science in 2000. Rodrigo did Communications in the White House Counsel’s Office from 1999 to 2000.
She is a member of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Physical Fitness and Mental Well-Being and of the Yoga Alliance Board of Directors.
Rodrigo earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Loyola Marymount University and has studied Eastern Medicine Modalities since 2001.
This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Rodrigo is a Democrat. -
Indian American Ash Kalra named chair of California Assembly Judiciary Committee
SACRAMENTO (TIP): Ash Kalra, the first Indian American elected to the California State Assembly, has been appointed Chair of the Assembly Committee on Judiciary by Speaker Robert Rivas.
“At a time when California must be vigilant in protecting civil rights, fostering a just legal system, and ensuring everyday consumers are protected, it is an honor to serve as Chair of Judiciary Committee,” Kalra stated after his appointment on Nov 22.
“Having served on this committee for the past seven years under Chairs Stone and Maienschein, I am grateful for their leadership and ready to hit the ground running,” he added. “I am thankful to Speaker Robert Rivas for his confidence and this opportunity to further serve the people of California.”
“The justice system is foundational to keeping Californians safe and holding offenders accountable. I’m confident Assemblymember Kalra will fight for the rights of the people who matter most, while ensuring the system itself is just,” Rivas said.
The Assembly Committee on Judiciary’s primary jurisdictions include family law, product liability, tort liability, Civil Code, and Evidence Code (excluding criminal procedure).
Kalra had most recently served as Chair of the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee for the past five years.
He was first elected in 2016, becoming the first Indian American to serve in the California Legislature in state history, and was re-elected to his fourth term in 2022.
In the State Assembly, he has authored successful legislation promoting secure and peaceful communities for all residents, including protecting and preserving civil rights and civil liberties, and has dedicated his tenure in public service to equity and social justice issues, according to his website.
Kalra represents California’s 25th Assembly District, which encompasses the majority of San José, including downtown and open space areas in southeast Santa Clara County.
Kalra has a law degree from Georgetown University and was a Deputy Public Defender for Santa Clara County for 11 years. As a public defender, he represented indigent clients in both felony and misdemeanor matters. -
Hunter Biden Indicted on Tax Charges
SACRAMENTO (TIP): The special counsel investigating Hunter Biden charged the president’s son late Thursday, December 7, on nine counts stemming from his failure to pay his federal taxes on time on millions in income from foreign businesses, the second indictment against him this year — and the latest development in a case Republicans have made the cornerstone of a possible impeachment of President Biden, The New York Times reported. A grand jury in the Central District of California charged Mr. Biden with three counts each of evasion of a tax assessment, failure to file and pay taxes, and filing a false or fraudulent tax return, according to the 56-page indictment. Mr. Biden “engaged in a four-year scheme to not pay at least $1.4 million in self-assessed federal taxes he owed for tax years 2016 through 2019” wrote the special counsel, David C. Weiss, who first began investigating the president’s son five years ago as the Trump-appointed U.S. attorney for Delaware.
The charges come after Mr. Biden had appeared this summer to be on the verge of a plea deal that would not have led to jail time and in the view of his lawyer at the time would have granted him immunity for potential crimes stemming from his business dealings. But the deal collapsed at the last minute, and in September he was indicted on separate charges stemming from his failure to acknowledge his drug use when he purchased a handgun in 2018. The new indictment also comes on the cusp of a vote by the Republican-led House to formalize its impeachment inquiry into President Biden, which is based almost entirely on unsubstantiated allegations that he benefited from his son’s lucrative consulting work for companies in Ukraine and China.
The decision to file criminal charges against the president’s troubled son was an extraordinary step for Mr. Weiss, who was named a special counsel in August by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland after the dramatic last-minute collapse of the plea deal that would have resolved the long-running investigation without Mr. Biden serving any prison time.
The Hunter Biden case sits at the crowded intersection of America’s colliding political and legal systems. There is now a very real prospect that President Biden’s son will be defending himself in two federal criminal trials during a presidential election year — as former President Donald J. Trump, his father’s likely opponent, confronts two possible trials in his federal documents and election interference cases.
Republican leaders in the House released draft text of a procedural impeachment resolution against President Biden on Thursday, just hours before word of the new charges started to percolate through official Washington. It is not clear what effect the indictment will have their inquiry.
-
Indian-origin Vaibhav Taneja named Tesla CFO
SACRAMENTO (TIP): Indian-origin Vaibhav Taneja has been named Tesla’s new Chief Financial Officer as the previous finance chief Zachary Kirkhorn announced his decision to step down, the automaker said in a company filing on Monday, August 7. Taneja, 45, was appointed Tesla CFO in addition to his current role as Chief Accounting Officer (CAO) of the US-based electric car major on Friday after Kirhorn, Tesla’s Master of Coin and finance chief for the last four years, stepped down from the post.
Kirkhorn’s 13-year tenure with the Elon Musk-led American EV giant was described as one of “tremendous expansion and growth” in the company filing.
“Tesla thanks Mr. Kirkhorn for his significant contributions. Mr. Kirkhorn will continue to serve Tesla through the end of the year to support a seamless transition,” it said.
“This morning Tesla announced that I’ve stepped down from my role as Chief Financial Officer, succeeded by our Chief Accounting Officer, Vaibhav Taneja,” Kirkhorn said in a LinkedIn post.
“Being a part of this company is a special experience, and I’m extremely proud of the work we’ve done together since I joined over 13 years ago. As I shift my responsibilities to support this transition, I want to thank the talented, passionate, and hard-working employees at Tesla, who have accomplished things many thought (were) not possible. I also want to thank Elon for his leadership and optimism, which has inspired so many people,” he said. Taneja has served as Tesla’s CAO since March 2019 and as the Corporate Controller since May 2018. He served as the Assistant Corporate Controller between February 2017 and May 2018, and from March 2016, served in various finance and accounting roles at SolarCity Corporation, a US-based solar panel developer acquired by Tesla in 2016.
Before that, Taneja was employed at PricewaterhouseCoopers in both India and the US between July 1999 and March 2016, the company filing said. -
Indian American Democrats Ami Bera, Ro Khanna win California primaries
SACRAMENTO, CA(TIP): Indian American Democrats Ami Bera and Ro Khanna have won their primaries in their bid to hold on to their congressional seats in California.
Bera, the longest serving Indian American in the US House of Representatives, polled nearly 52 percent of the total votes cast in the California District 7 on June 5th. He will face Republican Andrew Grant, who finished second with 33 percent votes.
Ami Bera was first elected in 2012, when he defeated incumbent Dan Lungren by two percentage points. Since then both his reelection runs were very competitive.
Freshman congressman Ro Khanna finished first in District 17, winning 59 percent of the votes. Republican Ron Cohen, who received 25 percent of votes, will challenge the Indian American in the November election.
Khanna, who represents Silicon Valley, entered Congress by beating incumbent and fellow Democrat Mike Honda in 2016.
In the statewide elections, Indian American Vivek Viswanathan, who ran for treasurer, finished third.
The former Hillary Clinton aide, who ran an innovative campaign by running on his sneakers from one end of the state to the other, polled nearly half a million votes. Fellow Asian American Fiona Ma received more than 1.6 million votes (43 percent) — nearly double the votes polled by his nearest rival, Republican Greg Conlon.
In California, there is only one primary, and candidates from all parties compete, with the top two finishers advancing to the general election.
Last month, two Indian American Democrats won primaries in Texas and Arkansas.
Sri Preston Kulkarni won the runoff for Texas’ 22nd Congressional District, while school teacher Chintan Desai won Arkansas’ first congressional district Democratic primary unopposed.