NJ 7 District: South Asians – Please go out and vote for Upendra Chivakula for Congress. Upendra is a champion of causes for the mainstream Americans as well as our South Asian Community. The U.S. Congress should have as many representatives from the South Asian community as possible. It is time, we go out in droves in support of Congressional candidates from South Asia.
Biography of Upendra Chivukula
New Jersey General Assembly
- Assemblyman, 17th Legislative District (2002 – present)
- Deputy Speaker (2007 – present)
- Chair, Telecommunications and Utilities Committee
- Vice Chair, Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee
- Member, Transportation, Public Works, and Independent Authorities Committee
- Former Member, Appropriations Committee
- Former Member, Commerce and Economic Development Committee
- First Asian-Indian American elected to NJ General Assembly and the fourth in the nation to be elected to state office
State of New Jersey Committees, Commissions, and Boards
- Member, NJ Commission on Science and Technology
- Member, Asian American Study Foundation
- Member, Council of State Governments/Eastern States Regional Conference on Energy and Environment
- Member, New Jersey International Education Task Force
- Member, HIT Commission
- Founding Member Co-Chair, NJ Science & Technology Legislative Caucus
- Founding Member Co-Chair, NJ World Languages & International Studies Legislative Caucus
- Past Member, NJ Board of Canvassers
- Public Member, New Jersey State Board of Social Work Examiners (Appointed by Gov. Florio, served 1994 – 1997)
National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
- Executive Committee Member, National Asian Pacific American Caucus of State Legislators
- Member, NCSL’s Task Force on Homeland Security
- Member, NCSL’s Executive Committee Task Force on Immigration and the States
- Member, Energy Task Force
- Member, Military and Veterans Affairs Task Force
- Past Chairman, NCSL’s Communications, Technology and Interstate Commerce Committee
- Past Member, NCSL Executive Committee
- Past Member, NCSL’s Connecting America Foundation for State Legislatures (FSL) Partners Project
- Past Member, NCSL’s Energy and Electric Utilities Committee
- Past Member, NCSL’s Agricultural, Environment and Energy Committee
Somerset and Middlesex Counties, NJ
- Board Member, Somerset County Affordable Housing Board of Trustees
- Member, Somerset County Cultural Commission
- Member, Middlesex County Cultural and Historic Commission
Franklin Township, New Jersey
- Former Franklin Twp. Mayor (2000)
- Former Franklin Twp. Deputy Mayor (1998)
- Former Franklin Township 5th Ward Councilman (1997 – 2005)
- Member of Franklin Twp. Community Foundation, Finance Oversight Committee, Traffic Management Committee, Fire Prevention Board, Emergency Life Support Delivery, Integrated Communications Committee, Emergency Management, Franklin Twp. Planning Board, Economic Development Committee, Community / Senior Center Steering Committee, and the Bicentennial Celebration Committee
Democratic Convention and Presidential Elections
- Member of Delegation, Democratic National Convention (1996, 2000, and 2008)
- Alternate Delegate, Democratic National Convention (2004)
- Presidential Elector in New Jersey during the 2004 Presidential Election
Civic Activities
- Leadership New Jersey Fellow (1998)
- Fannie Mae Fellow (2007)
- Flemming Institute Fellow (2003)
- Past President, Franklin Township Lions Club and Zone 2 Chairman in District 16-D
- National Committee Member, Association of Indians in America
- Past Secretary, NJ Chapter of Indian American Forum for Political Education
- Past President, Asian American Political Coalition
Professional Experience
- Consultant, WTC, Inc.
- Consultant, Rangam Consultants, Inc.
- Senior Member, Technical Staff for Bell Laboratories
- Co-author of six books
Education
- Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Guindy’s Engineering College (Anna University), (Chennai, India)
- Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, City College of the City University of New York (New York, NY)
- Certificate for Senior Managers in State and Local Government from John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University
- Graduate, University of Virginia, Emerging Leaders Program
Awards and Accomplishments
- New Jersey Technology Council’s Legislative Advocate for Technology Award (2003)
- NJ Small Business Development Centers’ Legislative Award (2004)
- Inducted into the High-Tech Hall of Fame (2004)
- New Jersey Policy Research Organization’s – Leader of Innovation (2005)
- NJ Small Business Development Centers’ Legislator of the Year Award (2005)
- NAACP Edison/Metuchen Branch – Adam Clayton Powell Award
- ADL – Americanism Award