Upendra J. Chivukula
Upendra Chivukula | |
|---|---|
| Member of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities | |
| Assumed office September 30, 2014 | |
| Appointed by | Chris Christie |
| Preceded by | Jeanne Fox |
| Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from the 17th district | |
| In office January 8, 2002 – September 30, 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Jerry Green Bob Smith |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Danielsen |
| Mayor of Franklin Township, Somerset County, New Jersey | |
| In office January 1, 2000 – December 31, 2000 | |
| Deputy Mayor of Franklin Township | |
| In office January 1, 1998 – December 31, 1998 | |
| Member of the Franklin Township Council from the 5th Ward | |
| In office January 1, 1998 – December 31, 2005 | |
| Preceded by | Jack Shreve |
| Succeeded by | James Vassanella |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 8, 1950 |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Lucrecia Dayci |
| Alma mater | B.E.E. Guindy Engineering College (Electrical Engineering) M.E.E. City College of New York (Electrical Engineering) |
| Occupation | Engineer |
Upendra Chivukula (born October 8, 1950) is an Indian-American Democratic politician currently serving on the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, who previously represented New Jersey's 17th legislative district in the General Assembly from 2002 to 2014. He was the first Indian American elected to the New Jersey legislature and the fourth Indian American elected to state office anywhere in the United States. During his time in office, he was regarded as a progressive.
After immigrating to the United States from India, Chivukula served on the Franklin Township council from 1998 to 2005. In 2000, he served as mayor of Franklin. In 2001, he was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly, representing the 17th district. He was re-elected to six subsequent terms, rising to the position of deputy speaker from 2007 until his resignation in 2014.
Chivukula has run twice for the United States House of Representatives. In 2012, he was the Democratic nominee for New Jersey's 7th district but was defeated by incumbent Leonard Lance. In 2014, he ran instead for the open seat in New Jersey's 12th district which had been vacated by Rush Holt Jr. He finished third in the Democratic primary. After his defeat, he was appointed to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities by Chris Christie and was sworn in on September 30, 2014.