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For the first time in the history of Washington DC, a woman of South Asian origin has run for mayor. This is a huge opportunity for city politics. The name of that woman is Rini Sampath who is now in the news. She considers herself a proud immigrant and emphasizes the slogan of ‘getting the basics right’ in her election campaign.

Who is Rini Sampath?

Rini Sampath is a 31 year old cyber security specialist. He was born in Theni district of Tamil Nadu state of India. When she was just 7 years old, her family came to America. She has been living in Washington DC city for more than ten years. Rini describes herself as a proud immigrant. She said, ‘I came to this country at the age of 7. My family came here to achieve the American dream. Now I am fully dedicated to making that dream a reality for every citizen of DC.

Gave a befitting reply on ‘Go back to India’

When someone tweeted at her like ‘go back to India’, Rini responded calmly and shared her story. Starting her election campaign, she wrote on her X handle, ‘My name is Rini Sampath and I am contesting to become the next mayor of Washington DC. People in DC are very active in national politics, but they feel distant and isolated from local government. The city’s current leaders have been disappointing them. I want to change this situation.

Does Rini Sampath have an election agenda?

Rini Sampath has run her entire election campaign on the slogan ‘Fix the Basics’. He says that small but important problems of the city should be fixed first.

What are his election issues?

• Affordable housing: building more homes, lowering rents, and protecting renters
• Roads and sidewalks: filling potholes, repairing broken sidewalks
• Emergency Services: Ensuring a fast response to calls to 911 and 311
• Food facilities: Making grocery stores and fresh vegetables and fruits easily available, simplifying rules.
• Road safety: Prioritizing pedestrians, cyclists and public transport systems like buses and metros
• Clean City and Green City: Making parks and public places clean and beautiful
• Education: Keeping school buildings safe and in good condition, creating a stable team of teachers, ensuring regular attendance of children, providing school bus facilities and supporting the mental health of children.
• Tax Reduction: Reducing the burden of taxes on small businesses and the general public.
• Affordable Childcare: Making Child Care Affordable

Rini’s strong message

Renee’s message is clear, she says, ‘I will fix what’s broken, keep the promises I’ve made, end bad policies, and work diligently to make DC better for everyone. You deserve a mayor who keeps her promises.

His stance on immigration

Rini Sampath has opposed the strict immigration policies of President Donald Trump. She said that if she becomes mayor, she will make Washington DC a ‘welcoming city’. She clearly stated, ‘If I become mayor, I will not voluntarily cooperate with immigration officials from the DC Police (MPD) or other government departments if it makes our communities less safe or unstable. There will be no data sharing between MPD and ICE. Local resources will not be used for actions that intimidate people. Every resident can send their child to school, go to work and live their life without fear.

Who are his opponents?

Apart from Rini Sampath, there are other candidates in the election for the post of Mayor of Washington DC. These include:

janice louise george

kenyon mcduffie

gary goodweather

Robert L Gross

rhonda hamilton

Rini says that although many of the policy goals of her and other candidates seem similar, the real difference is honesty and practicality. The city already faces a deficit of $1.1 billion, he said. We are barely able to meet the expenses of the existing programmes. In such a situation, making new promises is irresponsible and dishonest. DC needs an honest mayor who understands the real situation and pays full attention to solving the existing problems first.

Sports of American Hindu Coalition

Rini Sampath has received the support of American Hindu Coalition. This organization declared its support to Rini by holding a meeting at the ISKCON temple located near Washington DC. Ankur Mishra, executive director of the organization’s Maryland chapter, said, ‘We are no longer mere spectators. We have become a strong, united and organized community. We will ensure that our values ​​and the voices of our families are heard even at the highest echelons of local government. Rini Sampath’s candidacy is historic, but our unity will make this a long-lasting movement. Let us tell you that elections will be fought in two phases, first primary election (party election): 16 June and main election: 3 November.