Taral Patel running for county commissioner in Texas

Son of immigrants from India wants to “bring good paying clean energy jobs and unite our diverse community”

An Indian American policy expert, Taral V Patel, who works with the Biden administration on domestic US policy issues in Washington DC, is making a bid for commissioner in Fort Bend county, Texas, precinct 3.

Son of immigrant parents from India Patel, 29, a Democrat announced on Twitter earlier this week that he is running to flip the seat held by longtime Republican Commissioner Andy Meyers, and to make Fort Bend a forward thinking stronghold in Texas.

“I’m announcing my campaign for Fort Bend County Commissioner. Together, we can push past the divisive politics that we see in the news — and build a stronger, diverse, & more united Fort Bend,” he tweeted.

Read: Neil Makhija running for County Commissioner in Pennsylvania (March 20, 2023)

A campaign video shows him driving around the precinct and interacting with residents.

“I’m running for commissioner to fix potholes in 24 hours; expand healthcare; keep kids safe; give first responders a raise; help families with child care; fight for reproductive freedom; lower property taxes; bring good paying clean energy jobs and unite our diverse community,” Patel wrote.

Commissioners are responsible for overseeing the county’s management and administration, representing county interests at the state and federal level, participating in long-range planning, and managing the county budget and finances.

His election website describes Patel as a lifelong public servant with experience in local, state, and federal government and the private sector who has made the local community more effective, engaging, and efficient for everyone that calls Fort Bend home.

He helped lead Fort Bend county successfully through numerous flooding incidents, the Covid-19 pandemic, winter storm Uri and electric grid failure, droughts, and other major emergencies to emerge stronger and more united than ever before, it says.

“His efforts have brought thousands of good paying jobs to Fort Bend, made historic investments to public safety and emergency management programmes, and fought traffic congestion.”

Patel has worked in diverse political roles and was the youngest chief of staff to serve for the Fort Bend county’s judge’s office when another high profile Indian American, KP George, was elected as judge.

Patel had worked as a strategist during George’s campaign in the 2018 midterm elections. Earlier, he had held positions on many campaigns including Mayor Bill White, Senator Rodney Ellis and Wendy Davis.

Patel’s parents immigrated to the US from India in 1980s and he grew up in Greater Houston studying at Cinco Ranch High School and graduating from University of Texas at Austin in 2016.

Patel was appointed by President Joe Biden in 2021 to serve as a liaison for the White House.

Read: Indian American Taral Patel announces bid for Texas county commissioner (June 1, 2023)

He has also served as a Law Clerk for the Department of Justice Criminal Division in the Public Integrity Section fighting corruption, bribery, and other crimes at all levels.

He was also a key member of the White House Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (WHAANHPI) Committee.

The Democratic primary election is scheduled for March 5, 2024.