Harry Sidhu
Encyclopedia
Harry Sidhu is an American
businessman and Republican
politician
, in Orange County
, California
, currently serving as an Anaheim City Councilman.
Sidhu was elected to the Anaheim City Council
in November 2004. He is the first person of Sikh
and Indian heritage to achieve the position of Anaheim City Councilman. Prior to his election, Sidhu served as Chairman of the Anaheim Budget Committee. He also currently serves as: the Orange County Republican Party's Deputy Chairman for the City of Anaheim and Republican Convention Delegate
; City of Anaheim Audit Committee Member; Orange County Sanitation District Director; Boys and Girls Clubs of Anaheim Board Member; and Anaheim Family YMCA
Advisory Board Member.
Having been born and raised in India
, Sidhu immigrated to the United States
in 1974, earned a Bachelor of Science
in Mechanical Engineering
from Drexel University
, and became a U.S. citizen in 1979.
In 1980, he moved from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, to Southern California
gaining employment in the aerospace industry during the nation's peak defense build-up period. During that time, Sidhu also became licensed in the State of California as a Professional Engineer
, Real Estate
Broker
, and General Contractor
. He is a California businessman owning El Pollo Loco franchises in Orange and Riverside Counties.
Prior to the U.S. Supreme Court
decision in Kelo v. New London, Sidhu led the fight against eminent domain with his colleagues on the Anaheim City Council. To ensure that their policy could not be reversed by a future city council on a simple majority vote, a charter amendment, Measure P, was placed on the November 2006 ballot and unanimously passed by the voters to forever prohibit Kelo-type eminent domain in Anaheim.
In 2008, Sidhu ran for the California State Senate
, but lost the Republican primary to state Assemblywoman Mimi Walters
(61% - 39%) http://www.redcounty.com/orange-county/2008/06/i-wrote-last-week-that/, who went on to win the general election.
In 2010, Harry ran for Orange County Supervisor in the lower-income 4th district despite having lived in the affluent Anaheim Hills for 16 years in the 3rd district. Due to this, signs labeling Sidhu as a carpetbagger
were put up by his opponents. Harry went on to lose the election with 36.9% of the vote to Shawn Nelson's 63.1%.
Sidhu and his wife, Gin, live in Anaheim
with their two children.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman and Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, in Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, currently serving as an Anaheim City Councilman.
Sidhu was elected to the Anaheim City Council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
in November 2004. He is the first person of Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
and Indian heritage to achieve the position of Anaheim City Councilman. Prior to his election, Sidhu served as Chairman of the Anaheim Budget Committee. He also currently serves as: the Orange County Republican Party's Deputy Chairman for the City of Anaheim and Republican Convention Delegate
Delegate
A delegate is a person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization at a meeting or conference between organizations of the same level A delegate is a person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization (e.g., a government, a charity, an NGO, or a trade union) at a meeting or conference...
; City of Anaheim Audit Committee Member; Orange County Sanitation District Director; Boys and Girls Clubs of Anaheim Board Member; and Anaheim Family YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
Advisory Board Member.
Having been born and raised in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Sidhu immigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1974, earned a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
from Drexel University
Drexel University
Drexel University is a private research university with the main campus located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a noted financier and philanthropist. Drexel offers 70 full-time undergraduate programs and accelerated degrees...
, and became a U.S. citizen in 1979.
In 1980, he moved from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, to Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
gaining employment in the aerospace industry during the nation's peak defense build-up period. During that time, Sidhu also became licensed in the State of California as a Professional Engineer
Professional Engineer
Regulation of the engineering profession is established by various jurisdictions of the world to protect the safety, well-being and other interests of the general public, and to define the licensure process through which an engineer becomes authorized to provide professional services to the...
, Real Estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
Broker
Broker
A broker is a party that arranges transactions between a buyer and a seller, and gets a commission when the deal is executed. A broker who also acts as a seller or as a buyer becomes a principal party to the deal...
, and General Contractor
General contractor
A general contractor is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of a construction site, management of vendors and trades, and communication of information to involved parties throughout the course of a building project.-Description:...
. He is a California businessman owning El Pollo Loco franchises in Orange and Riverside Counties.
Prior to the U.S. Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
decision in Kelo v. New London, Sidhu led the fight against eminent domain with his colleagues on the Anaheim City Council. To ensure that their policy could not be reversed by a future city council on a simple majority vote, a charter amendment, Measure P, was placed on the November 2006 ballot and unanimously passed by the voters to forever prohibit Kelo-type eminent domain in Anaheim.
In 2008, Sidhu ran for the California State Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
, but lost the Republican primary to state Assemblywoman Mimi Walters
Mimi Walters
Mimi K. Walters is a Republican State Senator from the state of California, representing the 33rd District since 2008. She previously served in the Assembly for four years from 2004 to 2008, where she served in the Republican leadership as Assistant Republican Leader and Vice Chair of the...
(61% - 39%) http://www.redcounty.com/orange-county/2008/06/i-wrote-last-week-that/, who went on to win the general election.
In 2010, Harry ran for Orange County Supervisor in the lower-income 4th district despite having lived in the affluent Anaheim Hills for 16 years in the 3rd district. Due to this, signs labeling Sidhu as a carpetbagger
Carpetbagger
Carpetbaggers was a pejorative term Southerners gave to Northerners who moved to the South during the Reconstruction era, between 1865 and 1877....
were put up by his opponents. Harry went on to lose the election with 36.9% of the vote to Shawn Nelson's 63.1%.
Sidhu and his wife, Gin, live in Anaheim
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
with their two children.