CUPERTINO, CA (TIP): Savita Vaidhyanathan became first Indian-American mayor of Cupertino. She took over for Barry Chang during a Dec. 8 public hearing. Vaidhyanathan is also the first woman mayor of the city since Kris Wang served in 2010. Her first term will end in 2018.

“This is definitely a very momentous moment in my life,” Vaidhyanathan told a packed house at community hall. “I have several people to thank for this, and many of them are in this room, and my father, who is not here but is watching from heaven above. He instilled in me the confidence that I could do anything I set my heart to as long as I put the hard work in.” she said she is looking forward to continuing to work with residents in the community.

Savita has been a Cupertino resident for over 19 years. She has been deeply involved in several community activities in the city. She took classes at De Anza College and graduated with an MBA from San Jose State University. She has worked as a high school Math teacher, an officer in a commercial bank, and in non-profit management.

She is a former president of the Rotary Club of Cupertino, which is a powerful civic force, and served on the De Anza College Commission and the West Valley Community Services board. In 2005 she organized the city’s first Festival of Lights Diwali celebration, which now attracts thousands each year to celebrate intercultural understanding. She wants to create more housing for seniors and more teen centers and youth-friendly hubs