MONMOUTH, NJ (TIP): An evening to celebrate Monmouth County small-business owner and newly elected youngest state senator Vin Gopal was held on Friday, November 17, 2017, which was organized by South Asian Registration Initiatives – SARI led by prominent and successful business entrepreneur Ritesh Shah at Monroe Adult Day Care Center in Millstone Township, NJ, attended by more than 200 supporters, volunteers and community leaders.  Senator-elect Vin Gopal won by more than 4,000 votes defeating long-time incumbent politician Jennifer Beck.

Born in Neptune Township and raised in Freehold Township, Gopal will be the first Indian-American senator to be elected as a state senator in New Jersey.  “It is time for new leadership to tackle New Jersey’s grave fiscal problems to help small business owners and hard-working middle class families” says Senator-elect Gopal in his appreciation address to his volunteers, community supporters, business owners and prominent community leaders.   He added that Monmouth County needs a Senator who will battle with the insiders in Trenton, not just show up and work only for few people.  “I will be your Senator who will spend every day fighting to lower property taxes, one who will work constantly to eliminate the red tape imposed on small businesses and fight against raising minimum wage increase which will destroy small business owners in NJ” said Senator-elect Gopal.   He also added that we needed a Senator who is going to do what’s right in funding women’s health care policies, not use the Senate to fulfill their own personal wishes and ambitions.  As your Senator, I will spend every day fighting against Trenton insiders and fighting for the needs of working people.  That is my pledge to the residents of Monmouth County.”

The evening was attended by NJ’s 11^th Legislative District’s re-elected officials Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling and Assemblywoman Joann Downey and NJ’s 33^rd Legislative District’s third time elected Assemblyman Raj Mukherji were among the many local public officials who addressed the audience and thanked everyone for their contributions in electing Vin Gopal and urge everyone to stay engaged in the future to fight against discrimination and help elected more South Asians at all levels.  Edison Township Councilman Ajay Patil, Passaic County Freeholder John Bartlett and South Brunswick Board of Education re-elected member Deven Patel were amongst the local elected officials attend the evening to be a part of victory celebration.   Ritesh Shah, a successful business entrepreneur and prominent pharmacist who is a Chair of South Asian Registration Initiatives – SARI welcomed everyone and stated that South Asian communities in Monmouth County voted three times more than previous election years to elect Vin Gopal and broke the barrier and myth of Asian communities don’t get involved in elections or political process.  He mentioned that SARI organized the biggest voter’s registration, phone bank and GOTV campaigns for many months prior to the election which was the integral part of Vin Gopal’s victory.   “Our work is not over but just begun as we must continue to engage in a grass root level to volunteer for the community and political process to make a difference”, added Mr. Shah.  He thanked all the volunteers, supporters and community for their time in helping the first Indian Senator in the state.  Amit Jani, young and energetic Indian American who is an outreach director for Asian American and Pacific Islander – AAPI for Governor elect Phil Murphy also attended the event and addressed the audience and thanked everyone for their support in electing large and record breaking numbers of state and local officials in New Jersey.