EDISON , NJ (TIP): Among the candidates vying for their party’s endorsement in this year’s Democratic Primary for Edison Town Council, one is unique – Dr. Nimisha Shukla.  A 25-year resident of the township, Nimisha has led a life of service to her community as a pediatrician, entrepreneur, and philanthropist.  Apolitical by nature, she was encouraged to run by Mayor Thomas Lankey and will provide an independent voice and fresh ideas to resolving the challenges facing the community.

Dr. Shukla’s views have been shaped by her life experiences.  Growing up in a tenement in her native India, she learned the importance of prudence, thrift, and hard work in achieving one’s ambitions.  Caring for her mother in the battle against depression instilled in Nimisha the desire and compassion that have fueled her career in the field of pediatric medicine.

Traversing three continents in pursuit of her professional development, she ultimately immigrated to the United States where she held distinguished teaching and leadership positions at Michigan State University as Assistant Clinical Professor and at SUNY Downstate Medical Center College of Medicine in Brooklyn, New York as Chief Resident providing clinical and administrative direction to 149 physicians.

Settling in Edison, she raised twin daughters and built a successful individual pediatrics practice; subsequently, acquiring two other practices to form 7 Days Pediatrics, an innovative, multi-facility primary care practice that she currently operates.  Together with her husband, she ventured into an early form of what would today be considered e-commerce – enabling Indian Americans to affordably connect with friends and relatives in India.  Cognizant of her cultural heritage, she founded Nrityanjai USA, a dance institute dedicated to teaching the classical Indian form of dance known as Kathak and to promoting it and its integration into other dance forms through cultivation of broader public awareness.

Her Indian heritage also led her into the world of broadcast communications in which she joined DHOOM-FM Radio Station. Her experiences with DHOOM inspired her to purchase WWRL 1600-AM where she transformed a 90-year-old station that had operated under a variety of formats into a hub for Indian and South Asian talk, music, and culture.

In all of her professional, entrepreneurial, and philanthropic endeavors, Nimisha has sought to educate and empower her audiences.  She vows to do no less should she be honored by election to the Edison Town Council.

Dr. Shukla is beholden to no special interests in the Township.  She considers herself a resident of Edison – no more, no less.  She is concerned with the same issues that disturb many residents – rising property taxes, crumbling roads and infrastructure, poorly planned development, and a general decline in the overall quality-of-life experienced by many residents of the community.

She believes that variable costs within the community can be contained through enhanced budgetary due diligence and that additional funds can be secured through identification and proper application for municipal aid and economic development funding from the State of New Jersey and Middlesex County.  The funding produced by savings and grant awards can then be earmarked for property tax relief and various quality-of-life initiatives – among them, preservation of open space, repair of roads and infrastructure, and protection of families and neighborhoods.

Through enforced fiscal responsibility and renewed energy in identification of funding opportunities from state and county sources as well as municipal-business partnerships, Nimisha believes that the Township of Edison can solidify its financial footing and remain a desirable place to live and work for its residents and businesses for years to come.

Nimisha encourages all residents concerned with their community to join with her in restoring Edison’s quality-of-life for all of its residents and to support her candidacy for Town Council by voting for her in Column A in the June 4^th Democrat Primary Election.