CARY, NC (TIP): Indian American information security professional Sarika Bansal faces a runoff in the race for a Cary Town Council seat in North Carolina as she just missed the 50% plus one majority needed to win outright.
In the Oct 10 election, Bansal and Rachel Jordan finished first and second in District D with 49% and 28% votes respectively, ahead of incumbent Ryan Eades in third position with 23%.
Jordan announced Friday she has asked for a runoff, the media reported. The runoff will take place on Election Day, Nov 7.
Cary is home to over 180,000 residents, and Asian Americans make up 20% of the population. District D consists of west Cary and parts of Chatham County.
The district was represented by Ya Liu before she resigned from the post to serve in the state House of Representatives. Eades was appointed in December 2022 to complete her term.
Bansal told the media she is ready and looking forward to the Nov 7 race. If elected, Bansal would be the first Indian American to serve on the town council. “The runoff election will allow constituents in District D to cast their votes again and choose the candidate who best represents their vision and aspirations,” Jordan’s campaign manager said in a statement. In August, Bansal found one of her campaign signs vandalized. Her head on the sign was seemingly scratched off and a photo of a Black person’s face was superimposed over it. The sign was found in the Highcroft Village neighborhood in West Cary in District D, where she is running.
An advocate for women’s rights and better mental health resources throughout the community. Bansal knows “the importance of community service,” her website says.
She’s also committed to making investments in our town for future generations. “I want to set an example for my daughter that anything is possible with dedication and hard work,” she says. “We should teach our kids to dream big because it is the first step towards achieving your goals.”
She also believes Cary’s future hinges on big ideas and leadership. “We must embrace our town’s potential. We must include more voices and citizen engagement so we can make strategic investments in our town that will benefit generations to come.”
Bansal moved to Cary in 2015 to pursue a career in cyber security. Five years ago, she and her husband Naresh Lunani started a small business called Raj Jewels.