Harpreet Singh Sandhu

Harpreet Singh Sandhu, an Amritdhari Sikh, was appointed in January 2007 as the first Asian to serve as a member of the Richmond, California city council. A well known Sikh Activist in the Bay area he has served as the President of El Sobrante Gurdwara Sahib's management council for many years. Richmond, located just north of Berkeley, is a major city of over 100,000 people located just across the bay from the City of San Francisco. Mr. Singh was sworn in on January 16, 2007 in the presence of Mayor Gayle McLaughlin, members of the California Sikh community and city officials gathered at City Hall. During the swearing-in ceremony Harpreet Singh said, "I will work not only for the development of the city but also for the country". He ended his speech with the Sikh daily prayer "Nanak Naam Chardikala Tere Bhane Sarbat Da Bhalla", explaining the meaning of Sarbat Da Bhalla: "For the Good of All". He was appointed to fill the vacancy left by Gayle McGlaughlin when she became mayor.