Indian American to contest Illinois Assembly seat

An Indian-American business owner here will contest for a state representative seat in the Illinois Assembly next year.

Announcing his candidacy, Mohan Manian, who came to the US in 1989 from India, said his priority would be to make Illinois more business-friendly and to address the state's financial crisis.

"Our leaders have lost the trust of our people but still hold on to the power through backroom deals and corruption. They have failed us ethically and economically and I am keen to restore public faith in Illinois," Manian told PTI.

A Republican, Manian has announced his candidacy for the seat of State Representative for District 59, which is currently vacant after its incumbent Kathy Ryg resigned last month.

He said if elected, he would focus on balancing the state's budget without cutting essential services for the disabled or raising taxes.

The other priority would be to make Illinois more business-friendly by reducing taxes and eliminating bureaucratic red tape.

Election to the State Representative seats would be held in February next year.

In preparation for the election, Manian would reach out to independents and Democrats in his district. Manian has previously worked for various social service agencies.

Manian's announcement to run for the seat comes days after another Indian-American Raja Krishnamoorthi announced his candidacy for the post of Illinois Comptroller.