Bhubaneswar: An IT professional of Odisha origin has made a foray into the political arena in the United States, generating significant buzz.
Santosh Sahoo, a native of Odisha, is contesting the mayoral election in Milpitas, a prominent Silicon Valley city in California, with voting scheduled for Tuesday.
A well-known figure in the technology sector, Sahoo has entered the political race after living in the US for around two decades. Making an entry into politics in a unique manner, he is trying to use his professional and business experience to contribute to the development of the city.
According to American media reports, as a first-time candidate, he has adopted an approach that stands in stark contrast to traditional political norms.
While gathering the signatures required for his nomination, rather than reaching out only to people he already knew, he visited approximately 50 households in his locality to discuss the issues and concerns of the local residents. He aims to bring transparency and stable leadership to the city administration, alongside conducting a thorough, detailed examination of the budget for this prominent Silicon Valley city.
In his campaign for the November 3 voting, Sahoo placed great emphasis on maintaining law and order, ensuring transparency in the municipal budget, public service, and stable leadership.
Born and educated in Odisha, he built his professional career after completing his studies and went on to work with several major IT companies.
With 20 years of experience as a tech entrepreneur, he says he is committed to addressing the challenges of Silicon Valley through a technical and sound management-oriented approach.
In this election, he is facing incumbent Mayor, Carmen Montano, and other candidates. He says his future political plans would depend on the outcome of the mayoral election.