USA (Commonwealth Union)_ Darshana Patel, an Indian-American woman researcher, has declared her candidacy for California State Assembly District 76 in 2024. Ms. Patel, aged 48, is running for the North County. The current head of state Brian Maienschein will step down as his tenure expires in 2024. According to media sources, Ms Patel, who is a community leader and a Democrat, said, “As the daughter of immigrants who struggled to realize the American Dream, I know the challenges that families can face during hard times”.
Ms Patel, who shifted to California as a teen, further stated, “I am running for State Assembly because I want to make sure that every person has the opportunity to succeed and thrive, and because I can use my experience as a scientist, elected school board member, and civic leader to make a difference in their lives”. Ms. Patel was elected to the board of Poway Unified at a time when the district was struggling due to financial mismanagement and criminal theft, and she assisted in restoring budgetary responsibility. In 2020, she was elected again. Patel is a member of the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs and serves as president of the San Diego County School Boards Association besides her role on the school board. Some of her former executive roles include the Rancho Penasquitos Planning Board, Rancho Penasquitos Town Council, Park Village Elementary School PTA, and Education Foundation Board. Ms. Patel, together with her husband and three kids, resides in San Diego. She graduated from Occidental College with a Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry and also holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Biophysics from the University of California, Irvine. After a successful career in biotechnology research, Darshana started finding other ways to give back to her community