Mayor Campaign Kickoff for Chirag Kathrani's
On Sept 2, 2024 at Biryani Junction and Temptation in San Ramon, CA
Since with a short notice of 3 days we were not expecting large crowds. Due to evite we became well aware the crowd will not fit in the restaurant so we created a stage in the parking lot to accommodate the additional crowd.
Special thanks to Rajasekhar (Owner of Biryani Junction and Temptation) for preparing the stage for the event within a days notice and providing the free appetizers for the guests.
We had some special guest who took the opportunity to help build the momentum of the campaign.
Sue Block: A Former Nurse and Founder of San Ramon Climate Action force,
Lyna Deschambault, candidate for East Bay Park Ward and former Mayor of Moraga, CA,
Rishabh Rao: An young entrepreuner from San Ramon who runs a STEM class in San Ramon.
Vasant Shetty, candidate for District 1 of the San Ramon City Council and currently works at Google.
Antony D’Angelus: Global Head of Employee RelationsGlobal Head of Employee Relations(International Rescue Committee). He has experience in dealing with large government and private organizations and is hoping to run for San Ramon District 2 in 2026.
Sara Lashanlo: 2022 candidate for San Ramon City Council District 2, Mechanical engineer by profession and is an Alumini of Cal High, San Ramon.
Additionally two juniors of Calhigh School in San Ramon , Jay and Hari, to share their thoughts.
Chirag shared his journey as an entrepreneur and discussed the challenges he noticed in San Ramon's current leadership, specifically talking in length about how the city would have ended up having 1 elected and 4 appointed board. While initially it was about standing up but now, he has decided to challenge every conventions followed in the campaign, This led him to take a stand, encouraging the younger generation to step into leadership roles and use their skills to foster business growth.
He also explained the idea behind his campaign logo, which features a dog with which is approachable and ears open to listen, additionally it also represents anyone can be a Mayor all it takes is self determination. Additionally, he addressed key issues in the city, such as housing affordability, drug problems, public safety, and community engagement.
Sara Lashanlo shared how Chirag inspired her, as she had been in a similar position two years ago. She recounted her struggles during her journey and how Chirag helped her overcome her shyness, supported her campaign efforts, door knocked, and assisted with technical aspects like building websites. She praised Chirag for his support at council meetings and for stepping up to work for the betterment of the city.
Sue Block spoke about witnessing the city's growth and her deep care for its future. She highlighted the need to stop looking backward and focus on progress to secure the city's future. Sue shared that she has known Chirag Kathrani for four years through climate exchange initiatives and believes that San Ramon needs new leaders like him, who listen, engage, and prioritize residents in every decision.
Lynda Deschambault described Chirag as a "Cutting Edge Climate Champion" and recounted how they first met during a student-led environmental movement, where Chirag was the only adult supporting the cause. She noted how their spirits connected deeply over their shared passion for environmental issues, which Chirag continues to champion. She also mentioned the impact of unplanned development on the environment and praised Chirag’s commitment to going above and beyond to support climate leaders like herself.
Vasanth Shetty, running for District 1 of the San Ramon City Council, discussed various topics including public safety, a 1% increase in taxes, sustainable and responsible growth, housing affordability, and the role of businesses in the city’s economic growth.
Anthony D’Angelus shared how Chirag inspired him to advocate for change in the city. He criticized the current leadership’s conventional thinking and expressed his desire to bring fresh perspectives to San Ramon.
Rishabh Rao, the young entrepreneur from San Ramon and founder of Future Forge STEM Labs, spoke about his business and how it motivated him to encourage others to build something of their own. Jay Gulia and Hari Kathrani, Junior at California High, also spoke about their views and wishes about San Ramon.
