Kashmir Gill

Kashmir (Kash) Gill (Punjabi: ਕਸ਼ਮੀਰ ਗਿੱਲ) is the former mayor of Yuba City, California. Gill served two terms as mayor, from 2009 to 2010 and from 2013 to 2014. Gill also served on the City Council of Yuba City. Gill was the first Sikh to be elected mayor in the United States.[2]

Kashmir Gill
ਕਸ਼ਮੀਰ ਗਿੱਲ
Mayor of Yuba City, California
In office 2009–2010
In office 2013–2014
Yuba City Council
In office 2006–2010
In office 2013–2014
Personal details
Born	1963/1964 (age 56–57)[1] Lakhsian village, Hoshiarpur district, Punjab, India
Spouse(s)	Neena Gill
Children	3
Alma mater	California State University, Chico
Occupation	Senior V.P.
Profession	Banking

Early life

At three years old, Gill emigrated with his family from Lakhsina village in the Hoshiarpur district of Punjab, India, after his uncle Bains sponsored them.[3][4] Gill worked in his family's peach orchards and prune orchards until he was 13 years old.[4] As an adult, Gill became the business manager of his family's farm.[5][6]

Gill graduated from Yuba City High School, Yuba Community College, and California State University, Chico, where he earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural business in 1987.[7] Gill graduated from California Agricultural Leadership Program and the Graduate School of Banking, Boulder, Colorado, in 2006.[7][8][9]

Professional career

As of 2000, Gill was vice president and regional manager of Butte Community Bank in Yuba City, California.[10] In 2001, Gill was on the board of directors of the Yuba City Sikh Temple.[11]

As of 2006, Gill was working at Banner Bank as senior vice president, where he leads the Northern California Agribusiness Division. Gill is an active member of the Republican Party.

Political career

Gill ran for a seat on the five-member Yuba City Council in 2004,[12][13] but Gill did not win a seat in the election.[14][15]

Gill successfully ran for Yuba City Council in 2006.[7] Gill ran for reelection to the Yuba City Council in 2008. Because Gill received the second-most votes in the election, he served as Yuba City's vice mayor in 2008,[16] and Gill was subsequently sworn in as Yuba City's mayor on November 10, 2009.[3][8] The position of mayor of Yuba City is held in rotation by the two individuals who received the most votes in city council elections.[3] Gill was the first Punjabi American and first Sikh to be mayor of Yuba City. Gill was also one of the first Indian mayors in America, and the first Sikh to be elected mayor in the United States.[17] Gill served a second term as vice-mayor of Yuba City from 2012 to 2013,[18] and he served a second term as mayor of Yuba City from 2013 to 2014.[19]

As mayor, Gill advocated for federal funds to be used for the city's levee upgrades. He also formed the gang task force and economic task force.[20]

In addition to Gill's public service as mayor, vice-mayor, and council member for Yuba City, he has served as chair of the Yuba-Sutter Chamber of Commerce; member of the board of directors of the Fremont-Rideout Hospital Foundation; and member of the board of directors of the Sutter Health Foundation.[20]

Personal life

He is the son of Sikh American parents and is of the Sikh faith. Kash is married to Neena Gill, and they have three children named Harveen, Rajan, and Preya.[8][21]

See also

• List of Indian Americans

References

1. Chawla, Ruchika (August 3, 2002). "Farmers keep their day jobs Many split time working the land with business professions". Appeal-Democrat (Marysville-Yuba City, California).
2. Smith, Ken (October 24, 2013). "Sikhs of the Sacramento Valley". Chico News & Review (Chino, California).
3. "Sikh becomes first mayor of Yuba City in US". Indo-Asian News Service (India). November 14, 2009.
4. Chitkara, Vanita (September 6, 2010). "Capitol Cats". India Today (India).
5. "Sikh Farmers in California Archived 2012-03-28 at the Wayback Machine". Sikhpioneers.org. January 3, 1999. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
6. Payne, Melanie (July 11, 2000). "Tri Valley Co-op Files Chapter 11: Payments Fall Short to Suppliers, Growers". The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, California). p. C1.
7. "City Council Members". Yuba City Council. Archived from the original on June 21, 2007.
8. "City Council Members". Yuba City Council. Archived from the original on January 1, 2010.
9. "Kash Gill Joins Mechanics Bank In Roseville Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine". Mechanicsbank.com. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
10. Hansen, Todd R. (January 2, 2000). "Y-S economy looking up Business expected to pick up in 2000". Appeal-Democrat (Marysville-Yuba City, California).
11. "Nativity at LDS church". Redding Record Searchlight (Redding, California). December 15, 2001. p. B4.
12. Nadeau, Tom (October 29, 2004). "Yuba candidates raise, shell out cash". The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, California). p. B3.
13. Nadeau, Tom (October 30, 2004). "Accident doesn't slow council hopeful".The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, California). p. B2.
14. Nadeau, Tom (November 5, 2004). "Yuba City race still tight for 2". The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, California). p. B3.
15. "City Council". Yuba City, California. Archived from the original on December 24, 2004.
16. "Meeting Agenda". Yuba City Council. January 20, 2009. Archived from the original on January 1, 2010.
17. Gebb, Ashley (November 8, 2009). "Kash Gill: 'We are one community':Councilman set to become Y.C.'s first Punjabi-American mayor". Appeal-Democrat. Archived from the original on November 14, 2009.
18. "City Council Members". Yuba City Council. Archived from the original on July 1, 2013.
19. "City Council Members". Yuba City Council. Archived from the original on December 15, 2013.
20. "Gill makes Y.C. history Archived 2013-01-17 at Archive.today". Appeal-Democrat (Marysville-Yuba City, California). November 12, 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
21. "Kash, Gill, Member, City Council Yuba City". Nriinternet.com. November 7, 2006. Retrieved January 30, 2012.