Nikki Haley

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Nikki Haley
Nikki Haley
In office
2004 – Incumbent
Preceded by Larry Koon
Constituency Lexington County
Born January 20, 1972 (1972-01-20) (age 36)
Lexington, South Carolina
Political party Republican
Spouse Michael Haley
Children 2
Occupation CFO, Accountant
Religion Sikhism
Website http://www.nikkihaley.com

Nikki Randhawa Haley (née Nimrata Nikki Randhawa) (born January 20, 1972) is a South Carolina House of Representatives legislator representing Lexington County[1]. She is Sikh and the first Indian American Republican state legislator in the United States.[2]

Contents

[edit] Childhood

Nikki Haley was born in Bamberg, South Carolina. Her parents Dr. Ajit and Raj Randhawa are Punjabi Sikh immigrants from Amritsar and she has an older brother Mitti, sister Simran Singh, and younger brother Charan.[3]. She went to Clemson University and majored in Accounting and then joined the FCR Corporation before joining her mother's business in 1994.[4] This business, Exotica International, began in a room in a motel with but grew to make over $1.8 million in revenue (2003)[4].

[edit] Career

She was named to the Board of Directors of the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce in 1998.[5]

She was named to the Board of Directors of the Lexington Chamber of Commerce in 2003. She became treasurer of the National Association of Women Business Owners in 2003 and president in 2004[5]. She chaired the Lexington Gala to raise funds for the local hospital.[4] She also serves on the Lexington Medical Foundation, Lexington County Sherriff’s Foundation, West Metro Republican Women, President of the South Carolina Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners, Chairman for 2006 Friends of Scouting Leadership Division campaign and is a member of the Rotary Club in Lexington.[2]

[edit] Elections

In 2004, she finished second in the South Carolina House of Representatives Republican primary with 40% of the vote (2247 votes). The "winner" of the primary, Larry Koon, had 42% and 2354 votes, thus forcing a runoff.[6] Her platform was anti-tax and fiscally conservative with a slight emphasis on education.[7]

In the runoff, Haley won with 54.69% (2928 votes) of the total. She then ran unopposed for the House seat as there was no Democrat opponent. She became the first Indian American Republican legislator in the United States.[8]

[edit] Work

She has served as secretary of the Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs committees. She also was elected chairman of the Freshman caucus in 2005 and named as one of the Majority whips in the South Carolina General Assembly.[2] She was the only freshman legislator named to a whip spot.[9]

[edit] Awards

  • 2005 "Friend of the Taxpayer" - South Carolina Association of Taxpayers
  • 2006
    • "Palmetto Leadership Award" - South Carolina Policy Council
    • "Strom Thurmond Excellence in Public Service and Government Award" - South Carolina federation of Republican Women

[edit] Personal life

On September 6, 1996 she married Michael Haley. They have two children, Rena and Nalin.[5]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Belles of the South Audrey/Asian Women's Magaine - April/May 06'
  2. ^ a b c Representative Nikki Randhawa Haley Bio - Official Site
  3. ^ Raj Randhawa Takes Her Family Business from Strength to Strength - NRI Achievers
  4. ^ a b c Nikki Haley in runoff for South Carolina Assembly Republican Primaries Indian American Center for Political Awareness - 2004
  5. ^ a b c Representative Nikki Randhawa Haley - South Carolina General Assembly
  6. ^ NRI Nikki Randhawa-Haley eyes South Carolina assembly NRIInternet
  7. ^ Nikki Randhawa wins in S Carolina NRI Internet - November 3, 2004
  8. ^ Washington June 10, 2004: Nikki Randhawa, NRI, Sikh Busimess woman won the run-off election to the South Carolina State Assembly NRI Internet - June 10, 2004
  9. ^ Sikh American woman is Republican whip The Tribune, Chandigarh - January 18, 2006

[edit] External links