Nick
Rathod appointed
director of Inter-Governmental Affairs
on
Obama Transition Team
New York, Nov. 21, 2008
Surinder Singh Randhawa
Nick Rathod, 33, has been appointed director to the Office of
Inter-governmental Affairs. He will help the Barack Obama transition
team find out what issues are important to U.S. governors and
mayors
Rathod has been deputy director and federal counsel in the state
of New York’s Washington, D.C., office, where he served
as the governor’s primary liaison to the nation’s
governors.
Rathod is a civil rights attorney and one of the founders of
national outreach director of South Asians for Obama. He said:
- For the past two years, I have been among the indefatigable
South Asian American volunteers on the Obama campaign and besides
serving as the national outreach director of SAFO, also researched
and drafted voter protection briefings for the North Carolina
field staff of Obama for America and was a lead attorney in
that state's voter protection 'boiler-room.
- I want to make sure that we build a strong federal, state
and local partnership at the outset. Rebuilding this relationship
will only serve to provide a smart, strong and efficient government
at all levels.
- I believe strongly in his vision of America, and so the prospect
of being able to shape and carry out his vision is extremely
humbling and personal to me
- I think about how just one generation ago, my family was living
in dirt huts in Gujarat. They didn’t have much of any
education and opportunities and now, only a generation later,
I am serving in a senior level for the transition of a president
of the United States
- Only in this country is that story even remotely possible,
which is why I will work diligently to assure that I serve my
country to the best of my abilities
- I am very excited about his appointment
He was born and raised in Nebraska. He attended middle and high
school in Shelton and Grand Island. In 1997, he received a bachelor
of arts in political science from Nebraska Wesleyan University.
In 2000, he receive law degree form American University. He is
married to Neera, and have daughter, Chandani 8 months old.
His father Rev. Dr. Samuel Rathod, hails from Gujrat, India and
retired United Methodist clergy.
