Hothi was nominated by newly-elected councilwoman Lisa Craig, who gained election to mayor Mark Chandler’s seat in November and was unanimously chosen vice mayor throughout Wednesday’s assembly.

He represents the council’s fifth district and served as vice mayor this previous 12 months underneath mayor Chandler, who introduced final summer time he wouldn’t search re-election. “Honored to be sworn in as the 117th Mayor of the City of Lodi,” Hothi tweeted on Friday.

His household was additionally instrumental in founding the Sikh temple on Armstrong Road, native newspaper The Lodi News-Sentinel reported.

“Our experience is similar to that of the Hispanic community that came before us, the Greek community, the Germans,” Hothi was quoted as saying within the report.

“Everyone came to Lodi because they realised it was a safe family town. (It has) great education, great people, great culture, great values, and just hard-working people in this town. I’m just proud to represent this community as its next mayor,” it mentioned.

Hothi, who graduated from Tokay High School in 2008, mentioned that rising up within the metropolis was a problem, particularly post-9/11, when many Muslims and Sikhs skilled unfair harassment.

But Hothi, whose dad and mom are from Punjab, defined that his household not solely survived however thrived in Lodi. Many grew to become enterprise homeowners and entrepreneurs who nonetheless handle profitable firms right now, the report mentioned.