Harry Sidhu

Harry Sidhu
46th Mayor of Anaheim
In office
December 4, 2018 – May 24, 2022
Preceded byTom Tait
Succeeded byAshleigh Aitken
Mayor Pro Tem of Anaheim
In office
January 12, 2010 – December 11, 2012
Preceded byBob Hernandez
Succeeded byGail E. Eastman
Member of the Anaheim City Council
for the At Large district
In office
December 7, 2004 – December 11, 2012
Preceded byTom Tait
Succeeded byLucille Kring
Personal details
Born
Harish Singh Sidhu[1]

(1957-07-08) July 8, 1957 (age 67)
India
Political partyRepublican
SpouseGin Sidhu
Children2
EducationDrexel University (BS)
WebsiteOfficial website
Campaign website

Harish "Harry" Singh Sidhu (born July 8, 1957) is an American Republican politician and businessman who served as the 46th mayor of Anaheim, California, winning the office in the 2018 election. He was the first person of color and the first Sikh to serve as mayor of Anaheim.[2] He is a former member of the Anaheim City Council and the former Mayor pro tempore of Anaheim.

In May 2022, a court filing stated that he was under FBI investigation for possible corruption involving the sale of Angel Stadium, and the Anaheim City Council unanimously requested that he resign his position as mayor.[3] On May 23, 2022, Sidhu resigned as mayor, effective the following day.[4] According to court filings on August 16, 2023, Sidhu agreed to plead guilty to one count of obstruction of justice, one count of wire fraud, one count of making false statements to the FBI, and one count of making false statements to the FAA.[1][5]

Education and early career

Sidhu earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Drexel University.[6] He became a U.S. citizen in 1979[6] and worked as a consulting engineer.

Sidhu served as director of the Orange County Water District Board.[7][8] He also serves on the board of Friends of United States, an organization that promotes India–United States relations.[9]

Mayoral career

Resignation

On May 16, 2022, a filing at the Orange County Superior Court stated that Sidhu was under investigation by the FBI for potential criminal conduct related to the sale of the Angel Stadium property and for his actions related to the registering of a personal aircraft at a false out-of-state address.[10]

The sale of the stadium and its parking lot for $320 million to the Los Angeles Angels is alleged to have violated the Surplus Land Act, which requires public agencies to prioritize affordable housing, parks, and open space when they sell public property.[11] The release of that information prompted California Attorney General Rob Bonta to suspend a pending settlement with the City of Anaheim regarding the stadium sale and the Surplus Land Act.[12] It was alleged that Sidhu provided confidential information to the Angels and hoped to solicit $1 million in campaign contributions from the team.[11]

According to court filings on August 16, 2023, Sidhu agreed to plead guilty to one count of obstruction of justice (for "deleting multiple email messages and documents"), one count of wire fraud, one count of making false statements to the FBI, and one count of making false statements to the FAA.[5][1]

Electoral history

City Council

2004 Anaheim City Council at-large election (2 seats)[13]
Candidate Votes %
Lorri Galloway 24,856 18.8
Harry Sidhu 24,242 18.4
Jerry O'Connnell 19,044 14.4
Lucile Kring 15,819 12.0
Sefanie O'Neill 10,451 7.9
Richard "Dick" Larochelle 10,421 7.9
Andrea James 8,152 6.2
George Charles Johnson 7,243 5.5
Robert J. Flores 5,068 3.8
John R. Karczynski 2,206 1.7
Rubin Jamison Skipper 1,807 1.4
Craig Merrihue 1,496 1.1
Faiz Zuberi 1,137 0.9
2008 Anaheim City Council at-large election (2 seats)[13]
Candidate Votes %
Harry Sidhu (incumbent) 32,652 23.2
Lorri Galloway (incumbent) 31,694 22.6
Gail Eastman 27,200 19.4
John Karczynski 11,668 8.3
Kostas "Gus" Roditis 10,160 7.2
Jennifer Rivera 8,208 5.8
Robert J. Flores 7,148 5.1
Steve Perez 5,495 3.9
Brian Chuchua 4,957 3.5
Faiz Zuberi 1,336 1.0

State Assembly

See also: 2016 California State Assembly election
California's 68th State Assembly district election, 2016
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sean Jay Panahi 32,610 33.0
Republican Steven Choi 19,559 19.8
Republican Harry Sidhu 19,405 19.7
Republican Deborah Pauly 13,880 14.1
Republican Alexia Deligianni-Brydges 5,098 5.2
No party preference Brian Chuchua 4,635 4.7
Republican Kostas Roditis 3,528 3.6
Total votes 98,715 100.0
General election
Republican Steven Choi 114,210 60.3
Democratic Sean Jay Panahi 75,231 39.7
Total votes 189,441 100.0
Republican hold

Mayor

2018 Anaheim mayoral election[14]
Candidate Votes %
Harry Sidhu 26,422 32.5%
Ashleigh Aitken 25,944 31.9%
Lorri Galloway 12,367 15.2%
Cynthia Ward 7,121 8.7%
H. Fuji Shioura 3,024 3.7%
Robert Williams 2,824 3.5%
Rudy Gaona 2,506 3.1%
Tony D. Martin 1,199 1.5%
Total votes 81,407 100%

References

  1. ^ a b c Romine, Taylor (August 17, 2023). "Former Anaheim mayor agrees to plead guilty to federal charges related to attempted sale of Angel Stadium". CNN. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  2. ^ "Harry Sidhu is ahead in Anaheim mayor's race, and resort worker wage measure has the lead". The New Indian Express. November 9, 2018. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  3. ^ Robinson, Alicia (May 19, 2022). "Anaheim council members ask mayor to step down". Orange County Register. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  4. ^ "Anaheim mayor resigns amid corruption probe into his role in Angel Stadium land sale". Los Angeles Times. May 23, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Chow, Vivian (August 16, 2023). "Ex-Anaheim mayor to plead guilty in federal corruption case over Angel Stadium sale". KTLA.
  6. ^ a b "Full Biography for Harry Sidhu". SmartVoter. November 2, 2010. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  7. ^ Cunningham, Matthew (July 6, 2017). "Anaheim: Harry Sidhu Opens Mayoral Campaign Committee". OC Daily. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  8. ^ Robinson, Alicia (November 8, 2018). "Harry Sidhu is ahead in Anaheim mayor's race, and resort worker wage measure has the lead". Orange County Register. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  9. ^ "Friend of United States".
  10. ^ "Feds Investigation Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu Over Angel Stadium Sale". The Orange County Register. May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  11. ^ a b "Secret retreats and a powerful 'cabal': Corruption probe reveals who really runs Anaheim". Los Angeles Times. May 19, 2022. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  12. ^ "State attorney general asks for hold on Angel Stadium land sale amid corruption probe". Los Angeles Times. May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  13. ^ a b "Election Results Archives". Orange County Registrar of Voters. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  14. ^ "Orange County 2018 General Election November 6, 2018 Official Results for Election". Orange County. Retrieved September 30, 2019.

Further reading

Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Anaheim
2018–2022 		Succeeded by