Indian-origin businessman in run-up for Madison City mayor

Pic Courtesy: cstephens@al.com

New York: India-born businessman Hanu Karlapalem is in the running to become the mayor of Madison city in the US, a media report said.

Born in Andhra Pradesh, Hanu Karlapalem now runs a network solutions business, Vinhamz, in Madison, in Alabama state of southeastern United States.

Karlapalem said he would like to see Madison become the number one small city in America, al.com reported on Wednesday. 

"This city is one of the most intelligent and best educated cities yet we are not even at the top 10 in the nation," said Karlapalem.

Madison has fallen behind on improving roads, increasing job growth and internal communication," he said, adding that he would use his experience to "promote a culture of diplomacy".

"If (the voters) decide I am the right person to lead this city, that would be a historic election, not only in Madison, but also in the state of Alabama," Karlapalem was quoted as saying.

He will formally announce his candidacy at a kick-off on Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. at 'Grounded Coffee' coffee shop in Madison.

This is his first attempt at a public office.

He was earlier elected to the board for UAH alumni and was once president of the local Indian association for Huntsville and Madison.

He has also served on the board of the international exchange programmes Global Ties Alabama and International Services Council of Alabama.

A mechanical engineer, Karlapalem studied at Delhi College of Engineering in India. 

He said he moved to Alabama when his wife, Vidya, took a job in software development in the Huntsville area 16 years ago. 

He earned a master's in management information systems from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

Madison is a diverse small city. Over half of the residents of Madison were born in another state, and eight percent were born in another country.