(Image source from: Twitter.com/AnitaMalik)

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona: A top executive and well known Indian American Anita Malik, is running for US Congress in its 6th Congressional District of AZ. Anita Malik is Democrat and the only Indian against the all whites. Being a former journalist and well known digital media entrepreneur; her race for congressional seat is believed to be strong.

She is running for a seat which is currently held by a Republican David Schweikert from past 3 terms. Anita announced her candidacy through a video which envisaged a variety of topics including some gripping and touching ones.

“Many of us are working harder and harder every day, but it seems like we can’t catch up and our dream is out of reach. Meanwhile, the egos of our current leaders are getting in the way of solutions. Hate and division are overpowering progress. It is unacceptable, and it is not my style.”

Anita a 41 year old Indian American, is known for her content marketing company ClearVoice of which she is a COO from past four years.

“As a woman of color, I stand a better chance of making a difference and affecting real change if I run for federal office because the average hard-working American is fed up with our leaders in Washington and this administration’s lack of progress,” she said.

“There were very few Indians when I was growing up, but I never felt the way I feel today, and I am in the same place and the same neighborhood and that is so disturbing to me, the fact that we are going in the opposite direction,” she added.

She began preparations for her candidacy in May after discussions with her confidants. She expects to raise around $2.5 to  $3 million deemed viable for her campaign. She decided to run for office because the district “has been historically written off as red.” in her own words.

“We plan to run a highly digital campaign. This is a grassroots effort with digital savvy on our side,” she said. “I believe that is going to be a significant area that will help me and the Indian-American community will be a big support.”

Anita is also confident that her stint with Digital media will allow her to keep her profile high. She aims at making the voices of South Asian and Asian-Americans heard and bringing the issues forth. “I’ve been doing that my whole life and I will continue. Our stories are often ones of success, but that overlooks the struggles of so many. I will make sure those challenges, those stories are heard, and that we find solutions.”

Anita was born in Kansas City, MO and raised in Scottsdale, AZ while her parents are from Delhi. Her father came to US in early 1970’s for Post Graduation from University of CA. her father died of cancer and her mother still lives in Scottsdale, AZ. Anita stays with her husband James Miller and two children.

She completed her Bahelor’s in Finance and Computer Science from Arizona State University and she also has Master’s in Journalism from USC. She definitely brings diversity with her and has full support from Indians in the state. Her professional expertise led to consultation roles at some of the prominent organizations including The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, PCS Healthcare, Schreiber Foods, Creative Testing Solutions and Rowboat Software. She was also the Deputy Director of the Donald W. Reynolds National Institute of Business Journalism at Arizona State University for some time. In 2002, Anita began East West Magazine, a nationally-distributed publication for the Asian-American community.

By Minu