Satyendra Huja
| Satyendra Huja (D) | ||
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 Huja, ca. 2009 |
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Councilor
Charlottesville City Council |
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| Electoral District | At-Large | |
| Term Start | January 1, 2008 | |
| Term End | December 31, 2015 | |
| Term Start | January 3, 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Dave Norris | |
| Succeeded by | Mike Signer | |
Biographical Information
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| Date of birth | Jan. 13, 1942 Age 82 |
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| Place of birth | Kohat, Pakistan | |
| Spouse | Irene Huja | |
| Children | Uday Ajai Ben |
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| Residence | Charlottesville, Virginia | |
| Alma mater | Michigan State University, M.A. Urban Planning | |
| Profession | President of Community Planning Associates | |
| Website | Campaign website | |
| Campaign $ | VPAP | |
| Contributions $ | VPAP | |
Satyendra Huja served on Charlottesville City Council from 2008 to 2015. He was first elected in November 2007.[1] and reelected to a second term in the November 2011 election.[2]
He was selected to serve as Charlottesville's Mayor at the first council meeting of 2012.[3] [4] Huja was elected to a second term as mayor on January 6, 2014. [citation needed]
Huja also served for 31 years as a city employee, ending his tenure as director of strategic planning in June 2004.[5]
Biography
Mr. Huja is the President of Community Planning Associates, focusing on planning, design, development, and management consulting. He was hired by the Charlottesville in 1973 to serve as director of city planning and community development.[6] From 1998 to 2004, he was director of strategic planning with experiences in the area of Downtown Revitalization, Housing, Historic Preservation, Transportation Planning, Art and Culture Activities, and Neighborhood Revitalization. He also has been a consultant to the City of Pleven, Bulgaria for Economic Development and Tourism Marketing.
Huja is married to his wife Irene and has two sons named Uday and Ajai, as well as a step-son named Ben. He is also a grandfather.[6]
Huja became a U.S. citizen at Monticello on July 4, 1987.[6]
In response to Charlottesville Tomorrow's preparations for Election 2007, Mr. Huja said his favorite volunteer activity was working in a soup kitchen.
Huja is a member of the Sikh religion.[7]
Huja is a resident of the Greenbrier neighborhood.[6]
Vote of confidence
A citizen appeared before Council at their July 18, 2011 meeting to complain about Huja's accent. Pat Napoleon said Huja should be required to hire a translator because she found it hard to understand him. Councilor Kristin Szakos defended Huja and called for a vote of confidence in him, which passed 4-0.[8]
While in office, Huja represented the City on the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, the MPO Policy Board, the Jefferson Area Board for Aging, and the Charlottesville's 250th Anniversary Steering Committee.[9]
2011 election for City Council
Huja announced a bid for a second term on March 25, 2011.[10] He was the top vote-getter in the Charlottesville Democratic Party's fire-house primary.[11] He also received the most votes in the general election.[2][12]
Both he and Councilor Kristin Szakos are potential candidates to succeed Dave Norris as Mayor of Charlottesville.[13]
| Candidates | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Satyendra Huja (D) incumbent | 4,608 | 33.3 |
| Kathleen Galvin (D) | 4,601 | 33.2 |
| Deirdre “Dede” Smith (D) | 4,547 | 41.2 |
| Bob Fenwick (I) | 2,539 | 53.7 |
| Brandon Collins (I) | 1,477 | 31.2 |
| Andrew Williams (I) | 994 | 25.0 |
| Scott Bandy (I) | 399 | 3.6 |
| Paul Long (I) | 313 | 7.9 |
| Write-In | 133 | 3.0 |
| Source: City of Charlottesville[14] | ||
Each voter could vote for up to three candidates.
Campaign Announcement
<vimeo>21504021</vimeo>
Charlottesville Democrats Candidate Video
<youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re6T_tHlZOc</youtube>
| Candidate Profile Resources | |
|---|---|
| Candidate | Satyendra Huja (D) - Incumbent |
| Office | Charlottesville City Council |
| Election year | 2011 election |
 Candidate interviews by Charlottesville Tomorrow
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| Candidate interview transcript | |
| Candidate interview audio <mp3player>http://www.cvillepedia.org/mediawiki/images/20110922-Huja.mp3</mp3player>
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2007 election for City Council
| Candidates | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Satyendra Huja (D) | 3,797 | 64.27 |
| David E. Brown (D) incumbent | 3,781 | 50.47 |
| Holly Edwards (D) | 3,711 | 49.53 |
| Peter Kleeman (I) | 2,212 | na |
| Barbara Haskins (I) | 2,111 | 35.73 |
| Write-In | 95 | na |
Overall voter turnout for this election was 25.89%. Voters could cast three votes, one for each of the three seats available, hence the percentages do not total 100%.
| Candidate Profile Resources | |
|---|---|
| Candidate | Satyendra Huja (D) - Challenger * WINNER |
| Office | Charlottesville City Council |
| Election year | 2007 election |
| Candidate interviews by Charlottesville Tomorrow
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| Candidate interview transcript | |
| Candidate interview audio <mp3player>http://www.cvillepedia.org/mediawiki/images/20070831-Huja-Interview.mp3</mp3player>
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Education
Master in Urban Planning, Michigan State University
B.A. in Psychology.
Occupation
Retired community planner; Adjunct faculty at UVA School of architecture.
Campaign Information
Issues
Questions and answers published in The Daily Progress on August 14, 2011.[15]
Do you support construction of the Meadow Creek Parkway in the city?
- Yes I support construction of the Meadow Creek Parkway. It will provide better access to downtown and reduce traffic in adjacent residential neighborhoods, i.e., Park Street.This project takes approximately 5 acres of land and adds 49 acres of open space in this corridor.
Do you support the approved water supply plan or a different approach?
- I support a joint approach which does partial dredging of the Rivanna Reservoir and provides a 30-foot new dam.This joint approach will provide sufficient water for the needs of our community for the foreseeable future. Dredging alone does not provide sufficient water for the existing needs of the community let alone future needs. Along with city and county growth, the university is going to double its water demand in the next 10 years from 1.5 million gal/day to 3.1 million gal/day.We need to think ahead and make sure that our basic needs of water are met.The Ragged Mountain property was bought for water use after expansion of the water pool; 90 percent of the land will still be natural area and can be used for trails.
What is the most important thing the city can do to create jobs?
- Our city can do a number of things to help create new jobs. It can provide tax incentives for businesses to locate in the city. In the last year the city has given tax breaks to locate 600 new jobs in downtown.The city can encourage biomedical jobs as spinoffs from UVa.The city can also provide targeted job training so there will be skilled labor for new industry.The city can also encourage the growth of existing small businesses and encourage entrepreneurs to start businesses in Charlottesville.
Does the city have an affordable housing problem? What should council do?
- The city does need more affordable housing but it also needs middle income housing to support our schools and neighborhoods. City Council has spent a significant amount of funds in the last four years for affordable housing, approximately $10 million. The city needs to develop partnerships with nonprofit, as well as for-profit, housing developers.The city can seek proffers for affordable housing in new mixed use developments. City can also support mixed-use and income development with CRHA.
What should the city do on the issue of addressing poverty?
- Our city can do a number of things to alleviate poverty. First, it can provide education and training to young people, and second, where necessary, retraining of existing labor force.Thirdly, our city can establish targeted job training programs for families in poverty. Last, but not least, it can encourage them to start small businesses.
What is the city’s biggest challenge in transportation?
- Our city has a fair amount of traffic congestion in the community.We need to encourage alternative modes of transportation.We need to build a better and safer system of bikeways and provide more frequent and dependable transit system, if we want people to use alternative modes.
What will be your top priority if elected?
- I will start an additional energy conservation program for existing homes and businesses, as well as new homes and businesses. This will result in less use of energy, less environmental impact and will save money on monthly bills for businesses and residents. will promote development of interconnected network of pedestrian ways and bikeways so that it will be easy and safe to use those modes of transportation. I will also restructure the transit system to be more dependable and frequent. I will have a concentrated program of improvement of our deteriorating infrastructure especially in the areas of water, sewer and drainage lines.
References
- ↑ http://cvilletomorrow.typepad.com/charlottesville_tomorrow_/2008/01/city_council08.html Charlottesville Tomorrow, retrieved on 1/21/09
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Web. Dems sweep City Council elections, Graham Moomaw, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, November 8, 2011, retrieved November 8, 2011.
- ↑ Web. Second turbaned Sikh becomes head of US city council, Rupinder Mohan Singh, American Turban, January 9, 2012, retrieved July 8, 2022.
- ↑ Web. Charlottesville City Council meeting minutes, .pdf, Council Chambers, City of Charlottesville, January 3, 2012.
- ↑ Web. Charlottesville City Council meeting minutes, .pdf, Council Chambers, City of Charlottesville, June 21, 2004.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Web. Huja brings commitment to quality design to mayor's role, Graham Moomaw, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, January 17, 2012, retrieved July 8, 2022.
- ↑ Web. 'Sikh guy' brings experience to mayor's job, Giles Morris, C-VILLE Weekly, Portico Publications, retrieved July 8, 2022. Print. January 10, 2012 , 24.02, .
- ↑ Web. Comprender? Complaint brings Huja confidence vote, Lisa Provence, The Hook, Better Publications LLC, August 8, 2011, retrieved July 8, 2022. Print. August 11, 2011 , 1032, .
- ↑ Charlottesville City Council Meeting. City Hall, Charlottesville. 7 February 2011. Public Meeting.
- ↑ Web. Huja launches bid for second term on Charlottesville City Council, Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow, March 25, 2011, retrieved July 8, 2022.
- ↑ Web. Recount confirms Democratic Council noms, Graham Moomaw, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, August 22, 2011, retrieved July 8, 2022.
- ↑ Web. Dede Smith won. Now what? Council's elected Dems design next steps, Chiara Canzi, C-VILLE Weekly, Portico Publications, November 15, 2011, retrieved August 22, 2011. Print. November 15, 2011 .
- ↑ Web. Who will be the next mayor of Charlottesville?, Chiara Canzi, C-VILLE Weekly, Portico Publications, December 27, 2011, retrieved July 8, 2022. Print. December 27, 2011 , 23.52, .
- ↑ Web. Official Results November 8, 2011 General Election, City of Charlottesville, 8 Nov. 2011, retrieved 15 Nov. 2011.
- ↑ Web. Democratic hopefuls weigh in on the issues, Graham Moomaw, The Daily Progress, 14 August 2011, retrieved 15 August 2011.
| Charlottesville City Council, 2012-2013 | |
| Mayor | Satyendra Huja |
| Vice-Mayor | Kristin Szakos |
| Members | Kathleen Galvin | Satyendra Huja | Dave Norris | Dede Smith | Kristin Szakos |
| See also | List of City Councilors | Recent City Council elections |