The energy at Bottega Pizzeria Ristorante on 59th Avenue in Glendale the evening of the Election Watch Party was surreal, and I can still hear the chants of “Vote Her In” that the crowd broke into after it was announced that Dr. Hiral Tipirneni had won the Democratic Primary in Congressional District 8. An emergency room physician, cancer research advocate, and on the Board of Directors of the Maricopa Health Foundation, she has been making a difference in the lives of Arizonans for 20+ years. It takes courage to leave behind a successful, known career to venture into unchartered territory such as politics. However, she is doing just that. Why? Because just like everyone else, she is tired of the career politicians who are doing everything but listening to and supporting their constituents.
Dr. Hiral Tipirneni is not a career politician. She is a successful medical practitioner, a mother, a wife, a daughter and tired of the Washington insiders that make decisions that impact our families. Her dedication and love for her family and their support for her was clearly visible at the election party; her husband constantly standing by her side and riling up the crowd in subsequent chants of “Vote Her In” and her daughters on Facetime on two phones when the results were announced. Watching her address the crowd, Facetime with her daughters Mira and Anjali, and share a teary-eyed embrace her supportive and proud husband, Dr. Kishore Tipirneni, one couldn’t help but feel she is ONE OF US. And because she is one of us, the issues that matter to her are the same issues that matter to all of us – quality, affordable healthcare, a public education system that helps all our children no matter where they live, and job opportunities for Arizona families that allow them to thrive, not just survive.
Her humility and sportsmanship were evident in her victory speech. The speech had gratitude for her family and supporters that came out to make calls, knock on doors, vote in the election, host house parties, spread the message on social media, etc. However, she also included a shout-out for her competitor Brianna Westbrook whom she congratulated on a well-fought campaign and humbly requested her support in the general election.
While this is a huge step in the right direction, the fight is far from over and Hiral will need a lot of support to overcome the next hurdle – the Special Election to be held on April 24, 2018 to fill the vacant seat for CD8, previously held by Trent Franks who resigned in December after being accused of sexual misconduct. Franks did not even have a Democratic opponent in his 2014 and 2016 elections and this is the first time that CD8 residents will have a real choice of candidates.
Corporate America is moving towards diversity and inclusion because they have recognized that it drives innovation and success. These initiatives are nonexistent in public service, and it is evident in the lack of diversity of the candidates representing us in the various branches of our government. If diversity drives innovation and success, our government desperately needs it now which is why I encourage all of you to step forward and vote for candidates from diverse backgrounds that are courageously leaving behind successful careers and stepping into politics to make a difference!
Being a female South Asian and growing up in a patriarchal culture that favors males over females, there is a selfish joy in watching South Asian females take on new challenges and overcome them with strength and grace. Women like Dr. Hiral Tipirneni send a strong, much-needed message to young women – you can have it all! You can have a highly successful career, the drive and ability to make a difference, and be a loving, caring wife, mother, daughter, etc. They become role models and mentors that our daughters can aspire to be, knowing that it is possible despite all odds. Heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Hiral Tipirneni on her win in the Democratic Primary.
The team of Asia Today is proud to have been the first South Asian newspaper to interview her and publish her thoughts in our August 2017 edition. You can still read her detailed interview on our blog post at https://asiatodayaz.com/news.php?newsId=232&categoryId=1 or in our August 2017 ePaper at http://epaper.asiatodayaz.com/oijo/ysud/index.html#p=26. We wish Dr. Hiral Tipirneni success in all her future endeavors, including the upcoming Special Election on April 24! Please visit www.hiralforcongress.com for more information about the candidate!
