Ravi Singh (businessman)

Ravi Singh is an American entrepreneur, author, and former politician convicted of 4 felony counts for illegally influencing the San Diego Mayoral election.[7] He was the founder and CEO of Electionmall Technologies,[8] a non-partisan company that offers technology products and services tailored to those running for political office.[9] Singh became known as the first U.S. cadet to graduate from a military academy with a turban.[10][11] His 1998 bid for the Illinois Legislature made him the first Asian to ever run for the position.[3] Singh has been honored with numerous awards and recognitions including the Sikh in Media Award in 2011, and a Rising Star, a prestigious honor given in politics.[12]

Ravi Singh
CitizenshipUnited States
EducationMasters in Political Science[1]
Bachelor of Science
Alma materNorthwestern University
Valparaiso University[2]
Known forFirst Asian candidate for Illinois Legislature[3]
ElectionMall Technologies[4]
Convicted of Illegally influencing San Diego Mayoral Campaign and Bribery[5]
Awards
Websitewww.ravisingh.com

Early life and education

Singh was born in the United States and is the first-born son of immigrant parents[10] who came to the United States from India in the 1960s. His father was a radiologist at Rush–Copley Medical Center and his mother was a homemaker.[13]

At the age of 14, Singh attended Marmion Military Academy in Aurora, Illinois[14] where he was not allowed to wear his turban. Singh was allowed to wear his turban but was not allowed to participate in Army drills with his turban. Shortly after entering the academy, co-sponsored legislation introduced by Senator Paul Simon and Congressman Dennis Hastert and later signed by President Ronald Reagan, allowed him to graduate with his turban.[10] His mother fought for the legislation which also allowed Jews to wear religious headdress while attending military academies.[13] He graduated from the academy with full honors as a brevet 2nd Lieutenant in the Illinois National Guard.[10]

Singh attended Valparaiso University, a Lutheran university located in Valparaiso, Indiana. During his time as student body president, he spoke at the 1993 Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago.[15] He went on to Northwestern University where he earned his master's degree in Political Science in 1995.[13]

Political career
Ravi Singh at his graduation from Marmion Academy in Aurora, Illinois.

Singh went to school to become a doctor like his father, but later decided to go a political route after becoming hooked on politics in college. After graduating from Northwestern, he worked as a legislative assistant to then Illinois Lt Governor Bob Kustra. A year later he went to work for Illinois State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka and served as liaison to the Asian Pacific American community. At 25, he ran for the State Legislature for the Illinois’ 42nd Assembly District. The district's population was only 2% Asian American at the time.[13] Singh lost the election and attributes the loss partially to his refusal to remove his turban during the campaign. He was quoted in the Outlook Magazine as stating, “if I do that, I will not be true to my faith and my work…If I give up my identity and values, I’ll not be Asian or an American. I’ll be nobody.”[1]

Election influence and criminal conviction

Singh founded ElectionMall Technologies in 1999. He realized after his loss in the Illinois State Legislature election that there was no company offering candidates any type of technology solution for fighting campaigns digitally.[9] In a 2004 cover story for USA Weekend, Singh was quoted as saying, “we want the mother running for school board to have the same tools as a senator.”[4]

ElectionMall, founded in 1999 a non-partisan campaign technology company in Washington, D.C., hit the headlines when a criminal complaint against its Founder and CEO Ravi Singh was unsealed, revealing that the Justice Department had charged him with illegally helping a foreigner to influence the election process in San Diego during the 2012 and 2013 election cycles through an independent political action committee.[16] Singh was arrested January 17, 2014, and released on bail four days later.[17] On September 9, 2016, a Federal Jury found Singh guilty on 4 Felony Counts related to a conspiracy to make contributions in a U.S. election on behalf of a Foreign National.[7] He was sentenced to 15 months in prison and was quoted as saying "I’ve always wanted to serve my country, now I can’t even vote" [18] ElectionMall has closed operations since December 2016 due to the ongoing cost of the litigation.

Personal life

Singh is a practicing Sikh. Singh is a resident of Aurora, Illinois. He is a member of the Chicago area Sikh community.

See also

References
  1. "Mouse-Click Pollster". Outlook Magazine. India. 31 May 2008. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
  2. Smith, Wes (1 May 1994). "Trial And Error". Chicago Tribune.
  3. Krol, Eric (9 February 1998). "Who Is Candidate Ravi Singh". Daily Herald. Questia Online Library. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
  4. Roberts, Cokie (18 July 2004). "Year of the Net". USA Weekend. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
  5. Sloss, Jason (9 September 2016). "Mexican businessman convicted in scheme to funnel money into mayoral campaigns". Fox5SanDiego. City News Service. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  6. "2010 Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business". Asian American Business. Archived from the original on 6 March 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
  7. "Mexican Billionaire Convicted in Campaign Finance Trial". Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  8. "How Technology Is Revolutionizing Democracy". CNN. 26 June 2008. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
  9. Basu, Indrajit (15 August 2008). "The Technology Behind Election Campaigns". Digital Communities. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
  10. Singh, Ranjit (2008). Sikh Achievers. Hemkunt Press. ISBN 8170103657.
  11. Pais, Arthur J. (28 March 2003). "A Turbaned Ravi Singh Pens His American Story". India Abroad. HighBeam Research. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
  12. Kumari, Sushma (10 June 2007). "NRi Sikh Honored One Of The Most Prestigious Honors To Be Given In Politics". NRI Politicians. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  13. Elgera, Bert (1997-10-16). "Legislative Candidate". Asian Week. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
  14. "Marmion Military Academy". Sikh Women. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
  15. "Peaceful Beliefs Drive Religions". Post-Tribune. Indiana: HighBeam Research. 3 September 1993. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
  16. "Besieged Campaign Tech Company ElectionMall Has Had A Troubled History". TechPresident. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
  17. "Campaign Services Professional Arraigned for Role in Campaign Finance Crimes". FBI. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
  18. Davis, Kristina. "'Campaign guru' gets prison in Azano San Diego mayoral election-funding scheme". sandiegouniontribune.com. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
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