Milestone In Livingston: 1st Asian American Council Member Sworn In

LIVINGSTON, NJ — A watershed moment took place in Livingston this week with the appointment of the town’s first Asian American council member: Ketan Bhuptani.

Bhuptani was nominated and sworn in for an open position on the council at their meeting on Monday. He takes over for Rosy Bagolie, who recently resigned from the council after she was elected as a New Jersey Assembly member in the state’s 27th District – which includes Livingston. See Related: Bagolie Honored, Was First Latina-Jewish Woman To Serve On Council

Bhuptani is a co-founder of the Livingston-based nonprofit, Sanskriti of New Jersey. He serves on the group’s advisory committee.

Bhuptani received thunderous applause from attendees when he was nominated Monday. He also got a warm welcome to the council from his peers, who voted him into office unanimously (watch meeting footage below, or view it online here).

Shawn Klein said he’s known Bhuptani for many years, and the words that come to mind when he thinks about his fellow council member are “kind person.”

Klein praised Bhuptani for his work on the zoning board and the town’s Fourth of July committee, among other contributions.

“You're smart and you're motivated … you are committed to community organizing – and not just in your tremendous efforts with Sanskriti and with cricket and table tennis – but for Livingston as a whole,” Klein added.

After taking the oath of office, Bhuptani thanked his supporters and Bagolie for her service to the township.

Bhuptani said that in the first year he moved to Livingston, he noticed that the town “runs on volunteers.” It was something that eventually led to many of the relationships he formed with other residents and community members.

Bhuptani thanked the council for pointing out the milestone he shattered as the town’s first Asian American council member, saying that he looks forward to fostering “integration” among Livingston’s changing demographics.

In 2018, Bhuptani – who had been living in town for 15 years at the time – endorsed Klein, Rudy Fernandez and Ed Meinhardt in the Livingston Town Council race.

Prior to Monday’s vote from the Livingston town council, the Livingston Democratic County Committee recommended three potential candidates to replace Bagolie on the council, the New Jersey Globe reported: Bhuptani, James McIlvaine and Laurence Bergmann.

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