Kris Kolluri has become the first Indian American ever to become the Governor of a state, even though he is just a stand-in until Governor Jon Corzine of New Jersey returns from his holiday.
Kolluri, Corzine's transportation commissioner and a cabinet member, was not his first choice.
Senate President Richard Codey, Speaker Joe Roberts and Attorney General Stuart Rabner all declined because they were going to be away for the holidays.
According to a piece in the Star Ledger, Codey left it to Corzine's chief of staff, Tom Shea, to call on Kolluri.
Shea told Kolluri he would have to stay in town because otherwise, according to the Constitution, the Legislature would have to hold an emergency session to appoint a temporary Governor.
Kolluri said he would bring his family to Drumthwacket, the Governor's mansion, for a few pictures.
"It's pretty awesome. At best, I'll be remembered by my family as the governor. At worst, I'll be a good Jeopardy question," he told the paper.
He will be a governor for a day, December 28, until the President of the Senate gets back to New Jersey.
"He is going to Texas to the Rutgers game on Christmas night," Gloria Montealegre, spokesperson of the Governor, Montealegre, told rediff.com.
The Indian community might yet one of their number as a full-fledged Ggovernor next year, given that Congressman Bobby Jindal, Louisiana Republican, has declared his intention to contest again for the post. He is expected to have an easier time in the upcoming election.
Kolluri, 38, is the first Indian American to hold a cabinet post in New Jersey.
With 3,900 employees and a budget of $2.6 billion, the Department of Transportation is charged with the construction, operation, maintenance and management of the state's transportation infrastructure. There are 2,344 miles of roadways and 2,454 state bridges in New Jersey.
There were reports that Corzine plans to appoint Kolluri as chairman of the South Jersey Transportation Authority. Kolluri's chairmanship of the SJTA would give Corzine a qualified pointman to pursue leasing the Atlantic City Expressway.
The SJTA operates both the expressway and Atlantic City International Airport and finances transportation projects to spur economic development in southern New Jersey.
Kolluri, an attorney, earlier served as chief of staff of the state transportation department before he was appointed its commissioner.
