Veterinarian Raj Salwan was appointed to the Fremont City Council on Jan. 14 and will complete the remaining term of Bill Harrison, who was recently elected mayor, local newspapers reported. The term expires in November 2014.
Salwan was appointed to the council on a 3-1 vote. Vice Mayor Anu Natarajan voted against the motion, the Fremont Argus reported.

According to the Fremont Argus, Salwan’s appointment to an open council seat, gives the five-member panel two Indian-Americans – the other being Natarajan – and its first Asian majority. Ten candidates applied for the seat. Those applicants were narrowed down to six, with the final selection made during the Jan. 14 meeting.

The San Jose Mercury News reported that Salwan was selected after all six candidates were interviewed in a three-hour special meeting. He finished first by notching seven points in the council’s ranking system, while David Bonaccorsi, an attorney and planning commission chairman, got six points. John J. Dutra trailed with four points while Yogi Chugh got three. Christina Broadwin and Rick Jones each finished with two points.

During his 25-minute interview with the council, Salwan reportedly noted his political experience and community ties. He serves on the Fremont Planning Commission, the oversight board for Fremont’s Successor Agency and is chairman of the Fremont Chamber of Commerce.

“It’s a great feeling,” Salwan was reported saying after the meeting. “I’m looking forward to working with the council.”
Under state law, the vacancy had to be filled by Feb. 2, otherwise the city would have been forced to hold a special election that could have cost Fremont taxpayers more than $600,000, according to the Alameda County Registrar of Voters.