Tonight, the City of Passaic voted it’s first South Asian onto the City Council.

Salim Patel was initially appointed to the Council following the death of Zaida Polanco in September of this year. He confirmed his position with an overwhelming vote total tonight.

Patel has served the City on the Passaic Board of Education in various capacities, including President and Vice President, over the course of ten years.

Patel has a background in corporate finance and real estate and graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in finance. He also is the founder of a non-profit charity focused on food insecurity and poverty called SMILE for Charity.