Jigar Ashwin Madia's parents came to America from India with $19 in cash and a dream that America would provide opportunities for their children. Ashwin's family settled in Plymouth, Minnesota. He graduated from Osseo Senior High School.
As student body president at the University of Minnesota, Ashwin worked to keep higher education accessible to all by controlling increases in tuition and fees. After graduating from the U, Ash graduated from New York University Law School.
After law school, Ashwin joined the U.S. Marine Corps and moved to Quantico, Virginia for eight months of basic training. His first duty station was Okinawa, Japan, where he served as a prosecutor, defense counsel, and legal advisor to a Marine Corps commander.
Ashwin served in Iraq from September 2005 to March 2006. While stationed in Baghdad, he worked with Iraqi judicial officers, U.S. military and civilian officials, and representatives of the European Union and United Nations to strengthen the Iraqi criminal justice system. He also briefed top U.S. generals on the status of the rule of law in the country. Ashwin finished active duty with the Marine Corps on July 4, 2006. He returned to Minnesota and began practicing law at a local firm.
Just as his parents dreamed that it would, America has provided Ashwin with many opportunities. He now hopes to draw on his record of leadership, service, and advocacy to represent the 3rd District in the U.S. Congress.Ashwin is running to end the war in Iraq responsibly, balance the budget, address global warming, expand access to health care, renew the federal commitment to education, and safeguard our constitutional liberties.
Please see his website, www.MadiaForCongress.com , for more information. Please make a secure donation to Ashwin's campaign to ensure we turn the third district blue.My contribution: $Ashwin was recently featured on MTV. Take a look!..