Faisal Gill is one of the handful of Americans with a Pakistani origin, running for public office.  He is currently seeking the Republican nomination for the Virginia General Assembly (House of Delegates) for which the election is on June 2nd, 2007.

Faisal immigrated to the US with his parents at a very young age.  His father gave up a lucrative career in Pakistan to provide a brighter future for his children, and brought them to the US where they could study and practice whichever field they chose.  As a family man, Faisal is striving for the same values - creating better future opportunities not just for his own children but those of all immigrant families by creating a public impression of integrity, interest in the American society's issues, and cultural pride in his Pakistani roots.

1. We are interviewing you today as one of the very few Americans with a Pakistani origin who are running for public office. Let's start off with what office you are pursuing and in what stage is your campaign??

I am running for the Virginia General Assembly. It is called the House of Delegates. I am to secure the Republican nomination first. The election for that is June 2, 2007.

2. What are your biggest campaign themes or focal issues?

Transportation is the big issue in Northern Virginia. I am running on the platform of spending more on transportation without raising taxes. We need to prioritize spending just like families do everyday.

3. What do you hope to accomplish once you are elected?

I want to fully fund transportation, re-prioritize education spending, and refocus on family values.

4. Switching gears to your background, how and why did you make the decision to pursue a political career? What was the inspiration and where did you start?

I have always been interested in politics. I think it is very important that people are involved in their communities. It is even more imperative for immigrants to be involved in their new communities. That is the only way that our voices will be heard.

5. Were there any challenges/roadblocks in kick-starting your political campaign and if so, how did you overcome them?

The main roadblock is within our own community. It is very difficult to get the Pakistani community motivated to vote. We are truly running a grassroots campaign. We go door to door and get people to participate. We are all so busy it is hard to get people to focus on why elections are important. But we are moving in the right direction. People are finally beginning to get really motivated.

6. We feel very proud that you have openly positioned yourself as an American with a Pakistani family origin. Some other people we know have run for political office with a veil over their Pakistani roots and even tried to bury that aspect deep below the surface. What is your rationale for declaring your cultural heritage and what are the pros and cons you see in this strategy??

I am very proud of my Pakistani heritage. I don’t think the American people mind if someone is proud of their heritage; what they expect is that you consider yourself an American. I certainly consider myself an American. I do not see any value in Muslims and Pakistanis running for office if they hide their heritage. That makes no sense. We need people to show the American people that Pakistanis living in the US also consider themselves American and want to participate. Look at the people of Irish descent; I have never seen someone embarrassed about being Irish.

This does mean that some people will probably attack you for being Muslim or Pakistani, but at this stage that is what we must endure. My goal is to make it so that when my son runs, he does not have to worry about his Pakistani heritage. The only way to accomplish that is not hide where you are from.

7. Your immigration story reads like a classic tale of pursuing the American Dream. What would you like to tell us about your family and how you came to settle in the US, as well as your father's role in your personal and professional growth?

My parents came here so my brother and I could have a better future. They stressed education and hard work to us.

8. What do you think are the biggest issues confronting the Pakistani community in the world today and what do you think we can do about them?

They need to get involved in local issues. This is our home; this is where we will live and where our children will raise their children. Therefore, we better get involved in our community. Otherwise, the rest of the American community, and rightly so, will think that we don’t care.

9. Finally in your years of experience what are the biggest personal and professional qualities that you consider to be critical for success in one's professional life?

You need to be patient and do the small tasks. I did not start by running for office. I worked in the party for over seven years. I made myself known to the people in the political community. Also, it is important to be involved in issues that are important to the community in which you reside. That way people know you for something and not just the Muslim guy who lives down the street. Basic point: be involved.