First Indian elected in Charlotte council

CHARLOTTE, NC — The Charlotte City Council in North Carolina has unanimously voted Indian American Dimple Ajmera to take over the District 5 council seat vacated by John Autry.

The 30-year-old Ajmera, who works at TIAA in University City, by virtue of taking over the seat becomes the first Asian American on the council.

Autry was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives in November, opening up the District 5 seat, which covers much of east Charlotte, for Ajmera.

She beat out five other people who had aspired to take over the seat.

Ajmera says her priorities will be working on public safety and bringing economic development to the former Eastland Mall property.

Ajmera was sworn in days after the vote. She will maintain the seat until her term ends in December.

Part of the council’s selection was picking a person who didn’t intend to run for the seat this year, which Ajmera told the council she would abide by.

Ajmera immigrated with her family to the United States from India when she was 16. She graduated from Southern High in Durham and then the University of Southern California.

In addition to her time at TIAA, where she has been since 2011 as the project manager of asset management technology and program manager of finance, actuarial and corporate functions technology, Ajmera was the investment management account manager at Yardi and lead tax consultant at Deloitte.

Additionally, she has served on the Charlotte Housing Authority board since January 2015 and founded the Tansen Ajmera Scholarships fund in 2011, providing financial assistance to students at various educational institutions.