Kumar Barve is the first Indian American elected to serve in a state legislature in U.S. history. Barve, Chair of the House Environment and Transportation Committee, has been a member of the Maryland House of Delegates since 1990, representing District 17 in Montgomery County. (Facebook.com/KumarBarve)

Delegate Kumar Barve, a candidate for the open seat in Maryland’s 8th Congressional District, received the “Public Servant of the Year” award from the International Leadership Foundation at their annual dinner in Washington D.C.

“Kumar Barve is a historical civic leader in the Asian Pacific American community. He is the forerunner who opened doors for thousands of others to engage in the civic life of their communities and enter into public service careers,” said ILF CEO and co-founder Chiling Tong.

Barve was a speaker at a conference cosponsored by the ILF and the Coalition of Asian American Business Organizations.

The International Leadership Foundation promotes the Asian Pacific American community’s economic success and its burgeoning participation in government, civic and public service. The gala dinner included remarks by former Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta and several Members of Congress.

The Barve campaign continued to build momentum as the Asian American Action Fund endorsed Delegate Barve’s bid for the U.S. House of Representatives at their gala event last week.

“Kumar Barve will add an important voice to the United States Congress. As a progressive Asian American known for bringing different people together and getting results, he will be an empowering leader on economic and social issues to Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders across Maryland and the nation,” stated Paul Tiao, co-founder, Asian American Action Fund.

The Asian American Action fund is a progressive political organization that works to help elect Asian Pacific American Democratic candidates who have a demonstrated commitment to the community and by engaging Asian Pacific Americans in the political process.

Asian Pacific Americans, comprising about 8-9% of the population, represent a growing and increasing politically active community within the 8th Congressional District of Maryland. Barve, the first Indian American elected to a state legislature in United States history, would be the first Asian American elected to Congress from the State of Maryland.

Kumar Barve, 56, grew up and attended Montgomery County Public Schools in Silver Spring, MD and graduated from Georgetown University. A resident of Montgomery County since 1964, he is an accountant and Chief Financial Officer of Environment Management Services, Inc., a Rockville, MD company. The first Indian American elected to serve in a state legislature in U.S. history, Barve, Chair of the House Environment and Transportation Committee, has been a member of the Maryland House of Delegates since 1990, representing District 17 in Montgomery County. He resides in Rockville, MD with wife, Maureen Quinn, a Maryland Worker’s Compensation Commissioner.