Community Alert : Regarding Fundraiser for Mayor Michelle Romero. Ms. Romero Opposed Legally-Compliant Mandir Project
Dear Community Members,
It has come to our attention that Dr. Gautham Reddy, along with Rita Vaswani’s AAG, is hosting a fundraiser at his residence for Henderson Mayor Michelle Romero.
We feel compelled to inform you that during her tenure as a City Councilwoman, Ms. Romero was the only vote against the proposed Hindu Mandir in Henderson. This Mandir project had received strong support and recommendation for approval from city staff, the city attorney, and the planning commission, and was in full compliance with federal laws that protect the right to establish religious institutions regardless of zoning designations.
During the three hours of public hearings held on the Mandir agenda, numerous respected members of the Indian American community, including Hindu religious leaders and representatives from other faith groups, spoke passionately in favor of the Mandir. Despite this overwhelming community support, Ms. Romero chose to vote NO.
This was not just a vote—it was a slap in the face to everyone who showed up in good faith to participate in the democratic process, and to a community that contributes so much to the city of Henderson. Ms. Romero ignored their voices and voted NO.
This vote raised deep concerns across our community. As a result, we believe that no responsible member of our community should support or donate to Mayor Romero’s campaign. When this information was brought to Dr. Reddy’s attention, he expressed surprise. While we respect that it is his personal decision whether or not to proceed with the fundraiser, we strongly encourage community members to respectfully contact Dr. Reddy at 702-385-7001 (a publicly available phone number) and sincerely request that he cancel the fundraiser.
We urge the Indian American community to stand united in defense of our religious freedoms and to advocate for leaders who support diversity and inclusion. Supporting a candidate who stood against our community’s right to religious expression sends the wrong message.
Sincerely, Members of the Las Vegas/Henderson Indian Community
Editorial Note…On Monday, September 29th, I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Gautham Reddy at the Hindu Mandir, where over 300 community members had gathered to celebrate the Navratri festivities. During our conversation, I apprised Dr. Reddy of the concerns being expressed by the community – particularly by those who had spoken at the public hearing in support of the Mandir in Henderson.
Given the strong sentiments of the Indian community, I sincerely requested that Dr. Reddy cancel the planned fundraiser event, as it contradicts the collective sentiments and values of many in our community.
Swadeep, Editor – www.vegasdesi.com
On another note, Dr. Gautham Reddy is a non-partisan and non-political individual, as he is not a registered voter in Clark County and has not participated in past elections.
Recording of the city council meeting. Mandir agenda discussion starts at 54.55 minutes and ends at 3:49:00
New developments on City of Henderson zoning regulations as reported by the local news media…
Related News
UNLV’s Longest-Serving Professor Satish Bhatnagar Reflects on 52-Year Journey
Satish Bhatnagar’s 52-year career at University of Nevada, Las Vegas is remarkable not just forRead More
Swadeep, I fully agree with you and admire your sincere efforts to bring to the attention of the entire Indian community why we’ve chosen not to support this current Mayor.
I attended all the meetings from the Neighborhood meeting to the final approval of Anand Utsav Mandir (AUM) project. This project was moving very smoothly with AUM’s architects and different departments of City of Henderson. This project was suddenly halted due to Zoning Ordinance which prohibited continuation of AUM.This was done by the current Mayor. This case is currently with Department of Justice to challenge the decision of City of Henderson
Dear Swadeep ji, We commend you for bringing this matter to our attention.
I was one the several community leaders who went to the Henderson city hall City Council and presented our case for approval for the Hindu Temple. This was nearly 5 years ago. Since then this project has not moved forward and stuck in various legal and other issues.
We request Dr. Gautam Reddy to cancel the fund raising event for the re-election of the current mayor. This is the request of the Desi community.
Thanks and Pranaam
Rita Vaswani is notoriously known for a long time in our community for getting involved in public events for personal, unethical, benefits. Apparently, she does not care about Hindu temple or community. Sadly, her hanky-panky continues.
It is fair to ask Reddy to withdraw his support but reading the article it also appears that Gautham Reddy was convinced into hosting this for some personal benefit or gratification but not political affiliation or activism – In Gautham Reddy we have a person hosting a political fund-raiser who is not even a registered voter. However I would like to point out that Rita Vaswani bears a greater responsibility for this boondoggle. As a politically savvy and informed person and known in the city as a voice for Indian interests in Vegas this is close to malfeasance on her part. If we are rightly calling out Gautham Reddy to back out we should also be calling on Rita Vaswani to publicly withdraw her support for Michelle Romero or stop play acting as a voice for the Indian community. It is time her enablers (and there are many in the community) stop participating in her charade until she takes an unequivocal stand on this matter.
While there is no doubt that Rita Vaswani has been a highly visible leader and active participant in numerous nonprofit and community organizations, including the Las Vegas Indian Chamber of Commerce (LVICC) and the Asian American Group (AAG), it appears that her long-standing involvement has led to some governance concerns. These organizations have contributed meaningfully to charitable causes and business networking in Southern Nevada. However, at times, their activities seem to emphasize publicity and personal influence rather than broader organizational transparency and inclusivity.
It has come to attention that the current President and certain officers of the LVICC have held their respective board positions for an extended period without apparent rotation or change. While LVICC is registered as a nonprofit organization, its governance structure raises questions about whether it fully aligns with established nonprofit best practices and its own governing documents.
Specifically, it appears that decision-making authority and organizational control may be concentrated in the hands of one or two individuals. This dynamic, if accurate, could conflict with the principles of democratic governance, accountability, and transparency expected of nonprofit entities under Nevada nonprofit corporation law and IRS guidelines applicable to 501(c)(6) organization.
This situation prompts several key questions:
• Do LVICC’s bylaws permit indefinite or extended terms for officers, including the President, without elections or defined term limits?
• If not, have proper elections or votes been conducted in accordance with the organization’s bylaws and applicable laws?
• Why are the bylaws not publicly accessible on the LVICC website, especially given that transparency is a fundamental expectation of nonprofit accountability?
In the spirit of good governance and organizational integrity, it would be both prudent and beneficial for LVICC to:
1. Publish its current bylaws and governing documents on its website.
2. Disclose its board nomination and election procedures to members and the public.
3. Clarify the existence and enforcement of term limits for officers and directors.
Implementing these steps would strengthen organizational integrity, reinforce member confidence, and help ensure that LVICC continues to represent the broader Indian business community in Las Vegas in a transparent, accountable, and inclusive manner.
It’s quite obvious that this Dr Reddy guy is an uninformed individual, who has no knowledge of what he is doing. He is not even a registered voter. This information leads one to believe that he must be benefitting and will be rewarded by the major, if she is elected.. Could be monetarily or otherwise. If this guy has any common sense.. HE WILL CANCEL THE EVENT NOW..!!
Rita Vaswani, you are are a hypocrite. Stop pretending to be caring for our South Asian interests when you all care about yours. Have you forgotten about being recently sued? We have not. Rita, you are a criminal!
Two days ago, Dr. Sandeep Reddy called me after checking on Internet and reading from the vegasdesi.com about Michelle Romero’s obstructive actions in the proposed building of a Hindu temple in the east side of Henderson.
In an hour long conversation, I also apprised her of well-off Hindus donating heavily to the politicians. In return, they got individual favors from us the politicians, but Hindu community remained marginalized. She and her husband were not aware of Romero’s role before inviting her for a fundraiser for her campaign.
Not even once, I suggested to her to cancel this event. Most likely, she might have played into the hands of anti-Hindu elements. Also, I believe in changes in head and heart. Therefore, I stressed upon Sandeep to organize this event in the premises of a temple in Summerlin or ISKCON. Michelle would see a temple and meet Hindu community. Today, I came to know that the event took place today in Reddys’ home. That is all – a closure time. Let us stay together.
In light of this article regarding Mayor Michelle Romero’s fundraiser and her previous opposition to the Anand Utsav Mandir (AUM) project, it is time for our Hindu community in Southern Nevada to pause and reflect on a recurring and deeply concerning pattern. Our community’s goodwill and support are often sought during elections, but rarely honored when we genuinely need representation.
For years, Hindu community has opened its homes, hearts, and wallets to local politicians. Many of our respected physicians, business owners, and professionals have hosted fundraisers, contributed generously, and offered their credibility in the hope of building lasting bridges between elected officials and our community. Unfortunately, history shows that once the votes are counted and the campaigns conclude, those promises of partnership and understanding quickly fade away.
When our cultural or religious projects face challenges such as the zoning obstruction of the Anand Utsav Mandir we often find ourselves standing alone. The same leaders who once courted our presence at their campaign events become silent or unavailable when our issues arise. In some unfortunate cases, they even appear at the front table, not to defend us, but to distance themselves or shift blame.
This is not an isolated incident. Over the years, VegasDesi has documented numerous examples where well-intentioned Indian doctors and professionals supported local politicians, only to be later disappointed or unfairly criticized when controversies emerged. The underlying issue is not individual personalities; it is a pattern of transactional politics that values our financial and social support but disregards our collective voice and concerns once power is secured.
The current situation surrounding the fundraiser for Mayor Romero, following her opposition to a legally compliant Hindu temple project, is a painful reminder of this imbalance. While some hosts may have acted out of goodwill or lack of full information, the outcome underscores how easily our community can be used to legitimize political figures who have previously acted contrary to our interests and values.
Going forward, we must shift from symbolic participation to substantive engagement. Our support must be grounded in accountability and transparency. Before endorsing or donating to any candidate, we should ask:
What tangible actions have they taken for our Hindu community?
Where do they stand on issues of religious freedom, zoning equity, and cultural inclusion?
Will they remain accessible and responsive once elected?
As Satish Bhatnagar rightly suggested, in the future, if our community chooses to engage in political fundraising, such events should be organized within the premises of a temple such as in Summerlin or ISKCON. By doing so, we ensure that any candidate seeking our support is introduced to the heart of our faith and culture, meets our community in an open and sacred setting, and truly understands the values we stand for. It is a small but meaningful step toward mutual respect and transparency.
This is not about opposing any particular individual or political party; it is about advocating for integrity, fairness, and representation. Hindu community have contributed immensely to this region through our professions, businesses, and volunteerism. It is time our voices carry equal respect and consideration in local governance.
Let us stand united and not divided by personal connections or temporary favors, but bound by shared values and collective purpose. Let us learn from the past so that we are no longer remembered only during election season.
Our message should be clear and firm: “We are not just donors or photo opportunities. We are a vibrant, responsible, and principled community and we expect our leaders to treat us as such.”