Montgomery elects first Sikh woman to head local GOP

Somerset County – and possibly the state – has elected the first Sikh woman to serve as a Republican municipal chair.

Rosy Thakkar was elected on Thursday to lead the local Republican Party in Montgomery, a one-time GOP stronghold that has become a Democratic town.   She is also the first South Asian woman to serve as a GOP municipal chair in Somerset – and perhaps statewide.

Montgomery has a fast-growing Asian population, increasing from 26% to 36% over the last decade, according to the U.S. Census.  The township gave 59% to Republican State Sen. Kip Bateman (R-Branchburg) in 2013, but just 46% in 2017.  Last year, Democrat Andrew Zwicker (D-South Brunswick) won Montgomery by a 62%-38% margin against Republican Michael Pappas, a former congressman.

She succeeds Ed Trzaska, a former mayor who has stepped down as GOP leader.  Two other former mayors, Christine Madrid and Ted Maciag, will serve as municipal vice chairs.

“Rosy brings energy, common sense and a new perspective to the chair,” said Tim Howes, the Somerset County Republican chairman.  “She will build the party and continue the tradition of excellence that is the Montgomery Republican municipal chairman.”

Also on Thursday, Edison Mayor Sam Joshi appointed the first South Asian woman to serve as a municipal court judge.

The new judge is Dipti Vaid Dedhia, a former deputy attorney general and longtime Edison resident.