YUBA CITY: Kashmir Singh Gill, now known as Kash Gill, a migrant from Punjab has become the first Punjabi-American to occupy the seat of Mayor of Yuba city in California, USA. He is relative of Didar Singh Bains, one of the richest Punjabi in USA.

Kash Gill was sworn in Tuesday night as the first Punjabi-American mayor of Yuba City. A veritable who's who of the Yuba-Sutter and East Indian communities gathered to be part of the landmark event.

It took only 1-minute for Kash Gill to go from Councilman to Mayor. But for Yuba's Punjabi community - it took more than a hundred years for this day to come in Yuba City.

Mayor Gill was selected to his 1-year term to Yuba's rotating mayor's chair after 3-years on the council. But selection to the top post wasn't just ceremonial...it's emotional. Crowds of people showed up to Yuba City's Council Chambers and spilled out to the city courtyard all to get a glimpse at the new leader.

Gill was elected to the City Council November 2006. Programs that are important to Council member Gill all lead to Public Safety: flood protection, easing traffic congestion, and reduction in crime. The City Council follows a regular rotation for mayor, with the top two vote recipients in each election serving one year in the position.

He graduated from the Graduate Schools of Banking (Boulder, Colorado) in July 2006, California State University at Chico (Agricultural Business-1987), Yuba Community College, Yuba City High School and Barry School.

Gill is Senior Vice President/Regional Branch Administrator at Butte Community Bank and farms peaches, prunes and walnuts in Sutter County. He has been married for 21 years to Neena Gill. They have three children: Harveen, Rajan, and Preya.
 
"I never dreamed like that when I came to the United States," Jagtar Gill fatehr of Kash Gill said. Kash Gill thanked the voters and said. "We have made history tonight, and everyone is part of that history."

Friends, family members, colleagues and many public officials gathered at the Veterans Memorial Community Center to dine on samosas and chana masala as dancers jumped and swirled to Punjabi music.

From Gill's early childhood, it was clear Gill had greatness in his future, said his uncle Didar Bains one of the richest Punjabi in USA.

Ravi Maan, Gill's brother-in-law, came from Vancouver to share in the celebration. "Even in Canada we don't have a Punjabi mayor," he said.