Say it as you see it

David Hohendorf’s recent column in Downtown Birmingham Bloomfield (October) was very moving.

As a first term elected official, I’ve achieved many firsts: I’m the first Democrat to be State Rep. for Troy and Clawson, Michigan’s 41st House District, the first woman of color to represent this district, the first Indian immigrant (I arrived here in 1988 with a foreign student visa), and the first Hindu in the legislature.

While I am often discouraged and drained by the political arena and games played there, I have hope and am actually quite amazed at what my simply being in office does to the issues of racism and racial bias you describe. It changes what leadership looks like.

I truly appreciate your editorial. Thank you for being the Fourth Estate that says it as you see it.

Padma Kuppa

Michigan State Representative

41st House District