09-03-2025
Norwich alderman announces campaign to become first Sikh mayor in city, state
Norwich — Surrounded by more than 100 supporters on the steps of City Hall on Saturday, second-term Democratic Alderman Swaranjit Singh Khalsa announced he will run to become the city's — and state's — first Sikh mayor.
This is more than a campaign for elected office, to me. This is about helping people, and helping Norwich residents, and I am ready to go to work," he said, before the crowd erupted into chants of "move Norwich forward."
Due to term limits, current Mayor Peter Nystrom cannot run for re-election, but can run for City Council. No Republican has yet announced they will run for mayor.
In his speech, 39-year-old Singh Khalsa said he plans to revitalize the city's economy, including by turning the marina into a destination and "more welcoming place," by making downtown Norwich safer and by leveraging education to build a future for children in the city.
Singh Khalsa, in an earlier interview with The Day, had said the city must do a better job of capitalizing on the influx of traffic it gets from two nearby casinos.
"It goes through us," he said of the traffic. "But how we can stop them here? That's one thing we need to kind of focus on. Having a nice operational marina and waterfront. Nice mixed-use development in downtown. More restaurants. These things will give them a reason to stop in.'
He added the city has plenty of attractive history, too, but must do a better job with signage that will make people aware of it, so they have a reason to "take a turn and explore."
Singh Khalsa said the city has had a habit of saying "no" to things, explaining it has been restrictive toward business with its zoning regulations, which has prevented the city attracting new industries and increasing tax revenue.
"We need to keep making sure that we keep our vision open-minded on a lot of different things which are coming," he said. "AI is another big one. Which, you know, is getting bigger and bigger every day.'
Singh Khalsa has and will continue to support the cannabis industry in the city, which has started bringing in tax revenue.
"It's not at the point we were all hoping," Singh Khalsa added. "But sometimes things take time to grow. Because I was looking at the bigger picture, that it will bring more revenues to our city. "
He said he wants to work to help the city be more open to those kind of opportunities.
"Because, I want to see money coming from everywhere," Singh Khalsa said. "I want the city to have a piece of it — maybe a small piece of it — but something trickling down. I want people to come here, make money, and city get their fair portion. But if we don't invest in regulations, we lose that opportunity of that money coming to us, and we also lose opportunity to regulate those entities which might want to come here."
In his speech, he pointed out that the 2024 grand list shrunk by more than $11 million, which will place an additional burden on city taxpayers.
He said he wants the city to encourage mixed-use development, not just housing. He said those developments will provide the kind of amenities that the younger generation is looking for in a thriving city.
"If I go to New York City — people are willing to live in one-bedroom units, because they're always out," Singh Khalsa said. "They just go there for sleep, you know? They are sitting in cafes, they are sitting in restaurants, they are sitting in beautiful parks. They feel like the whole city is their home. And that's just a place to sleep."
He said while the younger generation seems to be looking for apartments with nice views, shopping areas and access to parks, he recognized that people's needs change throughout their lives, and the city has the ability to accommodate different lifestyles.
"We do have a rural setup. We do have a city setup," Singh Khalsa said. "These are already things that already exist in Norwich. We just have to make them more vibrant. We need to explore all these things, so we can keep them here. College students. The young people who will be doing the jobs."
Singh Khalsa, who is raising his family in Norwich and has one child currently in Norwich Public Schools, said he supports the schools, and also wants to provide more recreational opportunities and better promote ethnic food. He described himself as an open-minded person — balanced and bipartisan in his decision making — and one who tries to see things in the long-term.
"I already have a good relationship with the Republicans in town, as well. Of course, I cannot support MAGA. But, you know, a lot of those ideologies — I just don't believe in them. But I'm not going to shy away in talking to people. I'm out there. I'm already doing that."
State and city officials back Singh
State officials Attorney General William Tong, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz and state Sen. Cathy Osten, all Democrats, were at Saturday's announcement. In speeches, they voiced their support for Singh Khalsa. Originally from Punjab, a state of India, Singh Khalsa moved to the country in 2007, then after graduating college in New Jersey, moved in 2010 to Norwich, where he purchased Norwichtown Shell gas station. He owned it for 12 years.
"I think the reason why Singh is going to be such a great mayor, and such an effective mayor," Tong said, "is because he knows what the people in this city go through every single day. He knows how hard it is to work and start a small business. He knows how great and wonderful it is to have a dream, and to come to a place like Norwich, that gives you the opportunity and how hard you have to work."
Singh Khalsa practices the monotheistic religion Sikhism, and recalled how after he purchased the station, people driving by would see the turbin he was wearing and continue along, to go to a competitor.
City voters had made history with Singh Khalsa in 2021, when they elected him as the first Sikh city councilor in the state. He was the second-highest vote-getter that year. Before that, he served two terms on the city's school board, and terms on the Commission on the City Plan and Inland Wetlands, Water Courses & Conservation Commission.
Bysiewicz pointed out that in November, voters will have the opportunity to make history again, by electing Singh Khalsa as the state's first Sikh mayor.
"I do see sometimes, just by running, it's a win-win situation," Singh Khalsa said. "Because people feel proud when they see somebody who has established to this point, for himself, for his family — come back to the community for public service."
Bysiewicz said at this time in the country "where there are those who seek to vilify immigrants," she was excited to have someone who showcases the "talent, strength and ingenuity that immigrants have brought to the Norwich community.
