Service. Faith. Community.
by Roger Riffenburgh
Attorney and City Commissioner Himat Bainiwal is running for South Bay State Assembly District 25. He says “I’m running because California has become increasingly unaffordable, especially here in the Bay Area. Sacramento needs more balance, accountability, and a greater focus on lowering the cost of living rather than continually adding new spending, taxes, and regulations.”
Estate planning is Bainiwal’s legal specialty. He learned during law school that he would rather work “with real people, not corporations”. He likes a job where he can be of service to others.
Bainiwal wears a turban. He explains, “My Sikh faith is an important part of who I am, and my turban is a visible expression of that faith. I believe deeply in God and in the values of service, humility, honest work, and treating every person with dignity.” Sikhism is the fifth largest organized religion in the world, with more than a half a million Sikhs in the United States. Bainiwal volunteers to help put on a kids summer camp at the gurdwara (temple). He also makes a short presentation to San Jose police officer trainees to help them understand Sikh issues.
Himat Bainiwal has another notable duty. “I serve on the City of San Jose Historic Landmarks Commission, which advises the City on historic buildings, landmarks, preservation, and proposed changes to historic properties. I have always loved history, and I find it fascinating that buildings constructed generations ago can still tell the story of the people and communities that came before us.”
Assembly District 25 is completely in Santa Clara County and contains various parts of San Jose including San Jose airport, the Rose Garden district, parts of downtown, Berryessa, Evergreen, East San Jose, and also the largely unpopulated eastern hills over to the Stanislaus County line. It’s currently represented by Democrat Ash Kalra.
Himat Singh Bainiwal was born and raised in San Jose. His grandparents had immigrated from India. He graduated from Silver Creek High School. After attending Evergreen Valley College for two years, he transferred to UCLA, where he earned his BA in history. Two years later he started law school at UC Hastings (now renamed UC Law, San Francisco). After some experience at various firms, he started his own law office in 2019.
Himat lives with his wife in the Evergreen area of San Jose. In his free time, he enjoys hiking and reading about history and economics. “I am particularly interested in how societies and economies develop, what makes institutions successful, and what happens when economic systems are poorly designed.” Find his website at BainiwalForAssembly.com.