# Harry Sidhu

Harish "Harry" Singh Sidhu (born July 8, 1957) is an American Republican politician and businessman who served as the 46th mayor of Anaheim, California, winning the office in the 2018 election. He was the first person of color and the first Sikh to serve as mayor of Anaheim. He is a former member of the Anaheim City Council and the former Mayor pro tempore of Anaheim.
In May 2022, a court filing stated that he was under FBI investigation for possible corruption involving the sale of Angel Stadium, and the Anaheim City Council unanimously requested that he resign his position as mayor. On May 23, 2022, Sidhu resigned as mayor, effective the following day. According to court filings on August 16, 2023, Sidhu agreed to plead guilty to one count of obstruction of justice, one count of wire fraud, one count of making false statements to the FBI, and one count of making false statements to the FAA.

## Education and early career

Sidhu earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Drexel University. He became a U.S. citizen in 1979 and worked as a consulting engineer.
Sidhu served as director of the Orange County Water District Board. He also serves on the board of Friends of United States, an organization that promotes India–United States relations.

## Mayoral career
### Resignation

On May 16, 2022, a filing at the Orange County Superior Court stated that Sidhu was under investigation by the FBI for potential criminal conduct related to the sale of the Angel Stadium property and for his actions related to the registering of a personal aircraft at a false out-of-state address.
The sale of the stadium and its parking lot for $320 million to the Los Angeles Angels is alleged to have violated the Surplus Land Act, which requires public agencies to prioritize affordable housing, parks, and open space when they sell public property. The release of that information prompted California Attorney General Rob Bonta to suspend a pending settlement with the City of Anaheim regarding the stadium sale and the Surplus Land Act. It was alleged that Sidhu provided confidential information to the Angels and hoped to solicit $1 million in campaign contributions from the team.
According to court filings on August 16, 2023, Sidhu agreed to plead guilty to one count of obstruction of justice (for "deleting multiple email messages and documents"), one count of wire fraud, one count of making false statements to the FBI, and one count of making false statements to the FAA.

## Electoral history
### City Council

2004 Anaheim City Council at-large election (2 seats) :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Lorri Galloway | Lorri Galloway | 24,856 | 18.8 |
| Harry Sidhu | Harry Sidhu | 24,242 | 18.4 |
| Jerry O'Connnell | Jerry O'Connnell | 19,044 | 14.4 |
| Lucile Kring | Lucile Kring | 15,819 | 12.0 |
| Sefanie O'Neill | Sefanie O'Neill | 10,451 | 7.9 |
| Richard "Dick" Larochelle | Richard "Dick" Larochelle | 10,421 | 7.9 |
| Andrea James | Andrea James | 8,152 | 6.2 |
| George Charles Johnson | George Charles Johnson | 7,243 | 5.5 |
| Robert J. Flores | Robert J. Flores | 5,068 | 3.8 |
| John R. Karczynski | John R. Karczynski | 2,206 | 1.7 |
| Rubin Jamison Skipper | Rubin Jamison Skipper | 1,807 | 1.4 |
| Craig Merrihue | Craig Merrihue | 1,496 | 1.1 |
| Faiz Zuberi | Faiz Zuberi | 1,137 | 0.9 |
2008 Anaheim City Council at-large election (2 seats) :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Harry Sidhu (incumbent) | Harry Sidhu (incumbent) | 32,652 | 23.2 |
| Lorri Galloway (incumbent) | Lorri Galloway (incumbent) | 31,694 | 22.6 |
| Gail Eastman | Gail Eastman | 27,200 | 19.4 |
| John Karczynski | John Karczynski | 11,668 | 8.3 |
| Kostas "Gus" Roditis | Kostas "Gus" Roditis | 10,160 | 7.2 |
| Jennifer Rivera | Jennifer Rivera | 8,208 | 5.8 |
| Robert J. Flores | Robert J. Flores | 7,148 | 5.1 |
| Steve Perez | Steve Perez | 5,495 | 3.9 |
| Brian Chuchua | Brian Chuchua | 4,957 | 3.5 |
| Faiz Zuberi | Faiz Zuberi | 1,336 | 1.0 |

### State Assembly

California's 68th State Assembly district election, 2016 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Sean Jay Panahi | 32,610 | 33.0 |
| | Republican | Steven Choi | 19,559 | 19.8 |
| | Republican | Harry Sidhu | 19,405 | 19.7 |
| | Republican | Deborah Pauly | 13,880 | 14.1 |
| | Republican | Alexia Deligianni-Brydges | 5,098 | 5.2 |
| | No party preference | Brian Chuchua | 4,635 | 4.7 |
| | Republican | Kostas Roditis | 3,528 | 3.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 98,715 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Republican | Steven Choi | 114,210 | 60.3 |
| | Democratic | Sean Jay Panahi | 75,231 | 39.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 189,441 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### Mayor

2018 Anaheim mayoral election :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Harry Sidhu | Harry Sidhu | 26,422 | 32.5% |
| Ashleigh Aitken | Ashleigh Aitken | 25,944 | 31.9% |
| Lorri Galloway | Lorri Galloway | 12,367 | 15.2% |
| Cynthia Ward | Cynthia Ward | 7,121 | 8.7% |
| H. Fuji Shioura | H. Fuji Shioura | 3,024 | 3.7% |
| Robert Williams | Robert Williams | 2,824 | 3.5% |
| Rudy Gaona | Rudy Gaona | 2,506 | 3.1% |
| Tony D. Martin | Tony D. Martin | 1,199 | 1.5% |
| Total votes | Total votes | 81,407 | 100% |