Lathrop Vice Mayor Part of Sikh Temple

April 17, 2007

Author: ROSE ALBANO RISSO

Source: Manteca Bulletin

http://www.mantecabulletin.com/articles/2007/04/12/news/news4.txt

LATHROP — When he's not busy with Lathrop city affairs, Vice Mayor Sonny Dhaliwal is at the Sikh Temple on Grant Street in Stockton helping run the oldest temple of its kind in North America.

Dhaliwal is a member of the temple's board of directors that is in charge of overseeing the temple which boasts 1,500 to 2,000 members from all over San Joaquin County.

The 21-member board "manages all the affairs of the temple, from hiring a priest to anything that has to with the overall management of the community kitchen," said Dhaliwal whose family has been worshipping here since they moved from San Jose to Lathrop about 10 years ago. While they were living in the Silicon Valley, Dhaliwal's family worshipped at the temple in Fremont.

"It's a volunteer service," Dhaliwal said of being a part of the temple's governing body.

"We meet every first Sunday of the month at the temple or unless there's a need for a special meeting," he said.