Kish Rajan dropped out of the re-election race for Walnut Creek City Council to accept Governor Jerry Brown’s appointment in September 2012 as the first director of the newly-created Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz).

Rajan was born in 1970 in Seattle, Washington. He attended Diablo Valley College before graduating from the University of California, Berkeley, with a bachelor of arts degree in U.S. history in 1993. While at UC Berkeley, Rajan worked as a legislative aide to U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer. After graduation, Rajan spent a year as a political director for Phil Angelides, during his unsuccessful bid to become state Treasurer. (Angelides eventually won the post in 1998 and 2002.)

Rajan moved to the private sector and began a 14-year career in the mobile technology industry. During that time, he earned a J.D. from Golden State University School of Law, graduating in 2000.

Rajan was regional sales manager at Siemens from 2002-2004 before becoming director of alliances at Good Technology Inc. from 2004 to 2007. He moved to SanDisk Corporation in 2007 and was director of mobile sales until leaving in 2010 to start his own business.

Since 2010, he has been the principal at Kish Rajan Public Affairs, a consulting practice that helps technology companies and public agencies form business partnerships.

Rajan slipped back into the public sector, joining the Walnut Creek Transportation Commission, where he was chairman in 2007 and 2008. Rajan, a Democrat, ran for political office in 2008 and was elected to the Walnut Creek City Council.

While on the council, he was co-chair in 2010 for Yes on Measure C, the successful campaign for a $348 million school bond.

According to Rajan, he was unaware that he was a candidate for the GO-Biz position until shortly before his appointment. He was already a candidate for re-election to the Walnut Creek City Council on the November 6 ballot, and would have automatically become the mayor if elected. He dropped out of the race upon learning of his selection by Governor Brown, although it was too late to remove his name from the ballot.

Rajan’s appointment does not require confirmation by the state Senate.

He is married to Evie Spencer and they have three children, Jordan, Kendall, and Lincoln.

–Ken Broder

To Learn More:

Walnut Creek Councilman to Head State Economic Development Office, Ends Re-Election Campaign (by Elisabeth Nardi, Contra Costa Times)

Director, Kish Rajan (GO-Biz website)

Biography (Kish Rajan Public Affairs)

Kish Rajan (City of Walnut)