The Politician: Jay Goyal
Sexiest Qualities: Intelligent and Caring
At the tender age of 26, Jay Goyal has attained an unthinkable amount of achievement. He is the first South Asian elected to serve in the Ohio General Assembly and if that honor isn’t enough, he also has the distinction of currently being the youngest assembly member, and most recently, he won the coveted Ohio Young Democrat of the Year. When Goyal is not representing his district, he helps to run a family business -- Goyal Industries-- as an engineer and Vice President. Remarkably with all of these victories under his belt, his humble nature shines through as he declares, ”Really I don’t feel like I have accomplished anything yet.” For all of his life’s achievements, he credits his parents, mentors (such as former Ohio State Representatives Bill Hartnett and Sherrod Brown) and his supporters who have stood strong by him throughout the years.
Having recently been elected this past November, Goyal feels that he hasn’t yet had the chance to make a dent in what really matters to him, affirming, ”I would like to improve the lives of my constituents through supporting economic growth, education and affordable healthcare.” The perception is there and the intention to help is there, but he is only just getting started on addressing these matters. The youthful politician adds, ”Politics is kind of a different animal. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to position yourself to where you can be in a place where you are able to influence things and make a lot of change.”
Goyal’s family tale began over 30 years ago on their native soil of India. His father ventured to the States in 1970 in order to obtain an engineering degree. He later returned to India to marry, bringing his wife back to America to start their family and live their dream. Goyal feels his parent’s homeland ideals have greatly formed his own standards. He perceives his culture as deeply valuing ”hard work, respect for others regardless of what their station is in life, education and appreciation of the value of education, truthfulness and being a person of integrity.” With this in mind, Goyal is committed to exercising those ethics in both his personal and professional life.
Although he feels a strong connection to his roots in India, Jay Goyal considers himself an American and feels fully accepted in American society. To prove that point, although he ran in a rural conservative area where Bush won 60% of the vote in 2004, Goyal’s ethnicity and culture never became an issue during his campaign. He states, ”I was seen only as a person with integrity who was born and raised in the community and wanted to give back to it.”
Goyal considers his job a lifestyle, but when he does have a chance to unwind, he enjoys reading, watching sports and being in the great outdoors, but most of all he enjoys spending time with family and friends. Most importantly, Jay Goyal is an eligible bachelor who is seeking a caring a compassionate partner who is personable and intelligent and doesn’t mind being supportive by attending receptions, banquets and events. He is flattered to be a part of Bibi’s Sexy Men issue and proclaims, ”I never expected to receive such an honor!” Goyal adds, ”My personality and desire to make change is perhaps what makes me sexy.”
Overall, the young elected official is content playing the role of the people’s politician and is determined to be accessible to all of his constituents. Jay Goyal is also interested in mentoring those in the South Asian community who aspire to enter the world of public service. Are there any takers out there?
