LOS ANGELES: While challenging remarks that were made on air from Al Rantel, a Los Angeles conservative talk show host, regarding an issue at the San Francisco airport because a man was wearing a turban, Navraj Singh was approached by local Republicans and encouraged to run for the seat of Congress in the 27th District.

It didn't take much convincing on the part of local constituents to get Navraj to pull papers and obtain the required signatures to make his run for congress official. Singh recalls "I was warmly received by my local constituents into their homes.

I was amazed by their depth of knowledge of the issues and the questions that were posed to me. Often these questions were asked prior to giving me their support. I often spent upwards of half an hour at people's homes addressing their concerns and answering how I intend to help with the current issues."He was born in Armistar and grew up in New Delhi. Immediately after the Partition he served as a captain in the Indian Army in the 1971 war against Pakistan.

Three years later he moved to the United States to be with his wife that he married in 1972.After graduating from Bernard Baruch College, Singh came to California and managed a Volkswagen dealership in Monrovia for two years.

In 1981 he opened his India Oven restaurant which burned in the 1992 Rodney King riots.Since then he has owned and operated nine restaurants, the last one being Tantra restaurant in Los Angeles area of Silverlake which he sold in 2006 after his son Sirtaj died in a car accident.

He is currently developing a boutique hotel in Beverly Hills which he plans to name after his son."As a child, the thought of moving to the United States of America was a dream. I realized that dream and more. I have flourished in this great nation since first entering in April of 1974.

I am extremely grateful of the system that was created prior to my coming that has allowed me to flourish as well as to the great citizens that have embraced me and my ideas." Singh recalls.Singh's beliefs mirror that of the current Republican Party philosophy. He believes in small government, keeping the borders closed to illegal immigration and strengthening the nation's security to defend it from Islamic extremists.

He also supports the troops in Iraq, "even though the Democrats want them home," he said. "I believe that even if we didn't find any weapons of mass destruction, we must bring our troops home with glory, pride and with success…I think we should give the surge a chance to succeed and we should give a chance for the Iraqi people to succeed."Furthermore, on the domestic side, "I don't believe in the welfare state.

I believe in workfare rather than welfare. I believe in school vouchers, and I believe that education is the responsibility of the parents and teachers. I believe that the federal government should stay out of the education business." he said.Finally, "I also believe the people who really need our help are the working people making $40,000 or $50,000 per year or less.

I am suggesting that for the first $10,000 of income for a single person there should be no income tax. If you are a married couple, you would not have to pay tax on the first $20,000 of income per year. If you have children, each child should be exempted for $2,000 per year, and if you are keeping your parents with you, you should also be able to get a $2,000 per parent credit, and on the balance of your income, you should be taxed at a flat rate of ten percent."When asked whether or not be believes he can unseat his opponent, Singh stated "Since announcing that I will be running for this seat, the support has been overwhelming.

I am getting checks in the mail from my constituents that are not Sikh or Indian. There is plenty of interest in my candidacy and I am going to win."Singh is running this campaign as if he had to win the primary election first. Since entering the race he has had overwhelming support from the Republican Party. No other Republican was willing to run against Singh.In his view, his opponent, Brad Sherman, is not that strong as an incumbent.

"I would be willing to consider him a more viable opponent if and when he debates me, publicly, about the issues at hand." Singh said. With a campaign that will cost him more than $2 million to wage, "I have promised myself that I'm going to ask every person for at least five dollars," Singh said. "If everybody in my district gives me five dollars and gives me a vote, I think I'll be the best guard dog they can have in Congress."