Please answer the following question: Facts:   - website: democracy for america page -lsb- http://www.democracyforamerica.com/campaigns/3229-chivukula-for-congress]    - residence: somerset new jersey neighborhood of franklin township , somerset county ,    - successor: joseph danielsen james vassanella    - party: democratic    - spouse: dayci    - predecessor: jeanne fox bob smith jack shreve    - office: new the new jersey general assembly from the 17th legislative district jersey mayor of franklin township deputy mayor of franklin township member board of the franklin township council from the 5th ward of public utilities commissioner member of      - term end: september 31 , 1998 december 31 , 2005 30 , 2014 december 31 , 2000 december    - term start: september 1 , 2000 january 1 , 1998 january 1 , 30 1998 , 2014 january 8 , 2002 january    - birth date: 08 october 1950    - name: upendra chivukula    - occupation: engineer    - image: chivukula profile.jpg    - birth place: nellore , india    - religion: hinduism    - alma mater: b.e.e. city college of new york -lrb- electrical engineering -rrb- guindy engineering college -lrb- electrical engineering -rrb- m.e.e.   Based on these bullet points, write a short biography describing the life of upendra j. chivukula .
A:
upendra chivukula -lrb- born october 8 , 1950 -rrb- is a democratic politician who currently serves as a commissioner on the new jersey board of public utilities after serving more than 12 years in the new jersey general assembly , where he had been the deputy speaker .on september 18 , 2014 , chivukula was nominated by governor chris christie to a seat on the new jersey board of public utilities , to replace retiring nj bpu commissioner jeanne fox .the new jersey senate voted 35-1 to confirm chivukula to a six-year term on the new jersey board of public utilities on september 22 , 2014 .chivukula is an advocate for raising the minimum wage , supporting social security and medicare , and investing in public education .in 2014 he ran in the democratic primary to fill retiring congressman rush holt 's seat in congress , but he did not win the nomination .chivukula served in the new jersey general assembly from 2002-2014 , where he represented the 17th legislative district .in 2001 , chivukula became the first indian american elected to the new jersey general assembly and the fourth indian-american in the united states to be elected to state office .