Ali Sajjad Taj ! Another Pakistani Mayor in California, United States !
Ali Sajjad Taj is a Pakistani-American politician and financial analyst who has made significant contributions to the city of Artesia, California. Born and raised in Lahore, Pakistan, he attended high school at The British School of the Netherlands in The Hague before moving to the United States in 1990. He holds a Master in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science. 
In December 2013, Taj was elected to the Artesia City Council, becoming the city’s first Pakistani-American council member. He served as mayor in 2016-2017 and again in 2019-2020. During his tenure, he focused on improving the city’s infrastructure, including enhancing lighting, street quality, and traffic safety. He also advocated for attracting new businesses to generate revenue and provide amenities for residents. 
Professionally, Taj has over two decades of experience in the financial services industry, holding key leadership positions such as district manager, regional manager, managing principal, and vice president at multinational firms including American Express, Ameriprise Financial, Waddell & Reed, and TD Ameritrade. 
Beyond his local government role, Taj has been actively involved with the League of California Cities. He was elected to its Board of Directors in 2017 and served as the organization’s president for the 2022-2023 term. In September 2024, he announced his candidacy for the California State Assembly District 67 in the 2026 election, aiming to focus on education, public safety, affordable housing, and economic growth.
Throughout his career, Taj has been recognized for his humble attitude, collaborative approach, and dedication to community improvement. He is multilingual, fluent in Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, Dutch, French, and German. 
Ali Sajjad Taj ! Another Pakistani Mayor in California, United States !
Ali Sajjad Taj is a Pakistani-American politician and financial analyst who has made significant contributions to the city of Artesia, California. Born and raised in Lahore, Pakistan, he attended high school at The British School of the Netherlands in The Hague before moving to the United States in 1990. He holds a Master in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science. 
In December 2013, Taj was elected to the Artesia City Council, becoming the city’s first Pakistani-American council member. He served as mayor in 2016-2017 and again in 2019-2020. During his tenure, he focused on improving the city’s infrastructure, including enhancing lighting, street quality, and traffic safety. He also advocated for attracting new businesses to generate revenue and provide amenities for residents. 
Professionally, Taj has over two decades of experience in the financial services industry, holding key leadership positions such as district manager, regional manager, managing principal, and vice president at multinational firms including American Express, Ameriprise Financial, Waddell & Reed, and TD Ameritrade. 
Beyond his local government role, Taj has been actively involved with the League of California Cities. He was elected to its Board of Directors in 2017 and served as the organization’s president for the 2022-2023 term. In September 2024, he announced his candidacy for the California State Assembly District 67 in the 2026 election, aiming to focus on education, public safety, affordable housing, and economic growth.
Throughout his career, Taj has been recognized for his humble attitude, collaborative approach, and dedication to community improvement. He is multilingual, fluent in Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, Dutch, French, and German. 
