Forging his own identity, Roger Khan seeks position on Lodi City Council

Roger Khan is proud of his Pakistani heritage.

But in his second run for Lodi City Council, the 48-year-old real estate agent says he won't be defined by where he comes from.

"I'm not a leader of the Pakistani community — I don't want that title," Khan said in an interview last month, referring to a tag he gained during his 2006 council run. "I consider myself in a leadership position for (all) the citizens of Lodi."

The longtime Eastside resident has never held elected office. He would be just the second non-Caucasian to serve on the Lodi council if elected. The first, Alan Nakanishi, of Japanese decent, was elected in 1998.

Khan, a tall, engaging man, emigrated to Lodi 23 years ago. He has served as a community volunteer ever since, organizing street cleanups in his neighborhood and translating for non-English speakers in Lodi's Pakistani community.

During this council race, Khan hopes to broaden his appeal among voters. That can only help as he finished last among eight candidates in 2006, gaining just 4.7 percent of the vote.

Since then, he has brushed up on how local government works, reading through thick city reports, like those produced for Lodi's newly approved redevelopment district.

Roger Khan at a glance

Age: 48.
Family: Married to Janece. One stepson, Chris.
Occupation: Real estate agent.
Education: Degree in medical dispensing from Punjab Medical Facility in Pakistan.
Experience:

Worked in real estate since 2005.

Has served on the Lodi Boys & Girls Club board of directors since June 2007.

Has served on the Greater Lodi Area Youth Commission since February 2007.

Worked as a nurse in Lodi, Stockton and in rural Pakistani villages.

Also worked as a truck driver locally before gaining job as a nurse.
Hobbies: Exercise, including racquetball and walking; cooking, reading and poetry.
Source: Roger Khan

"He does spend a lot of time reading," Janece Khan, his wife of 22 years, said. "He's on the computer constantly."

The couple first met at the Lodi Public Library.

Roger Khan feels the city should work harder to spark Lodi's sluggish economy and lower its high electricity rates. He favors redevelopment, a muchdebated plan to revitalize the Eastside. And he's also a strong proponent of the Wal-Mart Supercenter project and seeks a greenbelt between Stockton and Lodi.

He believes his knowledge of city government and his problem-solving skills set him apart from the four others vying for two council seats. Those include incumbents JoAnne Mounce and Bob Johnson, along with newcomers Kelly Bates and Cliff DeBaugh.

"This is the way you solve a problem," said Khan, fixing his brown eyes straight ahead, wearing a sharp black suit and tie at Prudential Realty's West Turner Road office, where he works. "You sit around a table and you talk. You talk up a storm ... ."

Others have noted Khan's drive for success.

"From what I see of him at meetings, he's very active and very compassionate about the issues we're dealing with," said Richard Jones, president of the Lodi Boys and Girls Club, where Khan has served as a member of the board of directors since June 2007.

Khan also sits on the Greater Lodi Area Youth Commission. He was appointed to that city panel in February 2007.

Before emigrating to the United States, Khan worked as a nurse in rural Pakistan. Upon arriving, he took a job as a truck driver and later worked as a nurse in Stockton and Lodi.

He has served as a real estate agent for the past three years, and hopes to become a real estate broker in coming months.

Spending so much time in America, Khan said he has developed Western values and adores his adopted homeland.

That doesn't mean he has forgotten Pakistan. He still attends the Lodi Muslim Mosque on Poplar Street when he can, and makes "an out of this world" Pakistani chicken and rice, according to his wife.

With his professional success, Khan said he feels an obligation to give back to his community.

While he may not fit the norm of Lodi's council candidates, Khan said there's nothing stopping him.

"There are no barriers if you believe in yourself," he added.

Contact reporter Chris Nichols at chrisn@lodinews.com.

Reader Feedback

edumacation wrote on Oct 10, 2008 5:11 PM:

" To commonsense1: Only a Realtor wouldn't understand. Thats my point! Mr Khan has worked hard to get where he is, but shouyld not stop. The word Realtor TM is an affectation and pejorative especially today. Common go get a dictionary and look it up. You are proving my point. We really need to start to force the DRE to clean this mess up. Lets start by requiring agents to have at least a room temperature IQ. Whew! And you guys want to be financial advisors---give me a break!! I am thinking of a few who would be very embarrassed if the public knew what they were really about. LOL ROFL. The old BS days are over. The government (Reps or Dems) will bring in reforms to clean house (LOL) on this nest of vipers--estate agents. Great Britain did it, now its our turn. GB transformed estate agent "ethics" into criminal laws. Today many are in prison for lying or cheating. "

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commonsense1 wrote on Oct 10, 2008 4:39 PM:

" edumacation......other than yout fetish for realtors, what does this have to do with Mr. Khan's running for Lodi City Council? "

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edumacation wrote on Oct 9, 2008 5:09 PM:

" To Commonsense!: Did you list your house today? See I am not against Realtors or the MLS. I am only against ripping off the naive or infirm. If everyone who wanted house equity decided to sell this week, it would provide more opportunities for Realtors to sell, and buyers to find a home. Whats wrong with that? Nothing, until they try to appeal to greed or stupidity and start jacking up prices again. Go to the web site
http://www.lodirealtors.org/market.htm

Read this Quote: "Inventories drop for the eleventh straight month" Why does it matter, if their ONLY job is to represnt motivated sellers or buyers at an arm's length? Does their quote give you a clue? "

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commonsense1 wrote on Oct 9, 2008 2:43 PM:

" edumacation.....Guess you answered that one. Whew! "

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edumacation wrote on Oct 9, 2008 12:50 PM:

" To commonsense1: if you want, call up a Realtor and list today, but at YOUR price. If they try to tell you to wait until prices get lower, tell them you want to sell high buy low (if you have 60% equity), Tell them MORE inventory means more opportunity. "

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edumacation wrote on Oct 9, 2008 12:46 PM:

" To commonsense1: Actually I am bullish on Real estate and the profession. We need to get rid of the clowns and liars. To prove my point, I recommend that if you want some quick speculative eqity out of your house AND if you have a position of at least 60% equity. Go to a local Realtor---TODAY! Ask for local comps and list and price your house in the bottom 20% of the comps for a fast sale. I call this bullish on real estate and the NAR and its Realtors. But guess what, many don't ant the listings even if you are having a family emergency and need the equity as cash. Isn't that curious? Why don't they want listings from motivated sellers? Go ahead try it. Will they try to disuade you from listing it at a reasonable price-- A price YOU would be happy with? Try it, and see. I would like to see another 100 or so houses listed PER WEEK! Guess who doesn't want that? "

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edumacation wrote on Oct 9, 2008 12:27 PM:

" To commonsense1: I own several properties and have NO mortgage. I work in the Real Estate field so I know what really goes on. No I would never stoop to the level of selling over priced investments by applying for a license. It's not required. Since you brought up the topic, explain why one in 26 Californians was a Realtor at the bubble height? Explain why the CAR and NAR continue to fight for low educational standards? A minimum of a BA degree in accounting should be required to be an associate, and an MA for a brokers license. We also need to codify "ethics" and put them in criminal law ===ie the Penal code. "

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commonsense1 wrote on Oct 9, 2008 11:56 AM:

" edumacation....I sense a tiny bit of hostility towards anyone involved in the sale of real estate. Realtors, appraisers, mortgage companies, etc. Did you flunk out of real estate school? Maybe forget to make your mortgage payment? "

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edumacation wrote on Oct 9, 2008 10:50 AM:

" To T & C: Please tell me how a $300K house increases in value by $18,000 just because Realtors handled the paperwork. You could reroof the house and bag it to kill all the termites for that money. Realtors represent themeselves. They only get paid when the house closes escrow. Now if I saw Realtors out there repaving driveways, and re-roofing old fixers on their own, I would reconsider my thoughts. Spraying green paint on a brown lawn is not what I call constructive work. $18,000 for a green painted lawn seems expensive to me. Would you pay $5,000 per gallon to paint a dead lawn green? "

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edumacation wrote on Oct 9, 2008 10:43 AM:

" To T & C: Lok at the complaints anout political ads from the NAR to support candidates. The candidates say " I know the NAR hase a bad name, but I can't stop them from supporting me".

Here is a little assignment: THE NAR chief economic forcaster David Lereah published his book in December 2006: " Why the Housing Boom Will NOT BUST" David was the NUMBER ONE TALKING HEAD for the National Association of Realtors for years. I guess economics is stronger than cheerleading, because the HOUSING BUST IMPLODED. Thank YOU NAR. David was embarrased into quitting, only to be relaced with Mr. Jun, who is making the same outrageous claims.

Look at what Mr Real Estate, David Lehear is saying today: "Lereah formed a new company and recently said "We're not at the bottom," he says. "[People] want it to be near the bottom, but we're not there yet. The leading indicators are still very bad. Mortgage applications are low There's still supply out there in abundance This thing is going to get worse before it gets worse."

http://davidlereahwatch.blogspot.com/ "

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dogbark wrote on Oct 9, 2008 10:34 AM:

" =second non-Caucasian=
odd, but I recall from Anthro I that there are Caucasian, Negroid, Asiatic, and Indigenous races. Pakistan is pretty close to the Causcaia mountains.
So you sure about the "non caucasian" tag? "

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T & C wrote on Oct 9, 2008 9:44 AM:

" edumacation wrote on Oct 9, 2008 9:27 AM:

"The fact you are a REALTOR prevents many of us from voting for you."

Okay edumacation... I give up! Who are these many of us" you are referring to? Please state their names, and no fake names silly! You speak for no one but yourself! "

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T & C wrote on Oct 9, 2008 9:42 AM:

" Maybe you should buy some land in Great Britan edumacation! I'll even pay half the fare to help you relocate! "

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T & C wrote on Oct 9, 2008 9:41 AM:

" edumacation, you are ALL TALK and NO FLASH! A whole bunch of hallow accusations pointed at everyone and never ANYTHING to back it up! "

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T & C wrote on Oct 9, 2008 9:40 AM:

" Isn't forging one's identity, the same as Identity fraud? Just asking a relevant question! "

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edumacation wrote on Oct 9, 2008 9:27 AM:

" Roger, you should be proud of your accomplishments, but should start re-examing your new profession of Real Estate. Real Estate agents do NOTHING to increase the value of a property. Its all talk and flash and costs buyers and sellers thousands of dollars for the talking. It can be an honest profession but it is cloaked in so-called ethics guidelines that have NO teeth. In Great Britain, they have a similar profession called Estate Agents. But in those countries consumers were able to get protections from cheating and lying that are not available here. In their system an Estate Agent Ombudsman wirking for the national government will conduct their own investigation. When an agent is found guilty of exaggerations in oral statements or any other tricks, they face prosecution under criminal laws. In this country the NAR is so powerful they kill any bills that try to control the agents. Today, this profession has a "bad name" look at the stock market and banking mess caused by over priced exaggerations and agent promoted greed. The fact you are a REALTOR prevents many of us from voting for you. "

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