India-born businessman runs for mayor of Alabama town

India-born businessman Hanu Karlapalem, is running to become the mayor of one of Alabama's fastest growing cities, a media report said.

Born in Andhra Pradesh, Hanu Karlapalem runs a network solutions business, Vinhamz, in Madison. Karlapalem said he'd like to see Madison become the No.1 small city in America, al.com reported.

"This city is one of the most intelligent and best educated cities yet we are not even among the top 10 in the nation," said Karlapalem.

"Madison has fallen behind on improving roads, increasing job growth and internal communication," he said, adding that he would use his experience to "promote a culture of diplomacy."

"If (the voters) decide I am the right person to lead this city, that would be a historic election, not only in Madison, but also in the state of Alabama," Karlapalem was quoted as saying.

This is Karlapalem's first run for public office.

He was earlier president of the local Indian association for Huntsville and Madison.

He had also served on the board of the international exchange programs Global Ties Alabama and International Services Council of Alabama.

A mechanical engineer by training, Karlapalem studied at Delhi College of Engineering in India. He said he moved to Alabama when his wife, Vidya, took a job in software development in the Huntsville area 16 years ago. He earned a master's in management information systems from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

Madison is a diverse small city. Over half of the residents were born in another state, and eight percent were born in another country.