Dr. Priya Bhat-Patel

Dr. Priya Bhat-Patel is a Council Member in the City of Carlsbad where she grew up and currently lives with her husband, baby boy, and dog. A daughter of Indian immigrants, Priya is the first Indian American to be elected to City Council in the County of San Diego, and the youngest person ever to be elected to the Council in the City of Carlsbad. She serves on many committees, including the League of California Cities, North County Transit District, City/Schools Committee, and Economic Development Committee, and more.

Priya has been uniquely poised to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic with her Masters and Doctorate in Public Health. Along with Council, Priya works for a non-profit as a Policy Analyst and Manager for the California Family Justice Center Network. Family Justice Centers help provide wraparound services to victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and elder and child abuse.

Priya knows the urgency with which we need to address issues Carlsbad faces, from public health and economic recovery in the aftermath of the pandemic to housing/homelessness, climate change, etc.