By Choekyi Lhamo
DHARAMSHALA, Nov 3: Aftab Karma Singh Pureval became the first Asian-American Mayor of Cincinnati, according to several unofficial results on Tuesday. Aftab who is of Tibetan-Indian descent, defeated his competitor David Mann, a fellow Democrat and former mayor, with 66 % votes counted in all precincts. “Words can’t express how honored and excited I am to be the next Mayor of Cincinnati. Tonight, we made history! Let’s get to work,” Pureval tweeted after his victory.
“We ran on a bold vision to push Cincinnati forward: an economic recovery with racial equity in the centre of the frame. Affordable housing and public safety to ensure that 52 of our neighbourhoods are safe, and finally, continuing to press for environmental issues that will safeguard Cincinnati, not just for my children but also our grandchildren,” Pureval told Fox News after his win on Tuesday.
The former federal prosecutor was a recruit for a competitive House seat in 2018 but lost to Republican Steve Chabot. The result on Tuesday is followed by the September primary in which Pureval and Mann were the top two finalists. Pureval will now succeed mayor John Cranley, who is expected to seek Ohio’s democratic nomination for governor in 2022.
The 39-year-old is the son of an Indian father and a Tibetan mother who were both immigrants. He was elected the student body president while at Ohio State University; he also attended University of Cincinnati College of Law and worked as a global brand attorney for Procter & Gamble prior to running for Clerk of Courts in 2016. He was the first Democrat in over a century to be elected to the position.
“Congratulations to Aftab on his well-deserved victory. I have spoken with him and wish him nothing but the best, and it has been the honor of my lifetime to serve this community as a councilman, mayor, and member of congress throughout my career,” Mann congratulated Pureval on Tuesday.
