Indian American lawyer Aftab Pureval has been elected as the mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio, scripting a history of being the first Indian American to win the post. In the election held on November 2, Pureval defeated former Democratic Congressman David Mann.
“Tonight, we made history in Cincinnati,” Associated Press quoted Pureval as saying. “Cincinnati is a place where no matter what you look like, where you’re from, or how much money you have, if you come here and work hard you can achieve your dreams.”
Pureval, 39, the son of a Tibetan mother and Indian father, won Cincinnati’s race for mayor, making him the first Indian American and Asian American elected to lead the city.
Pureval defeated Mann, a city councillor and fellow Democrat who previously served as mayor and in Congress, winning a whopping 66 per cent to 34 per cent with all precincts counted, according to unofficial results from the Hamilton County Board of Elections. Pureval will succeed term-limited Mayor John Cranley, seeking Ohio’s Democratic nomination for governor in 2022.
“Words can’t express how honored and excited I am to be the next Mayor of Cincinnati,” Pureval tweeted. “Tonight, we made history! Let’s get to work!”
“Congratulations to Aftab on his well-deserved victory,” Mann tweeted late Tuesday. “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. Thank you, Cincinnati!”
According to cincinnati.com, Pureval said: “… Our family went from being refugees to mayor of Cincinnati.”
