The Indian Panorama

Tag: Aftab Pureval

  • Indian-origin Mayor Aftab Pureval joins Senator Ossoff, actor BD Wong, and Georgia Democrats to mobilize voters in Atlanta

    Indian-origin Mayor Aftab Pureval joins Senator Ossoff, actor BD Wong, and Georgia Democrats to mobilize voters in Atlanta

    ATLANTA, GA (TIP): Last weekend, U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff, Mayor of Cincinnati Aftab Pureval, actor, and activist BD Wong, U.S. Representative Jim Clyburn, U.S. Representative Wiley Nickel, and local leaders joined Team Harris-Walz and the Democratic Party of Georgia for a Weekend of Action to mobilize voters in the state around electing Vice President Harris, Governor Walz, and Democrats. Events included a canvass launch and roundtable in South Georgia with U.S. Representative Wiley Nickel, a Fulton County Democrats dinner with U.S. Representative Jim Clyburn, and a canvass launch and small business block party in metro Atlanta to energize Georgia’s fast-growing AANHPI community.

    More than 40,000 people have signed up to volunteer on the campaign in Georgia since Vice President Harris became the nominee.

  • Indian American congressmen Ami Bera, Ro Khanna and Mayor Aftab Pureval among 50 National Advisory Board members in Biden’s 2024 campaign

    Indian American congressmen Ami Bera, Ro Khanna and Mayor Aftab Pureval among 50 National Advisory Board members in Biden’s 2024 campaign

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Two Indian American Congressmen Ami Bera and Ro Khanna along with Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval are among the 50 members of the National Advisory Board announced by the Biden-Harris Campaign on Wednesday, May 10. Former House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi will serve as chairperson of the Advisory Board. The entire board will help the campaign’s efforts to build on and expand the winning coalition that sent President Biden to the White House in 2020, an official announcement said.
    “The stakes of this election couldn’t be higher,” Biden said. “Our freedom and democracy are on the line. I’m grateful to this group of diverse and dynamic leaders who will help us win the battle for the soul of America and finish the job for the American people,” he said. Bera is the longest-serving Indian American in the US Congress and Khanna is co-chair of the Congressional India Caucus. Pureval is the first ever Indian American and Tibetan-American to be elected as Mayor of a city in Ohio.
    According to the campaign, board members will participate in regular media interviews, assist with fundraising efforts and events, leverage their networks and platforms to amplify the campaign’s message to voters, and engage directly with voters through grassroots efforts and events in key battleground states.
    This initial group represents a cross-section of leaders in the party who reflect the Biden coalition’s diversity across many facets, with more members likely to come on board as the campaign builds and grows, it said.
    “Successful campaigns are always innovating and finding new ways to get their message in front of voters and accomplish the ambitious goals we set for ourselves,” said Biden-Harris spokesperson Kevin Munoz.
    “The Democratic Party is fortunate to have an incredible slate of passionate and compelling leaders, all of whom are united behind the Biden-Harris 2024 campaign.
    They are representative of the broad, diverse coalition of voters who came together in 2020 to deliver President Biden and Vice President Harris a historic victory, and we are so grateful for their dedication to helping this campaign prevail over the MAGA extremist agenda and help President Biden finish the job for the American people,” Munoz said.
    (Source: PTI)

  • Indian American Aftab Pureval elected as Cincinnati mayor

    Indian American Aftab Pureval elected as Cincinnati mayor

    COLUMBUS, OH (TIP): In a historic win, Indian American lawyer Aftab Pureval, 39, has been elected mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio, in Tuesday, November 2 election to become the first Asian American chosen to lead the city.

    Son of an Indian father and a Tibetan mother, Pureval defeated David Mann, a city councilor and fellow Democrat who previously served as mayor and in Congress, 66% to 34% with all precincts counted, media reported citing unofficial results. Pureval will succeed term-limited Mayor John Cranley, who is 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 said in a tweet late Tuesday. “Tonight, we made history! Let’s get to work!”

    He spoke in his acceptance speech about his parents’ coming to the US as refugees from India in search of a better life for him and his brother.

    “Because of that incredible decision, my family went from refugees to now the next mayor of Cincinnati,” Pureval said. “Folks, that story only happens here in Cincinnati.”

    “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. I achieved mine. Thank you so much.”

    Mann conceded the race to Pureval at 10 p.m. and congratulated him on his win.

    “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. Thank you, Cincinnati!” Mann tweeted.

    Viewed as a rising political star in the state, Pureval was elected clerk of courts in 2016 after running ads with a stuffed duck quacking his name — “Aftab!” — in a campaign reminiscent of the old Aflac insurance commercials, NBC reported.

    Pureval, a former federal prosecutor and in-house attorney for Cincinnati-based Procter & Gamble, was a prized recruit for a competitive House seat in 2018 but lost to Rep. Steve Chabot, a long-entrenched Republican.

    Before launching his mayoral campaign, he expressed interest in running for the seat that Republican Sen. Rob Portman is giving up next year. During their final debate last month, Pureval pledged to serve a full four-year term as mayor. Tuesday’s election followed a nonpartisan September primary in which Pureval and Mann were the top two finishers, setting up a stark generational clash in the runoff.

  • Indian American, Cincinnati mayoral candidate Aftab Pureval, endorsed by AAPI Victory Fund

    Indian American, Cincinnati mayoral candidate Aftab Pureval, endorsed by AAPI Victory Fund

    CINCINNATI, OH (TIP): AAPI Victory Fund, a pro-Democratic Party group that mobilizes voters from the Asian American and Pacific Islanders communities, has endorsed Indian American Aftab Pureval, who is running for the mayor of Cincinnati. Pureval, who is currently serving as Hamilton County (Ohio) Clerk of Courts, announced his candidacy in January. The incumbent mayor, John Cranley, who has been in office for the past eight years, is term-limited and cannot run again. “Pureval is a necessary progressive voice that has been able to achieve success with Democrats and Republicans alike, AAPI Victory Fund said in a statement March 22. “As the son of first generation Americans, he has spent his career defending the most vulnerable in his community, including with the FBI to prosecute crimes against children.” The group also endorsed another Asian American, Michelle Wu, who is running for the mayor of Boston. “It is more important than ever for diverse leadership across local, state and federal governments, and these candidates will bring their unique voices and experiences to lead large metropolitan areas,” the Fund said. “I’m honored to be endorsed by the @AAPIVictoryFund,” Pureval said in a tweet Monday. “Now more than ever, AAPI representation and leadership matters. As Mayor, I’ll lift up all of Cincinnati and make sure we grow equitably.” Puravel, son of Indian-born father and Tibetan refugee mother, was born and raised in southwest Ohio. He earned his undergraduate degree in political science from the Ohio State University and law degree from University of Cincinnati College of Law.

    He is the first Democrat to get elected as the Hamilton County Clerk of Courts in more than 100 years. In 2018, he ran for Congress from Ohio’s first district, but failed to unseat incumbent Republican Steve Chabot.

    Cincinnati, which boasts three major sports teams, Cincinnati Reds, Bengals and FC Cincinnati, has a population of 300,000. The Cincinnati metropolitan area is home to nearly 2.2 million people.

    AAPI Victory Fund, founded by Indian American Shekar Narasimhan, is a so-called SuperPac that works for building political power of the Asian American Pacific Islander community.