Aftab Pureval launches campaign for Mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio

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Ohio’s Hamilton County Clerk of Courts Aftab Pureval, announced the launch of his candidacy for Mayor of Cincinnati Jan. 14, 2021.

Emphasizing his priority was leading an economic recovery from COVID and restoring the public’s trust in City Hall, Pureval, the first Democrat elected as the Hamilton County Clerk of Courts in over 100 years, touted his experience in improving government services.

In 2018, Aftab Karma Singh Pureval lost his bid for the U.S. Congress from Ohio’s District 1. He gained significant prominence in Democratic ranks, endorsed by the Party and by President Obama. He became the first person of part-Tibetan heritage to run for the U.S. Congress. His parents came to the U.S. from India. He failed to unseat incumbent Republican Steve Chabot.

Thereafter, Pureval was elected to his current position as Hamilton County Clerk of Courts, and was re-elected to this office in 2020, beating his opponent by 15 points.

Now he is making his Mayoral bid for a seat that has been held by a Democrat.

Elections for Mayor are scheduled for Nov. 2, and is officially nonpartisan. The top two vote-getters from the primary move to compete Nov. 2. The current Democratic Mayor John Cranley was elected back in 2013, and cannot run this year as the position is term limited.

“I’m running for Mayor to lead us boldly into the new decade — starting with an aggressive economic recovery from COVID that benefits every neighborhood in Cincinnati, and a plan to restore the public’s trust in City Hall,” Pureval is quoted saying in the press release from his campaign.

“I have executive experience and a record of improving government services. With COVID, corruption, and crime, we face challenging times. But that’s exactly when Cincinnati shines. My campaign will be working to earn the support of Cincinnatians in every neighborhood in our city,” Pureval added, noting that this past year has been difficult for all families, but more so black and brown families.

In the video announcing his campaign, Pureval introduced his wife — a doctor at Bethesda North working on the frontlines of the COVID pandemic — and their one-year old son. He laid out his priorities and announced his campaign manager, Allie Watters, who ran Congressman Joe Cunningham’s re-election campaign, one of the highest profile races in the country.

According to Fox19.com, 9 other candidates have already declared their run for Mayor including Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld; Councilman Chris Seelbach; Councilman Wendell Young; Councilman David Mann; Retired Cincinnati fire district chief Raffel Prophett; State Sen. Cecil Thomas; Community activist Kelli Prather; IT entrepreneur Adam Koehler; and Herman Nojoli, an adjunct professor at Indiana Wesleyan University.

According to bizjournals.com (Cincinnati Business Courier), more individuals are planning to contend for the office.

Pureval is stressing on ending corruption in light of several candidates who are being plagued by alleged scandals.

“We need to give the power back to the professionals and be wary of the politicians,” Pureval told Cincinnati Business Courier.

Before being elected to public office, Pureval worked at Procter & Gamble. He earned his law degree at the University of Cincinnati.

Pureval, who was born and raised in Southwest Ohio, has been awarded the NAACP Theodore Berry Award for Service and has been recognized by the Business Courier as one of their 40 under 40.