Mayoral candidate for Cincinnati gains another endorsement

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Former Democratic Mayor Roxanne Qualls endorsed Indian-American Aftab Pureval for Mayor of Cincinnati Oct. 25, 2021. Qualls joins former Mayor Mark Mallory who endorsed Pureval earlier this year, as well as some Democratic heavy hitters like U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio.

Pureval, who is the son of Indian and Tibetan immigrants, is pitted against Cincinnati Councilman and former Mayor David Mann for the four-year term. Pureval was the top vote-getter in the six-way primary that took place May 4, receiving 39 percent of the vote to Mann’s 29.1 percent, Ballotpedia reported.

“Aftab is a proven leader. He brought effectiveness, efficiency, and energy to the office of Clerk of Courts — something that benefited all residents,” Qualls is quoted saying about Pureval.

“As a former Mayor, I know that we must build on our success and progress, but to do so requires the right leader with the right vision. Aftab is that leader. I’m proud to endorse Aftab Pureval for Cincinnati’s next Mayor,” Qualls added.

Pureval said he was thrilled to receive Qualls endorsements and praised her achievements. “As Mayor, she prioritized openness and accessibility, and she paved the way for collaborative public-private partnerships to achieve shared goals. I look forward to building upon her work and I’m honored to have her endorsement,” he said.

Pureval is the first Democrat elected as the Hamilton County Clerk of Courts in over 100 years.

The election campaigns of the two candidates are taking place in the midst of a major scandal where three of the 9 Cincinnati city councillors were arrested on felony corruption charges in 2020, Ballotpedia reported. Pureval has argued he would bring clean government to the city, referencing his achievements as Hamilton County Clerk of Courts.

Pureval earned his law degree at the University of Cincinnati.

Pureval was the recipient of the NAACP Theodore Berry Award for Service, and was listed among the top 40 under 40 by the Business Courier.