Mayor Aftab Pureval Takes Center Stage At DNC

Photo: The mayor waits to take center stage.

India-West News Desk

CHICAGO, IL – Rising politician, mayor Aftab Pureval, the son of a Tibetan refugee mother and an Indian father, took center stage at the Democratic National Convention on August 21. As the first Asian American mayor of Cincinnati, Pureval highlighted his unique background and the values instilled in him by his parents—particularly the importance of keeping promises.

He posted later on social media, “44 years ago, my parents left Tibet, and India, and everything they knew. They traveled across the world because they believed in the promise of America. Last night, I took the stage at the DNC to help elect the first Indian and Black woman to serve as our nation’s President.”  He added, “Over and over again, our country has affirmed my parents’ decision. Let’s work to preserve that dream for the next generation.”

In his speech, Pureval addressed a critical issue for his city: the Brent Spence Bridge, a vital connector between Ohio and Kentucky. He criticized previous leaders, including former President Donald Trump, for failing to deliver on their promises to fix the bridge. However, he praised the Biden-Harris administration for taking action where others had not.

“Joe Biden told Cincinnatians, we’re going to fix that damn bridge. And four months later, he signed the bipartisan infrastructure law,” Pureval said emphasizing the significance of this legislation for Cincinnati.

In closing, Pureval drew a clear distinction between what he described as the “hollow promises” of past administrations like the Trump one and the “solid progress” made under Biden and Harris. He expressed confidence that this progress would continue under Harris’s leadership, emphasizing his belief in “true, honest to God, public service.”