Several faith leaders endorse Aftab Pureval for Mayor of Cincinnati

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Several prominent leaders of various faiths endorsed Aftab Pureval candidacy for Mayor of Cincinnati.

Pastor KZ Smith hosted the group at Corinthian Baptist Church in Bond Hill May 25, 2021, a press release from Pureval’s campaign said.

“I’m glad and proud to stand and endorse Aftab for the office of Mayor,” Pastor Lesley Jones is quoted saying in the press release. “In my seventeen years of pastoring, I’ve never publicly endorsed a candidate. And this is the first candidate that I’ve endorsed… because I believe that he’s a man of integrity. He keeps his promises, and most of all, as a leader of a progressive congregation, he’s inclusive. He listens, and I believe that this is an opportunity for all of the voters to vote for change.”

Pureval is the son of parents of Indian and Tibetan origin who immigrated to the United States from India.

“We’re here to support the candidacy of the next Mayor, Aftab Pureval. We believe he will do a great job,” said Pastor KZ Smith. “Aftab means ‘shining sun’. God uses the sun to bring light as well as life to this earth. I believe that God wants to use this shining sun to bring light and life to the city of Cincinnati. And that’s why we’re supporting him to be the next Mayor of the City of Cincinnati.”

“I’m so grateful for the incredible community wide, city wide support that our campaign is receiving – particularly from our faith leaders,” Pureval said. “I’m so incredibly grateful for your support. I humbly accept it, and my promise to you all is that I will work hard every single day to earn it.”

List of faith leaders who endorsed Pureval’s candidacy include:

Pastor KZ Smith – Corinthian Baptist Church

Bishop Bobby Hilton – Word of Deliverance

Pastor Lesley Jones – Truth and Destiny

Rev. Nelson Pierce Jr – Beloved Community Church

Pastor Ennis Tait – New Beginnings Church of the Living God

Elder Rodney Christian – Third Presbyterian Church

Pastor Brian Smith – Shiloh Seventh-Day Adventist Church

Pastor Nick Burnett – House of Hope Fellowship Church

Pastor Eugene Ellington – Consolation Baptist Church

Bishop Michael E. Dantley – Christ Emmanuel Christian Fellowship

Pastor Jonathan Brown – Pilgrim Missionary Baptist

Pureval is currently the Hamilton County Clerk of Courts, the first Democrat elected to that position in more than 100 years.

Previously, Pureval worked at Procter & Gamble.

A law graduate from the University of Cincinnati, Pureval  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.