Naheed Nenshi : First Muslim mayor elected in a major Canadian city

OTTAWA Oct 19 – Calgary residents have elected Canada’s first Muslim big city mayor — a young academic named Naheed Nenshi — according to vote results released Tuesday.
The 38-year-old Harvard-educated business professor at Mount Royal University received almost 40 percent support, more than 72,000 votes, ahead of the veteran conservative favorite and a local news anchor.
His come-from-behind campaign made extensive use of social networking, starting with the launch of his candidacy via a message on the micro-blogging site Twitter.
In addition to YouTube and Facebook postings, the Nenshi campaign also offered a customized iPhone app for supporters to download.

And his online brochures were translated into 10 different languages, helping him secure a strong base of support among immigrants in Canada’s oil capital.

Otherwise, Nenshi, an Ismaili Muslim (a branch of the Shia faith led by the Aga Khan), fought a classic political campaign, denouncing the previous administration’s lavish spending and highlighting his immigrant roots.
One of the biggest issues in the election run-up was his bust-up with Calgary’s police chief over a massive policing budget increase.
On Tuesday, he was congratulated by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, a long-time Calgarian, and several leading conservatives.
- AFP

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