The 23rd Elective General Assembly of the Izmir City Council was held at the Ahmed Adnan Saygun Art Center. Özgür Topaç became the new president of the City Council.
The 23rd Elective General Assembly of the Izmir City Council, where the new president and directors were determined, was held at the Ahmed Adnan Saygun Art Center. Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Deputy President of the Assembly Altan İnanç, representing Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay, as well as city council members attended the General Assembly. The General Assembly began with the opening speech of the current president, Lawyer Nilay Kökkılınç.
Thanks for the support
Stating that he is not a candidate in the new term and wishing success to the candidates, Kökkılınç said that another period of service carried out voluntarily in the İzmir City Council, a superior civil society organization that has been in existence for 15 years, has ended and that with a unanimous decision taken in the general assembly, they have paved the way for institutional renewal and sustainability with the directive rule that the elected bodies should undertake duties for a maximum of two terms. Stating that they have ensured equality in representation by introducing a zipper system election rule in decision-making bodies where one woman and one man will be in succession, Kökkılınç thanked the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and the İzmir Governorship for the support they have given to the İzmir City Council to date.
Emphasis on pluralistic democracy
İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Chairman of the Council Altan İnanç stated in his speech that they govern İzmir with a common mind together with civil society organizations, professional chambers and city councils and touched upon the importance of participatory and pluralistic democracy. Stating that their support for İzmir City Council will continue as it has done until now, İnanç thanked the İzmir City Council Chairman and the executive board members for their efforts.
3 candidates competed
Following the speeches of İzmir City Council President candidates Doğan Albayrak, Ferdi Erten and Özgür Topaç, the election began. Özgür Topaç was elected as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of İzmir City Council by receiving 3 votes from representatives of public institutions and organizations, civil society organizations and chambers in the 197rd round of the election. The executive board members consisting of 29 people were also elected in the General Assembly.
“We will work hard”
The new term president of the Izmir City Council, Özgür Topaç, stated in his thank-you speech to the General Assembly that they will conduct studies that could lead to many city decisions for the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality. Topaç said, “We will encourage participation, we will hold civil society meetings so that the city is governed with common sense. We will work hard to make Izmir a city with a high level of welfare.”
The new board will serve for 2 years.
The new Izmir City Council administration elected in the 23rd Elective General Assembly will assume office for 2 years. The City Councils regulated in Article 5393 of the Municipality Law No. 76 are the only upper civil society organization established to support participatory democracy with the right and authority to submit proposals to the Municipal Assemblies. It includes the Izmir Governorship, Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, professional chambers, universities, unions, muhtars, and civil society organizations along with volunteers.
Who is Ozgur Topac?
A graduate of METU Department of Mechanical Engineering, Özgür Topaç completed his master's degree in Business Administration at Bilkent University. During his professional career, he worked as an international sales manager in the automotive and white goods sectors. For the last 15 years, he has taken an active role in associations, foundations, and cooperatives with the mission of contributing to social development. Topaç is the President of METU Aegean Alumni Association, Founding Partner and Board President of Yaren Cooperative, Board Member of Mahmut Türkmenoğlu Cooperative Foundation, Member of İzmir Branch of the Association for Supporting Contemporary Life, Member of Socialist Municipality, Member of the Cooperative Platform, and member of METU Turkish Folklore Society Alumni. Topaç, who is the author of the Colorful Anatolian Children's Book Series and was deemed worthy of the İzmir Çakabey Rotary Club Professional Service Award for the projects he implemented, is continuing his PhD program in Economics at Dokuz Eylül University.
