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Iranian American mayoral candidate wants to break the Idaho stereotype
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Boise mayoral candidate Max Mohammadi is running a grassroots
campaign by refusing monetary donations and instead asking
supporters to make their own signs and place them in their front
yards or car windows.
“I feel like that is [way] I’m campaigning, the way
I’m getting my word out is, if you will, an innocent way of
going about office,” Mohammadi said.
Mohammadi earned a B.A. in business administration from Eastern
Oregon State University in 1982. He founded a restaurant in 1991,
now called the Cazba. Mohammadi has been a Boise resident for the
past 21 years and he is one of four candidates running in the race
for Mayor. Mohammadi has no political experience, but he
doesn’t feel that’s going to hold him back.
Mohammadi admits he doesn’t have all the answers. He
claims to have a large base of people whom he can rely on for help
and an open ear for public suggestions. “I want them to roll
up their sleeves and help their community by coming and getting
involved,” Mohammadi said.
If elected, Mohammadi wants his administration to have an open
door to the community. “I’d love to build a townhouse
meeting as a style of operation,” Mohammadi said.
Being a businessman had taught him how to deal with difficult
situations and maintain a balanced budget.
Whether Mohammadi wins or not, he feels the community will win
by breaking down the standard Idahoan stereotypes. Mohammadi feels
that if voters chose an Iranian American as mayor, it would force
the rest of the nation to take a second look at their preconceived
notions of Idaho.
Mohammadi wants Boise State students to know there is a leader
who will listen to their concerns. “BSU is a huge
powerhouse,” Mohammadi said.
Mohammadi wants to work closely with Boise State in order to
continue economic and high tech growth.
“Eventually, they will become hopeful and vote,”
Mohammadi said when asked if he had a message for students who can
but don’t vote.
Mohammadi would love to see this year’s voter turnout at
its highest ever. For those students who are unwilling or unable to
vote, they can still make a difference by getting involved with
their community, Mohammadi said.
“I know I have to reach out to the youth of our
community,” Mohammadi said.
Mohammadi wants to address the issues surrounding Boise’s
growing immigrant population. “I would like to see their
issues, I guess pointed out, addressed,” Mohammadi said.
Mohammadi plans to work with the Chamber of Commerce, CCDC and
on the state and federal levels to keep growth coming here through
advertising.
“We need to promote [Boise] as a community that is
progressive, that is comfortable; a community that as far as
technology is very comfortable with itself [and] keep promoting
what we have as far as quality of life, and keep attracting big
corporations that will bring good quality jobs to our town,”
Mohammadi said.
Mohammadi would like to set up an interactive Web site to inform
the public of what’s happening in their local government.
“Citizens who want to be involved, they should have a direct
conduit with Mayor’s office, to where they can feel like
their questions are answered.”
Monica Price
News Reporter
The Arbiter