Van's first female neighborhood head, holding the seal for four terms!

Holding the title of Van's first female neighborhood head, Leyla Tanrıtanır is experiencing the joy of being elected for the fourth consecutive term in Cumhuriyet Neighborhood, which has 7 thousand voters.

A mother of two living in the Cumhuriyet Neighborhood of the İpekyolu district, Tanrıtanır became a candidate for neighborhood head in 2009, opposing the rhetoric that "a woman cannot be a neighborhood head."

Elected as the city's first female neighborhood head and having gained the appreciation of the neighborhood residents, Tanrıtanır subsequently succeeded in winning the elections by leaving her rivals behind for two more terms.

Tanrıtanır was most recently re-elected as neighborhood head in the March 31 Local Administration General Elections, leaving her male rival behind.

Known as the "Sister Leyla" of the neighborhood she has served for years, Tanrıtanır is accepting the congratulations of neighborhood residents who come to her office.

Tanrıtanır, who has already begun preparations for new projects she plans to implement, recalled that she became a candidate in 2009 to solve the problems in the neighborhood and was elected as Van's first female neighborhood head at that time.

Explaining that she has resided in the neighborhood for 30 years, Tanrıtanır said:

"I was a businesswoman before becoming a neighborhood head. As a woman, when I encountered the problems in the neighborhood firsthand, I constantly conveyed the issues to the incumbent neighborhood head. Our neighborhood head tried to deal with the problems as much as he could, but when I saw that he was insufficient, I became a candidate for neighborhood head with his consent as well. We live in a region where patriarchal dominance is high. During my first candidacy process, I frequently heard the rhetoric that 'a woman cannot be a neighborhood head.' My goal was to change this perception. After winning the election, I proved myself with the work and services I performed. I also debunked the rhetoric expressed against women."

Stating that she has not let the seal slip to anyone since she was first elected in 2009, Tanrıtanır expressed her happiness at being re-elected on March 31.

Expressing that she had a pleasant process because she was the only rival in this election, Tanrıtanır stated the following:

"We finished the election without hurting each other. I thank everyone who supported me and those who did not. We have rolled up our sleeves to complete our unfinished projects within the next 5 years and for new works. We have many projects for the beautification of the neighborhood. We will work together to implement our various projects aimed at women and children. When you love people, when you do not turn anyone away who comes to the neighborhood head's office, when you return calls, and when you touch the hearts of the citizens, they also value you. As time passed, I was seen as the 'Sister Leyla' of the neighborhood. I felt great happiness from this as well."

News Source: AA