- Source: Mustafa Demir
Mustafa Demir (born 18 January 1961) is a Turkish architect, politician, and Mayor of the Samsun Metropolitan Municipality. Prior to his becoming mayor, he was the Samsun Deputy in the 22nd, 23rd and 24th legislative terms and served as the Minister of Public Works and Housing. He is the founder and former chairman of the ruling AK Party Samsun Province chapter.
Early life and education
He was born in the Black Sea Region town of Şalpazarı in Trabzon into a family with 9 children. His father Hüseyin Demir was a famous coppersmith nicknamed 'Bakırcı Hüseyin' in the Şalpazarı District. Following his primary and high school education in Trabzon, Demir matriculated in 1979 at the Karadeniz Technical University and graduated in 1983 with a degree in architecture.
Early career
Demir started his career in commerce while in high school. His first career was in the field of copper-aluminum plate and kitchen goods fabrication and wholesaling. After graduating from high school, Demir underwent military training as a reserve officer and control engineer. After his release from the military, he resumed his work in the private sector. He worked as a Science Expert at Türkiye Real Estate Bank and later in the field of architecture and real-estate development in Samsun. He became the Founding Member of the Independent Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (MUSIAD) Samsun Branch and assumed the position of Vice President of the Branch. He also served as a member of the Atakum Municipality City Council.
Political career
He entered the Parliament on behalf of the AK Party in the 2002 elections and became a Samsun Deputy in the 22nd Term. He served as the Chairman of the Public Works, Zoning, Transport and Tourism Commission of the Turkish Grand National Assembly. He was re-elected in the 2007 elections and entered the Parliament, and was re-elected as the chairman of the same commission in the 23rd Term.
He was reelected as a member of parliament during the 2007 Turkish general election. In 2009, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan appointed Demir as Minister of Public Works and Housing, a post he held until 2011.
He re-entered the Grand National Assembly of Turkey as the 24th term Samsun deputy. In the 2023 Turkish parliamentary election he was elected from the Istanbul's second district.
Mayor of Samsun
Demir was elected as Samsun Metropolitan Municipality mayor in 2019 Turkish local elections. He succeeded Zihni Şahin who held the role briefly after the resignation of Yusuf Ziya Yilmaz. Yilmaz remains popular for his efforts to overhaul and renovate Samsun, a city that had been in recession for decades.
As Mayor of Samsun, Demir has continued Yilmaz's legacy of advocating for major urban redevelopment projects and promoting efforts to improve quality of life in the city and region. Under Demir, major urban renewal initiatives have taken place in İlkadım and Atakum. Projects include the renovation of Samsun Saathane Square, Republic Square (Samsun), various public parks in the city center, the reopening of Istiklal Street to vehicular traffic, and the construction of a new public library in Atakum. His administration has also overseen the construction of multiple housing, underground and road infrastructure projects.
Personal life
Demir is married to Ümmühan Demir. They have 5 children and he resides in Samsun.