Ross Mirkarimi: First Iranian-American Sheriff in America
Reports indicate that Ross Mirkarimi, the twice-elected Supervisor for San Francisco's District 5, has narrowly defeated other candidates to become San Francisco's next Sheriff.
Ross Mirkarimi was born in Chicago in 1961 to an Iranian father, Hamid Mirkarimi, and a Russian-American mother, Nancy Kolman. Mirkarimi grew up in scenic Rhode Island and attributes his "green" views to those years. He has graduate degrees in political and environmental science from St. Louis University, Golden Gate University, and University of San Francisco. He is also a graduate of the San Francisco Police Academy. On April 21, 2009, Ross Mirkarimi's wife gave birth to his son.
Mirkarimi is a co-founder of the Green Party of California. He was elected San Francisco District 5 Supervisor in 2004, and re-elected in 2008 with 77 percent of the vote. In May 2011, Mirkarimi announced that he was running for Sheriff of San Francisco in the November 2011 election, despite lack of endorsement by the San Francisco Deputy Sheriff's Association. Mirkarimi was counting on votes by progressives, Democrats, Iranian-Americans and immigrants.
Mirkarimi has hosted several Nowrooz and Iranian-oriented events at the City Hall. He has made history by becoming the first American of Iranian descent to be elected Sheriff in the United States.
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