Doğan Baran Mengüş Re-elected as President of the City Council

Lawyer Doğan Baran Mengüş, who was re-elected as President of the Bornova City Council after receiving renewed confidence at the Ordinary General Assembly, announced that they will implement visionary projects in the new term, including an international music festival for people with disabilities, a culture and arts workshop, and neighborhood committees. At the assembly, which was also attended by Bornova Mayor Ömer Eşki, it was decided to introduce a new management model that will reduce bureaucracy and enable decisions from working groups to be communicated to the municipal council more quickly.

The Ordinary General Assembly of the Bornova City Council was held with broad participation at the Bornova Municipality Nevzat Kavalar Cultural Center Wedding Hall. Incumbent President Lawyer Doğan Baran Mengüş was re-elected after receiving renewed confidence at the general assembly. The meeting, attended by Bornova Mayor Ömer Eşki and numerous representatives of the city’s stakeholders, highlighted the goal of a more democratic, independent and participatory Bornova.

“The City Council Is Our Democratic Laboratory”

Bornova Mayor Ömer Eşki emphasized the importance of democracy while highlighting the significance of the City Council for Bornova. Stating that he welcomed sharing authority and enabling citizens to participate in governance, in contrast to the traditional municipal administration approach, Mayor Eşki said:

“At a time when democracy is being wounded, city councils are a very important step in our journey toward becoming modern and civilized people. The more people you involve in governance, the more beneficial you see your ideas become. The City Council is a local laboratory for us.”

Stating that the council had worked with great dedication to date, Eşki announced that they would devote significantly greater effort in the new term to strengthening ties with parent-teacher associations, particularly to ensure the safety and protection of children at schools.

Goals for the New Term: International Festival and Neighborhood Committees

Bornova City Council President Lawyer Doğan Baran Mengüş stated that they would undertake projects designed to shape Bornova’s 10- to 20-year vision during the new term. Announcing that they will organize the “1st International Homeros Bornova Inclusive Music Festival” in cooperation with Yaşar University and the Association for Tourism for All, Mengüş also announced plans to hold a Culture and Arts Workshop at Yeşilova Mound in collaboration with leading institutions such as Arkas Art and Bayetav Art.

President Mengüş stated that they will establish a Children’s Assembly, Retirees’ Assembly and Neighborhood Committees to strengthen participatory governance. He also emphasized that they had requested a delegation of authority to reduce bureaucracy and enable motions submitted by assemblies and working groups to be transferred to the municipal council more quickly, adding that the entire strategic plan would be shaped together with the city’s stakeholders.

“We Have Expanded the Voice in the Streets and in the Field”

Speaking at the general assembly, Bornova City Council Secretary General Turhan Atay stated that they had completed a successful two-year period. Emphasizing that the council was not merely an organization that made decisions in meeting rooms, Atay said:

“We have been in the field, in the streets and in the neighborhoods to amplify the voice of the people. Thanks to the structure of Bornova Municipality, which does not interfere but instead gives us confidence, our council has become more independent. We express our gratitude to our Mayor Ömer Eşki for creating this democratic space for us, and we wish the new term every success.”