Macit Özcan, is a Turkish politician of the Republican People's Party

Republican People's Party (Turkey)

The Republican People's Party is a centre-left Kemalist political party in Turkey. It is the oldest political party of Turkey and is currently Main Opposition in the Grand National Assembly. The Republican People's Party describes itself as "a modern social-democratic party, which is faithful to...

 (CHP) and the current mayor of Mersin

Mersin

-Mersin today:Today, Mersin is a large city spreading out along the coast, with Turkey's second tallest skyscraper , huge hotels, an opera house, expensive real estate near the sea or up in the hills, and many other modern urban...

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After his secondary education in Adana, he graduated in civil engineering from Cukurova University

Çukurova University

Çukurova University has eleven faculties, three colleges, seven vocational colleges, three institutes and twenty six research and application centers...

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He went on to work as a civil engineer in the Ministry of Public Works and Housing.
He has lived in Mersin since 1980.

He was elected Mayor of Mersin in 1999. He successfully stood for a third term in the March 2009 election

Turkish local elections, 2009

Turkey held local elections on 29 March 2009. The overal winner was the ruling party Justice and Development Party, although the party saw a decline in its vote relative to the 2007 general election...

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Özcan has been accused of being a "political octopus" and prone to corruption and dishonesty.
Committed to improving relations with his Arab neighbours, in 2006 Özcan launched a ferry service to the Syrian port of Latakia

Latakia

Latakia, or Latakiyah , is the principal port city of Syria, as well as the capital of the Latakia Governorate. In addition to serving as a port, the city is a manufacturing center for surrounding agricultural towns and villages...

, which is one of Mersin's twin cities.
He is married with two children.

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