New York’s Historic Candidacy of a Muslim for Comptroller

TMO Stringer

Farmington-May 27–”How are you, son,” said the candidate to the reporter.

Thus began the interview of Salim Ejaz, a Muslim CPA running for New York City Comptroller. 

“I’m a CPA with 40 plus years of experience, and I am the first Muslim to stand for the NY City Comptroller’s position,” explained Mr. Ejaz.

He said of his odds:  “Actually extremely good because of the various factors.  Number one, I’m the only CPA who’s running and none other candidates matches my experience.” Ejaz explains he found an accounting error of over $500 million at his previous job. 

He touts his “unmatched and unparalleled achievement, way above the other candidates.”

“Since it’s a first time a Muslim or a South Asian who is competing for this position,” he explains there is “huge excitement among the community–the response has been overwhelmingly positive from every group and every sector…. Luckily in the last few years, the growth in the ethnic media has been explosive, there are over 15 ethnic TV channels and scores of print weeklies, most of them carrying news about this historic candidacy in a very positive manner… very supportive manner.”

Asked if he was from India, he said, “Pakistan–but it doesn’t matter–we are all here together in the same boat.”

He said, “It is imperative in these challenging times that our community gets represented in the city politics, it is frustrating for all the Muslim population which is 600,000 strong–that they have nobody to champion their cause.  The Muslim community by and large is highly educated, affluent, and has made significant contributions to the city.  And it is about time that we stood up together, challenged the entrenched establishment, and achieved the long denied political empowerment which is our due.

You can support Mr. Ejaz at www.salimejaz.com.

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