Mr. Ghalibaf was also one of the candidates running for presidency but was eliminated during the first round. Reportedly, the city council consisting of 15 representatives in a vote among 7 candidates elected Mr. Ghalibaf with 8 votes, that is just the necessary half plus one rule. Tehran is a metropolitan with estimated 12+ million residents that has been expanding horizontally and vertically without a major city plan. The city has all problems that a big city can have such as traffic and pollution. Mr. Ghalibaf is a successful officer who served as the head of police forces achieving remarkable breakthroughs such as reconstructing the police department and fighting against organized crimes such as smuggling of goods and drugs. The new mayor's programs will be made public on Tuesday. His short biography is as follows:Born in the holy city of Mashad in 1962, he joined the armed forces during Iraq war and became commander of Khorasan Nasr army division when he was 22.He continued education after war and obtained his pilot license together with a doctorate in politics in 2001. He became commander of Sepah Pasdaran Air Force.
