Draft:Dr. Mahir Polat

Mahir Polat (b. 1976, Erzincan), art and architecture historian, bureaucrat and politician. Republican People's Party Fatih Mayor Candidate in the 31 March 2024 Local Elections.

Early life and career
Mahir Polat was born in Erzincan in 1976. He completed his undergraduate education at Istanbul University, Faculty of Letters. He completed his graduate education with his thesis on "cultural management" at Yıldız Technical University Social Sciences Institute, Department of Art and Design, and his doctoral program at Istanbul University with his doctoral thesis on "Religious Cultural Heritage". Mahir Polat, who gave lectures on cultural heritage legislation at Yıldız Technical University between 2011 and 2015, started working at the General Directorate of Foundations in 2005. He took part in the restoration work of Ottoman Period historical monuments in different parts of the country, especially in Istanbul, and in the establishment of many museums and cultural buildings, as his manager, which started in 2009. In 2019, after Ekrem İmamoğlu was elected as the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM), he was appointed as the Head of the IBB Cultural Heritage Department. He founded IMM Heritage (link), which ensures the preservation of many cultural assets through successful restoration works. In Istanbul, a total of 942 heritage sites were restored, including 62 monuments and works of civil architecture, 21 new museums and living spaces, 34 public works of art, 197 registered fountains, 588 historical graves and burial grounds and 19 historical mausoleums, and in this process, city heritage was taken under protection.

Polat, who was appointed as IBB Deputy Secretary General (link) in 2020, took part in the planning and implementation processes of urban planning, architecture and urban design, cultural heritage, zoning, earthquake risk management, social service, culture and art activities for the public. Polat, who pioneered the work of 400 urban design projects including 17 squares including Taksim, Kadıköy, Bakırköy and Bağcılar, contributed to the development processes of 39 districts of Istanbul. Polat, who knows Fatih, which hosts a significant part of the cultural assets in Istanbul, very well and played a role in saving many cultural heritage there, became the CHP Fatih Mayor candidate in the local elections of March 31, 20024. Polat, who is a member of the History Foundation Board of Trustees, Europa Nostra Turkey, Foundation Experts Association, Turkish Monument Environment Tourism Values ​​Protection Foundation (TAÇ Foundation) and SODEV, is married to music teacher Binnur Polat and has a child.