Name: Irza Adem Özer
Faceclaim: Şükrü Özyıldız
Gender & Pronouns: CIS man & he/him
Age: 38
Birthday: March, 2nd, 1986
Occupation: Mayor of Wilmington
Neighborhood: Carriage Falls
Does your character have a secret? No.
Biography
Irza Adem Özer was born on October 15th, 1986 in Orange County, California, to Turkish immigrant parents, Mehmet and Fatma Özer. His father worked as a mechanical engineer, while his mother was a homemaker. Irza grew up with an older brother, Emre, who would later become a successful surgeon. From a young age, he showed a keen interest in community service, often volunteering at local youth centers and participating in student government. In high school, he was an average student, but through his active involvement in various extracurricular activities—including the debate team and the school newspaper—he grew to be a well-liked student. After graduating from high school, Irza was accepted into Stanford University. In Stanford, he shined—majoring in Political Science. However, his academic journey was not without its challenges. He found himself in constant competition with a classmate, who seemed to excel in every subject effortlessly. Despite his best efforts, he often found himself coming in second place to his rival, which only fueled his determination to succeed.
While in college, he continued to nurture his passion for public service by joining several student organizations focused on social justice and community development. Upon completing his undergraduate degree, Irza and his wife settled in Northern California, where he began his career as a policy analyst for a non-profit organization dedicated to improving access to healthcare for underserved communities. He returned to school, earning a Master's degree in Public Administration from the University of California, Davis. Armed with new skills and a renewed sense of purpose, he transitioned into a role as a legislative aide for a state senator, where he focused on issues related to education and economic development.
As his reputation grew, he was encouraged by colleagues and mentors to consider running for public office. With his parents moving to Wilmington in 2018, he decided to make the coastal city his new home. To his surprise, he discovered that his old academic rival had also relocated to Wilmington, and they found themselves once again in competition—this time, in the political arena. Irza launched a campaign for the South Carolina State Assembly, narrowly losing in the primary election. Undeterred, he continued to work tirelessly on behalf of his community, serving on the boards of several local non-profit organizations and advocating for policies that would improve the lives of working families. In 2022, when he decided to run for mayor, his rival threw her hat in the ring as well. This time, however, he emerged victorious, finally overcoming the long-standing rivalry that had defined much of his academic and professional life. As mayor, Irza has focused on issues such as affordable housing, public transportation, and job creation. His goal is to improve the economy of the once-thriving coastal city, drawing upon the lessons he learned from his past experiences and the challenges he faced along the way.
tl;dr
Irza Adem Özer was born in 1986 to Turkish immigrant parents in Orange County, California, grew up with a passion for community service. After earning a Political Science degree from Stanford and a Master's in Public Administration from UC Davis, he worked as a policy analyst and legislative aide. In 2018, he moved to Wilmington, SC, where he ran for State Assembly but lost. Undeterred, Irza continued his community work and ran for mayor in 2022, this time defeating his academic rival from Stanford. As mayor, he focuses on affordable housing, public transportation, and job creation to revitalize the coastal city.
Wanted Connections
Former Rival turned Girlfriend: He'd always envied her from their Stanford days until she ran for the mayoral spot. But things change and now they're dating and living together. Ember Leon
FWB: Camila Moreno
Friends: Samira Iyer (Stanford), Benji Aquino, Donovan Paak, Nikhil Kohli,
Enemies:
Employees: Kimberly Madrigal (his right hand person)
Drinking Buddies:
Volunteer Friends:
Neighbor:
