Osman "Oz" Bengur (born February 23, 1949) is an American investment banker and Democratic politician. Bengur served as Treasurer for the Maryland Democratic Party and was a candidate for Congress in 2002 and 2006.[1] Bengur was the first American of Turkish descent to run for Congress in the United States.[2]

Early life and education edit

Bengur was born in 1949 and raised in Montgomery County, Maryland. Bengur received a bachelor's degree from Princeton University, and went on to receive a criminology degree from Cambridge University.[1]

Career edit

Private sector edit

In 1991, Bengur co-founded Bengur Bryan & Co., an investment banking firm specializing in financing and mergers and acquisitions.[3] He is also Chairman of PJPA, LLC, a large Papa John's franchisee operating stores in Delaware and New Jersey.

At age 30, he worked as an aide to Maine Governor Joseph E. Brennan.[4] Bengur was later named Deputy Director of the Maine Office of Energy Resources.[5] Bengur was an Alternate Delegate from Maine to the 1980 Democratic National Convention.[6]

Political activity edit

Bengur was a candidate in the Democratic primary for the United States House of Representatives in Maryland's 2nd district in 2002. He spent $50,000 of his own money in the race, losing to Dutch Ruppersberger.[7] In 2006, he sought the Democratic nomination for Congress in the 3rd district, but lost to John Sarbanes.[8][9] He was also a 2010 candidate for Delegate in Maryland's 42nd District.[10]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Smith, Kaukab Jhumra (October 14, 2005). "Bengur joins field in District 3". The Gazette. Post-Newsweek Media.
  2. ^ Land of diverse migrations: challenges of emigration and immigration in Turkey. İstanbul Bilgi University Press. 2009. p. 170. ISBN 978-605-399-040-6.
  3. ^ "Professionals". bengurbryan.com. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
  4. ^ Karvelas, David (July 21, 1979). "The Letter May Have Brennan's Signature but a Guy Named Oz Bengur Wrote It". The Lewiston Daily Sun. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
  5. ^ "Energy Policy Debated". The Bangor Daily News. May 7, 1981. pp. 1, 22. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
  6. ^ Official report of the proceedings of the Democratic National Convention: Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, August 11 through August 14, 1980. Democratic National Committee. 1980. p. 48.
  7. ^ Barone, Michael; Cohen, Richard E. (2005). The Almanac of American Politics. National Journal Group. p. 786. ISBN 978-0-89234-112-2.
  8. ^ "Oz Bengur -- U.S. House of Representatives, Maryland's 3rd District". Baltimore Sun. August 19, 2006.
  9. ^ "Younger Sarbanes claims victory". Baltimore Sun. 14 September 2006. Retrieved 2022-02-14.
  10. ^ "Oz Bengur". ozbengur.com. Elect Oz Bengur Delegate. Retrieved January 11, 2011.

External links edit