Iranian American City Council Member Promotes Fitness Challenge

 

By PAAIA STAFF

 

September 13, 2011 – Dallas, TX – Richardson City Council member Amir Omar, enjoys doing more than promoting good public policy.  He also likes using his position as city leader in alternative ways to benefit his community. 

 

An avid runner, Omar helped bring two new 5k races to Richardson in 2010.  He also orchestrated the “Tree the Town” program, which was the largest tree planting initiative in North Texas history. He followed that with “Tree North Texas”, which at 3 Million trees over 10 years is the largest initiaitive of its kind in North America. Omar believes that such initiatives help attract young professionals and families to work and live in Richardson. 

 

I’m able to do a lot of creative things as a Councilman,” explains Omar.  “One aspect of having a better place to live and work is being able to do so with a healthier lifestyle.”

 

On September 1st, Omar launched his “Councilman’s Fitness Challenge,”  encouraging Richardson citizens to log a minimum of 10 fitness activities that last 30 minutes or more during the month of September.   Participants can set up a free RunKeeper.com account and join Omar’s street team to keep track of their activities.  At the end of the month, Omar is buying breakfast for those who have completed the challenge at the Vitality House in Richardson. 

 

Omar’s commitment to fitness doesn’t end there – each month he will come up with innovative ways to motivate people to a healthier lifestyle.   “It’s all comes down to an opportunity to showcase our city and to create a healthy fitness opportunity for people who work or live in Richardson,” says Omar. 

 

Omar was elected to the City Council of Richardson representing Place 7 in 2009 and re-elected in 2011 with over 63% of the vote. He is the first American of Iranian descent to be elected to public office in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. 

 

Click here to learn more about Amir Omar and his fitness challenge.