Glendale City Councilmember Zareh Sinanyan on Friday submitted a letter resigning his position on Glendale City Council effective immediately. He confirmed that he will be accepting a high-ranking position in the government of the Republic of Armenia.
While an official announcement has not been made by the government of Armenia, sources suggest that Sinanyan will be appointed to the newly-created position of the High Commissioner of Diaspora Affairs, overseeing homeland-Diaspora relations.
“We will weigh all the options and make the best decision when it comes to filling the open seat on the dais.” He added, “I would like to thank Zareh for his service to the City of Glendale while on the City Council,” said Glendale Mayor Ara Najarian.
“The ANCA-Glendale Chapter has enjoyed a constructive and close relationship with City Councilmember Zareh Sinanyan since his first election to office and was proud to mobilize its grassroots structure to ensure his success beginning from his first campaign in 2013,” stated Ronnie Gharibian, Armenian National Committee of America-Glendale Co-Chair.
“Since his election to public office, Sinanyan has ably served all citizens of Glendale and has always maintained open lines of communication with our organization and our community, working together on issues of mutual interest and concern. We thank him for his dedicated service and wish him success in his new position in Armenia. We are confident that our relations will continue to grow as he embarks on this new chapter of serving our homeland. We also look forward to continuing our productive relationship with the entire Glendale City Council as well as with Councilmember Sinanyan’s replacement,” added Gharibian.
Per the City’s Charter, the four remaining City Councilmembers have two options to fill the vacant seat: they can either directly appoint someone to the seat or hold a special election to fill the vacancy. Should the City Council make an appointment, it must happen within thirty (30) days of the vacancy. If an appointment is not made within thirty days, then Council must immediately call for a special election to be held within one hundred twenty (120) days from the call of the election.
Sinanyan was first elected to the Glendale City Council in 2013 and reelected to a second term in 2017. During his time on the City Council he has served as the City’s Mayor twice (2014-2015 and 2018-2019). He is currently serving as the President of the Hollywood Burbank Airport Authority.
What fascinating and fantastic news. Zareh is uniquely qualified for that job…that was unimaginable when he immigrated to the USA from Armenia. Good for him and his family…and…for all Armenians around the world.
congrats to Mr. Sinanyan. with his experience in the Glendale City Council, he will be a great bridge for the Armenia -Diaspora relations.
I wish you productive work in this very demanding job.
Hopefully, after assuming his role as High Commissioner of Diaspora Affairs, Zareh Sinanyan, who has always enjoyed the active support of the ANCA, will use his closeness with Pashinyan and will be able to intercede on behalf of the ARF and help in ironing out at least some of the differences.
Vram, I look at it differently, how about he uses his skills to make Armenia stronger.
Congratulations to you and to all true Armenians both in the Land and the Diaspora.
I can assume your are overburdened with new responsibilities yet please allow me to make an out of necessity suggestions that will definitely work towards enhancing national unity:
1) One nation cannot have two languages (Eastern and Western Armenian, thus dividing us into “Menk” and “Anonk”.
We need a whole new generation to realize this.
2) It’s been noticed that Armenian Media care only about Armenians in our Land and usually ignore those of the Diaspora. My nephew Sevag Krikor Mekhitarian was twice Brazil’s Chess Champion, and he is the only player representing Brazil qualified to participate in the World Chess Championship soon in Moscow. Why no mention of him? Is he a pseudo Armenian?
All the best
Vahe