GLENDALE–Glendale resident Craig Missakian–a former county prosecutor–has signaled that he will run for the 43rd Assembly seat–becoming the first Republican candidate for that race.
The Glendale News-Press reported Wednesday that Missakian–39–will officially announce his candidacy during a news conference after Labor Day at Verdugo Woodlands Elementary School in Glendale.
A former Los Angeles county prosecutor–Missakian finished third in the 1996 Republican primary to John Geranios–a relative unknown who captured the Republican nomination and narrowly lost to Assemblyman Scott Wildman (D-Glendale).
"I learned a lot of valuable lessons–and I got to talk to many people in the district," Missakian told the News-Press of his first campaign. "Overall–I’ll be a better candidate."
Wildman will give up his seat after four years to run for the state Senate.
Missakian was president of the Glendale-Burbank Republican Assembly in 1994 and 1995. He has also been involved in several charities–including the local chapter of the American Red Cross–the Glendale Rose Float Association and New Direction for Armenian Youth–a Hollywood-based Big Brothers program.
Missakian is now on the board of directors of the Glendale Youth Alliance–a city group that puts youth to work throughout the city.
"This campaign is really about my relationship to the community and my roots here," he told the News-Press.
Missakian hopes the 238-acre Oakmont property in the Verdugo Mountains in Glendale remains open space.
Two Democrats–John Hisserich and Paul Krekorian–have already announced their intention to run for the Assembly seat.
Missakian lives in Glendale and is single.