GLENDALE–During Tuesday’s Glendale municipal elections, six of the nine Armenian National Committee Glendale-Political Action Committee-endorsed candidates were successful in their bids for the various races.
In the City Council race, incumbents Ara Najarian and Frank Quintero were re-elected and will be joined by Laura Friedman to complete the five-seat body. ANCG-PAC endorsed Najarian and incumbent Bob Yousefian who placed fourth.
“The Armenian community lost one more representative seat on the city council as a direct result of the community’s vote being split by too many Armenian candidates who never had a chance of winning from the beginning,” said ANCG-PAC chairman Zanku Armenian.
“The ANCG-PAC had multiple direct discussions with each of these candidates in the beginning of the process and made them fully aware that they were endangering the interests of the community by running campaigns that had no chance,” added Armenian.
“The motives of several of these Armenian city council candidates and their ties to other incumbent candidates is highly suspect. By running they put their personal interests ahead of the community’s interest by virtue of their untenable candidacies. We hope the community has come away with some learnings from this experience,” added Armenian.
In the City Clerk race Ardashes (Ardy) Kassakhian, who was running unopposed, was reelected, as was incumbent City Treasurer Ron Borucki, defeating his opponent ANCGPAC-endorsed candidate Rafi Manoukian.
In the Glendale Unified School District race, ANCG-PAC-endorsed candidate Christine Walters will join incumbents Greg Krikorian and Joylene Wagner. Eric Sahakian, who was endorsed by the PAC was unsuccessful in his bid.
“With Christine Walters added to the new school board, the ANC intends to work with the board to address many pressing issues impacting students and parents. It is the ANC’s intention to be very active and visible on these school issues in the months ahead,” said Armenian.
The full slate of ANCG-PAC-endorsed candidates for the Glendale Community College board won their elections. Incumbents Armine Hacopian, Anita Quinones-Gabrielian and Ann Ransford will return to the GCC board.
“The ANC will be working closely with the full [GCC] board to build a closer bond and collaboration between GCC and the Armenian American community so that the full potential of the college may be reached,” added Armenian.
