PASADENA, CA – Leaders of the Pasadena Armenian National Committee met with the newest member of the Pasadena City Council on Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at the new Armenian Center on Foothill Boulevard to discuss a broad array of community concerns. Councilman Terry Tornek was elected in April of 2009 to replace retiring Councilman Sid Tyler. Tornek, with strong Armenian American support, defeated Margaret York in a run off election: 1,087 to 937 votes.
“We had a very full agenda to cover in our meeting with Councilmember Tornek,” remarked Pasadena ANC Executive Director Ishkhan Boghossian. “The Councilman discussed his views on major public policy issues facing the City of Pasadena, like a prospective parcel tax for the public school system, the city’s general plan, utility rates, and efforts to conduct a multimillion dollar overhaul of the Rose Bowl. We also discussed how more Armenian Americans can get involved in city commissions and other city initiatives,” added Boghossian.
Councilman Tornek moved to Pasadena from Massachusetts in 1982 to accept the position of Planning Director. He was hired because of his history of neighborhood improvement and historic preservation while serving as Planning Director of Springfield, Massachusetts. As Planning Director in Pasadena, Tornek helped to rewrite the General Plan and he established the redevelopment plan for Old Pasadena. After leaving city government, Tornek built a career in real estate as a developer & manager of residential & commercial properties all over Southern California. He remained active in Pasadena affairs through his 20 year service as a Board Member of Pasadena Neighborhood Housing Services, a non-profit organization devoted to affordable housing in Northwest Pasadena. In 2005 Sid Tyler appointed Tornek to the Planning Commission. He also served as a member of the Design Commission.
Councilman Tornek graduated from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School with a degree in Public & International Affairs. He also earned a Master of Science in Urban Planning from Columbia University’s School of Architecture. He and his wife Maria have been married for 41 years and have three children and four grandchildren.
The Pasadena ANC advocates for the social, economic, cultural, and political rights of the areas Armenian American community and promotes increased Armenian American civic participation at the grassroots and public policy levels.
