The Senator says Kassakhian has the knowledge and vision to serve Glendale
GLENDALE—State Senator Anthony Portantino announced his official endorsement of Ardy Kassakhian for Glendale City Council in the upcoming March 3rd Municipal Election. Senator Portantino represents the 25th Senate District in Sacramento and has served previously in both the State Assembly and as Mayor La Canada-Flintridge.
“I have known and worked with Ardy Kassakhian for over 20 years. His knowledge of local government and his vision for how best to serve our community have always impressed me, which is why I’m endorsing him for the Glendale City Council.” said Senator Portantino.
“I am honored to have the support of Senator Portantino and his trust in my abilities to serve the people of Glendale,” Kassakhian said in response to the endorsement. “Senator Portantino has always been a champion of local issues and concerns in Sacramento from housing to environmental issues. I look forward to continuing to work with him on issues that are of greatest concern to us and seek common sense solutions to the challenges we face.”
Kassakhian worked with Senator Portantino to draft and introduce Senate Bill 25 – legislation that helped local elections gain greater attention in Statewide elections by placing local races and issues at the front of the ballot. SB 25 was supported by the League of California Cities and was eventually signed by the Governor Jerry Brown into law requiring Los Angeles County to utilize the new ballot order.
SB 25 addressed the consequences of state-mandated consolidated elections that forced local elections to the end of what can be a very long statewide ballot following national, statewide offices and statewide initiatives and judicial offices. SB 25 was praised as “a practical move to engage voters in local elections and ensure local decisions are not lost on statewide and national elections.”
State Senator Anthony Portantino said, “As a former mayor it just seemed to make sense to me that when cities were forced to consolidate elections with the county, we should place those local elections first on the ballot. I was very pleased that my friend, City of Glendale City Clerk Ardy Kassakhian, brought this idea to my attention. Ardy has significant experience with elections and his idea quickly garnered the support of the Los Angeles County Division of the League of California Cities. We are all grateful that Governor Brown saw its merit.”
About Ardy Kassakhian’s run for City Council, Portantino added, “Ardy has been a partner in the effort to improve the lives of Glendale residents and across our state from working with my office to draft legislation to empower local voters, to speaking out for greater transparency and accountability in government. Ardy Kassakhian is a trusted friend who has my complete support.”
Kassakhian grew up in Glendale after his family moved here in 1985. He attended public Glendale public schools and graduated from Glendale High School. He was first elected Glendale City Clerk in 2005 and been reelected four times. As Clerk, he has reduced government waste by introducing environmentally sound practices, made election information easier to access and worked to increase voter participation. Ardy graduated from UCLA (BA) and Northwestern University (MPPA) and the Executive Program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He currently is an adjunct faculty member at Glendale Community College teaching political science and government. He lives with his wife Courtney and their young son in the Pelanconi neighborhood of Glendale.
On November 12, City Clerk Ardy Kassakhian pulled papers to run for Glendale City Council. Three council seats are up for election in the March 3, 2020 Municipal Election which will take place at the same time as the statewide Presidential Primary. Early voting begins on February 22 at designated vote centers. To learn more about Ardy Kassakhian, visit his website at www.ArdyKassakhian.com or follow him on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
