Los Angeles Daily News, CA
Dec 14 2004

New council candidate swells field to 10

By Naush Boghossian, Staff Writer

GLENDALE — A new candidate — one who is being called the voice of
the youth — has entered the race for City Council.
Hovik Gabikian, 35, announced Monday that he would run for a seat on
the City Council — the 10th candidate to run for the four available
seats — and would fight for issues including affordable housing,
traffic regulation, environmental protection and expanding fire and
police services.

An eligibility worker at the Los Angeles County Department of Public
Social Services, Gabikian also serves as a leader with his labor
union.

“My intention is to expand and improve the quality of public life by
offering effective services,” said the graduate of the University of
California, Los Angeles.

Some race watchers believe that Gabikian, who helped organize more
than 70,000 people to march in Hollywood last year to commemorate the
89th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, distinguishes himself with
his large following among Armenian young people.

“He’s highly respected by the youth who attend universities and
colleges, so he may not have name recognition in the political arena,
but he’s definitely known, especially in the Armenian youth circles,”
Mayor Bob Yousefian said.

In addition to incumbents Dave Weaver, Frank Quintero and Bob
Yousefian, those who have said they will run are Glynda Gomez, Ara
Najarian, Garry Sinanian, Steve Hedrick, Pauline Field and John
Drayman.