Los Angeles Daily News
Jan 4 2005
TV host Agajanian eyes council race
By Alex Dobuzinskis, Staff Writer
GLENDALE — The host of a local cable television show aimed at
Armenian-Americans said Monday that he plans to run for City Council,
and vowed to make city politics more transparent.
Vrej Agajanian, 53, said there was too much secrecy surrounding the
city’s negotiations with the developer of the $264 million Americana
at Brand project, a 15.5-acre retail, entertainment and dining
complex slated to open in fall 2006.
“First and foremost, I want the city to be transparent and everything
to be done in open forum and not behind closed doors,” Agajanian
said.
City Councilman Frank Quintero, who plans to run for re-election,
welcomed Agajanian into the race.
“I think he has a tenacious personality and is very good about
identifying issues and speaking out,” Quintero said.
Agajanian hosts “ABC-TV Live with Vrej Agajanian.”
The 23-year Glendale resident said he had received $4,750 to run
political ads on his program from the campaign that sought to defeat
the Americana at Brand project in a September 2004 referendum.
Glendale voters narrowly approved the project.
Agajanian, who will need to get 100 signatures to be placed on the
ballot, would be running against several candidates for four seats on
the council in the April 5 general election.