Chahe Keuroghelian promises to listen to his voters
20.10.2006 17:35
Alisa Gevorgyan
"Radiolur"
In 2007 Armenians will be engaged in active electoral process not
only in Armenia but also in distant California, since our compatriot
Chahe Keuroghelian is going to run for Glendale Mayor.
He told "Radiolur" that there is essential difference between
pre-election promises in Armenia and the United States. In Armenia
future officials promise prosperous life to the voters, while Chahe
Keuroghelian promises his Glendale voters something very rare –
to listen to them.
Born and grown up in Beirut, Chahe Keuroghelian moved to the US in
1991 at the age of 21. After graduating from the university he started
working in an Armenian school as a teacher of journalism and American
history. Later he got engaged in politics. For two years he has been
engaged in organizing election campaigns.
Having a broad circle of interests, once out compatriot got interested
in the work of the Public Relations Department of the Glendale Police,
which is comprised of not only revelation of crimes and execution
of punishment, but also taking diverse measures for prevention
of felonies. Thuus, an application was submitted, and after some
training and several exams Chahe Keuroghelian became an employee of
the above-mentioned departmenet.
Simultaneously he was continuing his education in the Department of
political science and Political Administration.
"This lasted for one year. Later, familiarizing with may capacities
and emphasizing the importance of my knowledge of five languages, the
Chief of Police transferred me to his Department, where I was working
under his direct control. I was entrusted the position of Head of
the Press and Public Relations Department," Chahe Keuroghelian noted.
Mr. Keuroghelian occupied this position for 13 years. In 2001
he resigned from the position and after taking law courses, he
established a legal advisory office and started his own business. In
2005 he suggested his candidacy for membership in the Glendale City
Hall Council and with the minimum budget among all 15 candidates he
received a surprisingly great number of votes.
"Inspired and encouraged with this success and giving in to the request
of numerous representatives of the Armenian community I decided to run
in the elections for Glendale Mayor in 2007," Chahe Keuroghelian said.
It should be noted that Chahe Keuroghelian is not the only Armenian
running for Mayor. However, unlike Mr. Keuroghelian, the other
candidate is a member of a party and member of the current City Hall
Council. However, Chahe Keuroghelian is not concerned about the fact,
since the party label is not particularly welcomed in Glendale.
"I’m not a member of any party and it gives me a greater advantage to
speak for the defense of rights of the whole people, present programs
to serve not only local Armenians but also the whole population
of Glendale. Naturally, there is nothing condemnable here, but his
approaches will be that of his party. And his programs will not serve
the whole population of the city," Chahe Keuroghelian noted.
80 thousand out of the total of 209 thousand of Glendale population
are Armenians, but Chahe Keuroghelian’s pre-election promises are
not addressed only his compatriots. The promises are as follows:
"I do not promise to work wonders, but my whole professional career
evidences that I’ve always kept my promises. And if I promised
something I always made it true. Naturally, it will continue this
way in case I’m elected Mayor of Glendale."
Like everywhere, one of the most complex problems of Glendale voters
is to be heard by authorities. Therefore, the most attractive of Chahe
Keuroghelian’ s promises is the following: "Our elected representatives
have great difficulties with listening. They tend to speak rather than
listen. I have no problem with speaking, but I promise to listen too."