Armenian National Committee – West San Fernando Valley
Nishan Bostanian, Chairman
361 PO Box 17673
Encino, CA 91416
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
July 3, 2008
Armenian Americans Convincingly Elected To Encino Neighborhood Council
Encino, CA – On Saturday, June 28, 2008 the Encino Neighborhood
Council (ENC) held its elections to fill eight council positions. With
the leadership of the West San Fernando Valley Armenian National
Committee (WSFV ANC), four Armenian American community members were
elected to the ENC for two-year terms.
The community members who were overwhelmingly elected are: Arshavir
Kitsinian (Religious Organizations representative), Harout Keosian,
Esq. (Education representative), Tanya Barseghian (Public Safety
representative) and Nareg S. Kitsinian, Esq. (Planning and Land Use
representative).
Neighborhood councils were the centerpiece of the new City Charter
that was approved by the voters of Los Angeles in June of 1999. The
mission of the Neighborhood councils, whether in Encino or elsewhere
across the city, is to "to promote public participation in government
and make government more responsive to local needs by creating,
nurturing, and supporting a citywide system of grass-roots,
independent, and participatory neighborhood councils."
WSFV ANC Chairman Nishan Bostanian issued the following statement
following the June 28th election. "We celebrate the election of these
dynamic and energetic young community members, who will represent the
best interests of all members of the Encino community. We look forward
to the leadership, guidance and vision they will provide in the months
and years ahead," Bostanian added.
One of the winning candidates, Tanya Barseghian stated, "on behalf of
all four candidates, we would like to thank all members of our
community who supported us in this landmark election. We look forward
to working with everyone to make Encino a destination city."
With an unprecedented eight Neighborhood council seats up for election
in Encino this year, the Armenian American candidates set out to
secure adequate representation in the ENC. The winning candidates are
all active members of the Armenian American community whose background
and professions include law and business. The election was
significant because it is a clear demonstration of young community
members getting involved in grass-roots community service, where their
activism will pave the way towards greater involvement in the
democratic process.
The West San Fernando Valley Armenian National Committee is part of
the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy
organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination
with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the
Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country,
our chapter advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
on a broad range of issues.