6 ANCG-PAC-ENDORSED CANDIDATES WIN IN GLENDALE ELECTIONS

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Wednesday, April 8, 2009

GLENDALE–During Tuesday’s Glendale municipal elections, six of
the nine Armenian National Committee Glendale-Political Action
Committee-endorsed candidates were successful in their bids for the
various races.

In the City Council race, incumbents Ara Najarian and Frank Quintero
were re-elected and will be joined by Laura Friedman to complete the
five-seat body. ANCG-PAC endorsed Najarian and incumbent Bob Yousefian
who placed fourth.

"The Armenian community lost one more representative seat on the city
council as a direct result of the community’s vote being split by
too many Armenian candidates who never had a chance of winning from
the beginning," said ANCG-PAC chairman Zanku Armenian.

"The ANCG-PAC had multiple direct discussions with each of these
candidates in the beginning of the process and made them fully aware
that they were endangering the interests of the community by running
campaigns that had no chance," added Armenian.

"The motives of several of these Armenian city council candidates and
their ties to other incumbent candidates is highly suspect. By running
they put their personal interests ahead of the community’s interest
by virtue of their untenable candidacies. We hope the community has
come away with some learnings from this experience," added Armenian.

In the City Clerk race Ardashes (Ardy) Kassakhian, who was running
unopposed, was reelected, as was incumbent City Treasurer Ron Borucki,
defeating his opponent ANCGPAC-endorsed candidate Rafi Manoukian.

In the Glendale Unified School District race, ANCG-PAC-endorsed
candidate Christine Walters will join incumbents Greg Krikorian
and Joylene Wagner. Eric Sahakian, who was endorsed by the PAC was
unsuccessful in his bid.

"With Christine Walters added to the new school board, the ANC intends
to work with the board to address many pressing issues impacting
students and parents. It is the ANC’s intention to be very active
and visible on these school issues in the months ahead," said Armenian.

The full slate of ANCG-PAC-endorsed candidates for the Glendale
Community College board won their elections. Incumbents Armine
Hacopian, Anita Quinones-Gabrielian and Ann Ransford will return to
the GCC board.

"The ANC will be working closely with the full [GCC] board to build
a closer bond and collaboration between GCC and the Armenian American
community so that the full potential of the college may be reached,"
added Armenian.