ANC LEADER BLASTS LOSING CANDIDATES IN GLENDALE ELECTIONS
Vincent Lima
Armenian Reporter
-leader-blasts-losing-candidates-in-glendale-elect ions
April 16, 2009
They lacked "qualifications" and "never had a chance of winning"
Glendale, Calif. – "The Armenian-American community’s vote was
split by too many candidates who never had a chance of winning,"
the Armenian National Committee’s Zanku Armenian said, commenting on
the Glendale elections last week. With this election, the number of
Armenian-Americans on City Council dropped to one.
An estimated 40 percent of the population of Glendale is of Armenian
origin.
Mr. Armenian, chairperson of the Armenian National Committee of
Glendale Political Action Committee, said, "The ANCG-PAC had multiple
discussions with each of these candidates in the beginning of the
process and made them fully aware that their campaigns had no chance
because of their lack of qualifications."
ANCG-PAC had endorsed the candidacy of incumbents Ara Najarian and Bob
Yousefian for Glendale City Council, urging citizens to vote for them
and a third candidate of their choosing. Mr. Najarian was re-elected,
but Mr. Yousefian was not; his eight-year service on the body comes
to an end on April 20.
Voters elected incumbent Frank Quintero and challenger Laura Friedman,
along with Mr. Najarian. They will join Dave Weaver and John Drayman
on the five-member council.
Mr. Armenian questioned "the motives" of some losing candidates,
suggesting that their candidacies were urged on by one or more
current members of the council. He did not name candidates or offer
any evidence to support his allegation, however.
Education issues
In the Glendale School Board race, one candidate supported by ANCG-PAC,
Christine Walters, was elected, whereas the other, Eric Sahakian,
was not. The Armenian-American organization had declined to endorse
the candidacy of incumbent Greg Krikorian, who nonetheless handily
won reelection, coming in first place.
In choosing to support Ms. Walters and Mr. Sahakian and in
declining to support Mr. Krikorian, ANCG-PAC was clearly signaling
its dissatisfaction with the current administration of the school
district. ANCG-PAC Board member Armen Abrahamian said, "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."
Another ANCG-PAC Board member, Sarkis Ourfalian, focused on the
Glendale Community College Board, where all three ANCG-PAC-endorsed
candidates won. "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," he said.
ANCG-PAC did not respond to a request for comment on Armenian-American
voter turnout. The group had earlier announced that it was focused
on increasing turnout.
Meanwhile, environmental activist Garen Yegparian, the only
Armenian-American running for a seat on Burbank City Council, did
not win.