GLENDALE—The Armenian National Committee of America, Glendale (ANCA-Glendale) and Crescenta Valley (ANCA-CV) hosted a popularly attended “Meet and Greet” community event for their 2015 City Council, GUSD School Board, and GCC Board of Trustee endorsed candidates at Renaissance Banquet Hall. The event welcomed attendees from sister organizations, as well as community-based organizations and supporters in directly meeting with Councilwomen Paula Devine and candidate Vartan Gharpetian running for City Council; incumbents Dr. Vahe Peroomian and Tony Tartaglia both running for GCC Board of Trustees reelection; and incumbent Nayiri Nahabedian and candidates Jennifer Freemon and Vahik Satoorian for GUSD School Board.
“We are very pleased with the outcome of this effort and thank our community for making it a point to show their commitment to civil engagement by meeting with our endorsed candidates,” stated ANCA-Glendale Community Outreach Coordinator Tigranna Zakaryan. “Since issuing our endorsements, we have been working closely with each candidate to make sure they receive the support they need in addition to igniting our grassroots efforts by mobilizing voters of all demographics and age groups through phone-banking, canvassing, media appearances, and social media outreach.”
The evening’s program included welcoming remarks and information on organizations’ stance on upcoming ballot Measures C, D, E, and O by Zakaryan, and moved forward with each candidate making a personal statement and highlighting the key issues they will focus on following their election into office. The ANCA-Glendale and ANCA-CV also utilized the event as an opportunity to register new voters and provide their constituents with additional information on ballot measures pertaining to transitioning to by-district elections, and the impact of the Transient Occupancy Tax on generating addition revenue for Glendale’s general fund.
“As an advocacy-based organization we believe in the importance of providing voters with as much background information as possible on ballot measures that will impact their City,” stated ANCA-Glendale Chairman Artin Manoukian. “In this same respect, we find it very important to give our supporters the opportunity to meet face to face with our endorsed candidates—this event certainly accomplished those objectives.”
The following elected officials, representatives, and organizations were in attendance: former State Assemblymember Anthony Portantino; Matthew Hovsepian, on behalf of Congresswoman Judy Chu; Dr. Armine Gharpetian, GUSD School Board; Harry Leon, Vice President CV Town Council; Taline Arsenian, Vice President Glendale Teachers Association; Greg Asatoorian, Planning Commission; Seda Khojaian, Status of Women Commission; Alice Petrossian; LA County Women’s Commission; Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region; Armenian Cultural Foundation-Glendale Chapter; Armenian Relief Society-Sepan Chapter; Armenian Youth Federation-Roupen Chapter; Hamazkayin Glendale Chapter; Homenetman-Glendale Ararat Chapter; Mariamian Davidian Educational Foundation; Armenian Bar Association
For more information or if you are interested in getting involved, please contact ANCA-Glendale Community Outreach Coordinator Tigranna Zakaryan directly at Tigranna@ANCAGlendale.org or call 818.243-3444
The ANCA-Glendale advocates for the social, economic, cultural, and political rights of the city’s Armenian American community and promotes increased civic participation at the grassroots and public policy levels.
Photo: ANCA-Glendale and Crescenta Valley Board Members with Endorsed Candidates: Paula Devine and Vartan Gharpetian, City Council; Nayiri Nahabedian, Jennifer Freemon, and Vahik Satoorian, GUSD School Board; Dr. Vahe Peroomian and Tony Tartaglia, GCC Board of Trustees