Mark Those Ballots
With the election just days away, it's time for Glendalians to consider their picks for city council, school board and college board. Some of the lastest election resources and coverage leading up to April 3:
- City Clerk Ardashes Kassakhian reminds us how absentee ballots will work...
All absentee ballots must be returned by 8:00 pm on Tuesday, April 3—when the regular polling locations close. Absentee ballots may be returned in any of the following ways:
1. By mailing it to the City Clerk’s Office – 613 E. Broadway, Glendale, 91206.
2. By returning it in person to the City’s Clerk’s office or any polling location on April 3 during voting hours: 7:00 am to 8:00 pm.
3. By authorizing a legally-allowable person to return the ballot on your behalf. A legally-authorized person must be a close relative or person residing in the same household as you.
Absentee ballots may NOT be returned by any paid or volunteer worker or any candidate’s campaign committee, or person or group working for a campaign. Election questions may be directed to 818-548-2090 during normal working hours.
Here's the city's election Web site.
- Pasadena Weekly sized up the candidates in Tuesday's election, though they seem to have missed a couple for Glendale Unified.
- All eight candidates tried to close the deal at the Northwest Glendale Homeowners forum Thursday night. Coverage from the News Press
- Appo Jabarian of USA Armenian LIfe Magazine makes his picks in today's edition, and narrows the city council field down to five. It's no surprise that incumbent Rafi Manoukian and school board member Greg Krikorian _ both Armenian Americans with public service experience _ made the list. But the rest are definitely surprising...
2007 Glendale City Election: Prosperity has also brought a number of problems that need to be tackled head-on
Friday March 30, 2007
By Appo Jabarian
Executive Publisher/Managing Editor/USA Armenian Life Magazine/Hye Kiank Armenian Weekly
It is a privilege to live in Glendale. This is one of the top ten quality and vibrant cities in California.
It’s true that Glendale has a sound financial economy. As a community, however, we shouldn’t allow the
positive and seemingly heart-warming present state of the city to unwittingly play the role of a smokescreen
for a number of problems. Some of those problems are dormant, while others are developing.
The existing and potential problems that challenge the quality of life in Glendale are worthy of undivided
attention:
1. The worsening traffic jam in downtown Glendale seems to get worse by the day. It will get worse if the city
does not devise a new strategy to alleviate this compounding problem;
2. Because of overdevelopment and lack of adequate open space south of the 134 freeway, Glendale can fast
become an urban concrete jungle;
3. While the youth make up around 22% of its population, several observers are insisting that the
City is spending a meager 1% of its budget on them;
4. While the neighborhoods located north of the 134 freeway enjoy open landscape, the neighborhoods of
south Glendale experience intensifying density in family dwellings;
5. The spread of “mansionization” of homes in the city hillsides threatens the unique character of Glendale.
Several critics contend that the architecture of these homes is out of character with the other homes in the
various neighborhoods of the city;
6. Why not impose a five-year limit for Section 8 to younger and healthy recipients? This will give many
new families an expedited opportunity to benefit from the S-8 financial springboard.
The above and other problems will preoccupy the mind of many Glendale voters. They will go to the voting polls on Tuesday April 3rd hoping to elect the two most qualified council members. Each voter is allowed to vote for two candidates from a field of eight.
These problems can only be solved through open communication among the members of the community. The
health of the intra-community relations has become more important than ever before. Long gone are the days when Glendale exhibited the character of a tiny, bedroom community of 50,000. Now, at the dawn of the third millennia, Glendale has become a thriving metropolis with a population exceeding the 200,000.
In order to assist its readers in making sound election decisions, the editorial board of USA Armenian Life Magazine has studied the platform and the public performance of all the candidates.
After carefully analyzing the pros and cons in each candidate’s platform and positions on crucial issues,
our editors decided to present five candidates as being well-qualified to serve all of Glendale. Special
consideration was given to those candidates who have demonstrated remarkable ability to communicate with
all segments of the society. They are well-qualified to genuinely represent all.
To make a difference for a better future for Glendale, vote for any two of the following well-qualified five
candidates (listed in alphabetical order):
- John Drayman
- Greg Krikorian
- Rafi Manoukian
- Herbert Molano
- Lenore Solis
The progress that Glendale has experienced in the last 20 years is unprecedented in its history. The wave of
prosperity has also brought a number of problems that need to be tackled head-on. Or else, the corrective steps may come at a much higher cost.
It is only through your wise decision that your voice can be heard most effectively. Your vote can empower
two candidates out of the five named above, to help lead our city for many more years of responsible growth. Your healthy decision can help Glendale achieve growth without tempering with the quality of life in this beautiful Jewel City of the Verdugos.
Earlier:
Candidates -- In Their Own Words