GLENDORA — Competition is tight in Glendora as councilman Mark Kelly has decided not to run for reelection leaving his City Council seat open for the taking. At the same time, Mayor Karen Davis is seeking reelection.

“I think during these challenging times that our state and our nation are facing, we as a community have fared better than other places,” said Davis.

Davis is one of five community members running for the City Council. Kristin Parisi, Brian Pagac, Gene Murabito and Yousef “Joseph” Tweini have also thrown in their hats.
Pagac and Parisi did not immediately return phone calls for this story.

Murabito, who serves on the Glendora Planning Commission, had been planning a run for City Council in 2008 for about five years.

“I think the council overall has done a good job,” he said. “Can we improve? Absolutely.”
Murabito worked in aerospace for 25 years before he left that in 1999. He then opened an accounting service that is based in Glendora.

“In my business we are always looking for ways to change and improve, rather than get passed up,” he said. “My strength is in my character.”

Tweini, a chemical engineer, ran for the City Council in 2007 and received the least amount of votes of the candidates. But that experience and opportunity for residents to get to know him will help him this time around, he said.

“This time it is going to be different,” said Tweini. “I am a manager, so I can manage things, manage budgets. I do have the overall picture of what the city is looking for.”

A graduate of UCLA and a resident of Glendora for 15 years, Tweini hopes for the opportunity to serve the residents.

“I am not running against anybody, I am running to serve the community and the people of Glendora,” he said. “If (the people) like the person and vote for them, I will support the decision of the people.”