Yegparian: Localections III: Vote!

Vote, vote, vote!

That’s the theme this time around. Participation in civic life’s culmination, elections are a very important measure of our communities’ political maturity. Unfortunately, things have not been good on this front. I know for a fact that Armenian turnout in Burbank’s Feb. 22 election was less than 5 percent of those who voted.

First up is Glendale, on Tues., April 5. City Council, School Board, and Community College Board seats are up for grabs, two of each. Given Glendale’s large Armenian population, that city’s elections have become something of a political barometer of Armenian political involvement, maturity, and strength. Turnout is important in this respect; plus, there are good, qualified, viable Armenian candidates who can win by coupling Armenian and non-Armenian support. Get out and vote on Tuesday.

Next up is Burbank, with a Tues., April 12 election day. But, as you’ll remember, Burbank’s is an all-mail election. Everyone has their ballots now, though they arrived somewhat late this time. There are only two items on it: a runoff election for one City Council seat in which the ANCA has endorsed Bob Frutos, and a utility tax-related ballot measure on which I recommend a “yes” vote. It’s easy. You do it at home and just mail it in. If you’ve inadvertently thrown out the big white envelope in which the ballot and election booklet came, just call the City Clerk’s office (818-238-5851) and ask for a replacement.

The third Tuesday in a row with an election is April 19’s Pasadena runoff. The ANCA has endorsed Jill Fosselman for the 4th City Council District and Tom Selinske for the School Board’s Seat 6. Again, please vote. Our strength and ability to get a fair share of benefits rightly rests on our participation. Plus, it’s just plain the right thing to do, especially in one of the oldest, most established Armenian communities of the LA area.

There’s a four-week hiatus before hitting the May 17 runoff elections for LAUSD’s District 5 (geographic; you’ll only see this if you’re in the district) and LA Community College District’s Seat 5 (everyone in the college district votes on this). Again, make your voice heard through your vote.

I’ve addressed the cities with significant Armenian populations that have elections around this time. There are others, and if you live in one of them, please, don’t forget to vote. It really matters.

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Garen Yegparian

Asbarez Columnist

Garen Yegparian is a fat, bald guy who has too much to say and do for his own good. So, you know he loves mouthing off weekly about anything he damn well pleases to write about that he can remotely tie in to things Armenian. He's got a checkered past: principal of an Armenian school, project manager on a housing development, ANC-WR Executive Director, AYF Field worker (again on the left coast), Operations Director for a telecom startup, and a City of LA employee most recently (in three different departments so far). Plus, he's got delusions of breaking into electoral politics, meanwhile participating in other aspects of it and making sure to stay in trouble. His is a weekly column that appears originally in Asbarez, but has been republished to the Armenian Weekly for many years.

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