California votes on June 7
Armenian-American community eyes Ardy Kassakhian for the 43rd Assembly District seat
BY HAROUT HARRY SEMERDJIAN
As Californians prepare to vote on the June 7 primary election, which includes races for U.S. Senate and dozens of legislative and congressional offices, one race in the heart of Los Angeles County holds a special place for the large and vibrant Armenian-American community – one of the most politically active ethnic groups in the United States. California’s sprawling 43rd Assembly District, which encompasses the cities of Glendale, Burbank, La Canada Flintridge, and the Los Angeles neighborhoods of East Hollywood, Little Armenia, Atwater Village, Los Feliz and Silver Lake, is up for grabs in this election as the current Assemblymember is being termed out.
Among the eight candidates vying for the seat, Democratic candidate Ardy Kassakhian stands out for his proven record of leadership as Glendale’s elected City Clerk for the past ten years. Ardy has been elected 3 times to his current post and at 12,319 votes in the last election, he received the most votes of any elected official in Glendale history in a contested race. His strong record as City Clerk has been recognized by local, state and national leaders. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who has endorsed Ardy Kassakhian, praised Ardy for making “a real difference in the effort to promote justice and protect voting rights.â€
