ANCA-WR Endorses Karo Torossian for LA City Council District 7
December 9, 2016Los Angeles, CA – Earlier today, the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) along with its local chapters in Sunland-Tujunga and San Fernando Valley announced the endorsement of Karo Torossian for LA City Council District 7. The early endorsement vote was unanimous in support of Torossian’s candidacy and came after 2 separate meeting the organization and its local chapters held with him to discuss his vision for the district and the many needs of the Armenian-American community.
“Our decision was based on Karo’s decades of service and dedication to the overall city of Los Angeles and particularly the Armenian-American community,” said Nora Hovsepian, Chair of the ANCA-WR. “We are confident that he will continue to build on his strong track record when elected to the Los Angeles City Council.”
“I am proud to have earned the endorsement of the Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region. My community based campaign is winning support from across all communities which are represented in the wonderful mosaic of neighborhoods and communities represented in the Los Angeles Seventh Council District,” stated Torossian.
“Karo Torossian has been a champion for the Armenian-American community for many years. As an activist for the Armenian cause, Karo has helped ensure our community has a voice at all levels of government. He has worked to preserve over 200 acres of open space in Sunland Tujunga, helped local businesses overcome city regulations and brought affordable housing to our community. ANCA Sunland-Tujunga proud to support his candidacy for the Los Angeles City Council and we know he will work tirelessly to represent all of the constituents of Council District 7,” stated ANCA Sunland-Tujunga Co-Chair Shooshig Avakian.
Covering the northeast section of the San Fernando Valley, the 7th Los Angeles Council District includes the communities of Pacoima, Lake View Terrace, Shadow Hills, Sunland, Tujunga, Mission Hills, North Hills and Sylmar.
Torossian currently serves as the Director of Planning and the Environment for City Councilmember Paul Krekorian, where he oversees policy and planning matters affecting land use, the environment, economic development and community revitalization. He has dedicated much of his work to protecting the Valley’s open space, promoting Economic Development and creating jobs. In 2013, Torossian assisted a delegation of State Assemblymembers and City Councilmembers to Armenia and Artsakh.
Karo has been civically engaged since high school and is a veteran of many successful political campaigns, including Congressman Adam Schiff, former Assemblymember and current LA Councilmember Paul Krekorian, Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian, former Glendale Mayor, Councilmember and current City Treasurer Rafi Manoukian, GUSD Board Vice President Nayiri Nahabedian, City Clerk Ardy Kassakhian, and many others. Torossian also worked on issues pertaining to the Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee of the US Senate in Washington DC for Senator Edward Kennedy.
In his early days, Torossian attended Los Angeles Valley College, where he participated in his first successful election for the LA Valley College Treasurer of the student government. As treasurer, he uncovered thousands of dollars of accounting errors by the school’s administration. Torossian later transferred to UCLA, where he earned a degree in political science and labor and workplace studies. While at UCLA, Karo joined the first Armenian Student Fraternity, Alpha Epsilon Omega, with that brotherhood he continued to fight for the Armenian cause, organizing events and bringing awareness of the Armenian Genocide to the UCLA campus. After graduating from UCLA, he completed his graduate school coursework in the urban and regional planning master’s program at California Polytechnic University, Pomona.
Karo and his wife, Arsine, a children’s librarian, live in Tujunga with their two young children, Adana and Arout. Karo’s priority is to ensure that every child in the Valley lives in a safe neighborhood with access to parks, libraries and high-quality schools.
In addition to the ANCA-WR, Karo has also proudly earned the endorsement of Senator Anthony Portantino, Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian, Los Angeles Councilmember Paul Krekorian, GUSD Board Vice President Nayiri Nahabedian, BUSD Board Member Steven Ferguson, former Glendale Mayor, Councilmember and current City Treasurer Rafi Manoukian and many more civic and community leaders.
The 2017 LA Primary Municipal Elections will take place on Tuesday, March 7. In order to vote, you must be registered. To check voter registration status, register to vote online or become a permanent absentee voter, visit lavote.net.
The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.
###
