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Glendale News Press
LATimes.com
Dec 15 2004
Council race gets infusion of youth
Hovik Gabikian, 35, says he would represent a younger generation of
voters on the City Council.
By Josh Kleinbaum, News-Press and Leader
GLENDALE CITY HALL - By the time Glendale voters choose their next
slate of City Council members in April, the youngest incumbent, Rafi
Manoukian, will be 44 years old. The average age of the council
members will be 54.
Hovik Gabikian sees an aging council, and he wants to inject some
youth into it. The 35-year-old social worker announced Tuesday that
he will run for a seat on the council.
"I try to assist the younger generation, especially the immigrant
families that are somehow underrepresented, to give them a political
education, participation and empowerment," Gabikian said. "My goal is
to help them to register, to vote, to be an active participant in
this process. If that could lead my election, that would be great."
Gabikian moved to Glendale from Armenia in 1989. He attended Glendale
Community College and UCLA. He has been active in the Homenetmen
Ararat chapter for more than a decade, and has been a member of the
United Young Armenians for the past four years.
"He's very popular among the young university kids who attend several
different universities," Mayor Bob Yousefian said. "He's got a lot of
devoted fans willing to put the time and effort to volunteer. He may
have a good chance."
Gabikian said he will make traffic management, affordable housing and
health care and employment opportunities his top priorities.
"He always first thinks and then talks," said Hoosik Ghookasian,
athletic director for the Homenetmen Ararat chapter. "He does
everything perfect. He cares about everything and everybody, and he
cares about his job and what he has to do."
But Gabikian will have much competition. With more than six weeks
remaining until the filing deadline, 10 people have already announced
their candidacy. Yousefian, Frank Quintero and Dave Weaver are
running for reelection. John Drayman, Pauline Field, Glynda Gomez,
Steve Hedrick, Ara Najarian, Garry Sinanian and Gabikian will
challenge them. Candidates have until Jan. 27 to file the necessary
paperwork to run.
The fourth-highest vote-getter will replace Gus Gomez on the council,
and will serve the remaining two years of his term. Gus Gomez,
husband of challenger Glynda Gomez, must give up his council seat
before taking a judicial post on Jan. 3.
LATimes.com
Dec 15 2004
Council race gets infusion of youth
Hovik Gabikian, 35, says he would represent a younger generation of
voters on the City Council.
By Josh Kleinbaum, News-Press and Leader
GLENDALE CITY HALL - By the time Glendale voters choose their next
slate of City Council members in April, the youngest incumbent, Rafi
Manoukian, will be 44 years old. The average age of the council
members will be 54.
Hovik Gabikian sees an aging council, and he wants to inject some
youth into it. The 35-year-old social worker announced Tuesday that
he will run for a seat on the council.
"I try to assist the younger generation, especially the immigrant
families that are somehow underrepresented, to give them a political
education, participation and empowerment," Gabikian said. "My goal is
to help them to register, to vote, to be an active participant in
this process. If that could lead my election, that would be great."
Gabikian moved to Glendale from Armenia in 1989. He attended Glendale
Community College and UCLA. He has been active in the Homenetmen
Ararat chapter for more than a decade, and has been a member of the
United Young Armenians for the past four years.
"He's very popular among the young university kids who attend several
different universities," Mayor Bob Yousefian said. "He's got a lot of
devoted fans willing to put the time and effort to volunteer. He may
have a good chance."
Gabikian said he will make traffic management, affordable housing and
health care and employment opportunities his top priorities.
"He always first thinks and then talks," said Hoosik Ghookasian,
athletic director for the Homenetmen Ararat chapter. "He does
everything perfect. He cares about everything and everybody, and he
cares about his job and what he has to do."
But Gabikian will have much competition. With more than six weeks
remaining until the filing deadline, 10 people have already announced
their candidacy. Yousefian, Frank Quintero and Dave Weaver are
running for reelection. John Drayman, Pauline Field, Glynda Gomez,
Steve Hedrick, Ara Najarian, Garry Sinanian and Gabikian will
challenge them. Candidates have until Jan. 27 to file the necessary
paperwork to run.
The fourth-highest vote-getter will replace Gus Gomez on the council,
and will serve the remaining two years of his term. Gus Gomez,
husband of challenger Glynda Gomez, must give up his council seat
before taking a judicial post on Jan. 3.